Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy how to get DS7 to learn to swim?

This has been my experience with DS2 and is the exact reason I am a proponent of child led everything. My son has the memory of an elephant and the stubbornness of a herd of oxen. Pushing is a losing proposition on every side, be it for swimming, eating, or anything else.

I agree to all of the precautions above regarding pushing. In DD's case, the water was maybe four inches high, so the only way she could be harmed is if she rolled over into it on her face.

She tried other slides throughout that day, but insisted I be on the bottom to catch her so she wouldn't submerge on the deeper ones. Baby steps.

My SPD newly 8 year old DS falls in the category of "fear of drowning." He has always hated water in his face and it led to many anxiety tantrums as a toddler in the bathtub. We tried group lessons at 5 and he refused to jump in or put his head underwater although he is happy to hop around in the shallow end and likes being in the water. Any attempt by me to get him to even blow bubbles creates a panic.

So my solution was to sign him up for swimming lessons through the therapeutic recreation program in my city. There will be other kids with mild to moderate disabilities in the class but it's very small. Hoping that these instructors can do what I couldn't do and help him get over that fear. Learning to swim is non-negotiable to me. He starts tomorrow so we'll see. He wasn't thrilled that I signed him up again but after going on a tour of the pool he decided to feel brave about it. We'll see tomorrow when we get there LOL