5 tips to help your child gain confidence in the water after the holidays

Because trust in water is cultivated all year round!

Summer holidays often rhyme with swimming and shared moments in the water, with family or friends. But after the sunny months, it sometimes happens that some children lose the ease they gained during the season. With the start of the school year, the temperature drops, and swimming becomes less common or even non-existent, confidence in water can be put to the test.
It is important to note that confidence in water also evolves according to the child's development and age. Each growth stage can influence how they perceive and manage the fear of water.
So how can you help your child maintain confidence in water after the holidays? Here are 5 tips based on the experience of Plouf. 🦩

 

Gently return to the pool

Returning to the pool after summer should be done gently. Rushing your child will not help. It is essential to adopt a progressive and reassuring approach, adapted to each child, to allow them to regain confidence in water at their own pace. After a period without swimming, it is normal to need some time for adaptation.
🐳 You can start with fun sessions: water games, ball games, aquatic courses, etc. As with the "gaining confidence" stage, the idea is not to perform. The objective is to rediscover the pleasure and fun of summer holidays combined with the well-being and serenity of the aquatic environment. The small pool is ideal for these first sessions, as it allows the child to get familiar with water again in a reassuring environment before moving to deeper pools.

It can also be interesting to "recreate" part of the family holiday atmosphere with a few details: bring their favorite toy, beach towel, and Floating swimsuit Plouf they wore during the season. These simple elements can be enough to reassure your child and awaken memories of positive memories related to water.

💡Tip Plouf: it is recommended to choose pools with low attendance so that your child can find their bearings at their own pace, without additional pressure.

 

Encourage without pressure to promote progress

Every child progresses at their own pace. Progress is never linear and similar to others, and the same goes for swimming. Some reluctance after the season does not mean there is regression. It is only a sign that your child needs time to regain their confidence (and desire). ⏳

If your child tells you: “I don't want to go to the pool anymore after the summer“, listen to them and do not force them. Talk together about what they feel, try to put simple words on the emotions you perceive in them, and reassure them. A child encouraged with kindness regains confidence faster than a child who is put under pressure.

💡Tip Plouf: to maintain your child's progress, value each step. Every success counts, even the smallest.

 

 

Continue to learn to swim, even outside the pool

It is indeed possible to continue learning to swim at home! And yes, even without a pool, you can help your child with fun little exercises: these activities are suitable for all ages, including babies, and make learning to swim enjoyable and gradual.

🌬️ Blowing in the water (in the bath for example) to learn to manage breathing
🧠 Doing leg kicks (on the bed for example) to strengthen muscle memory and work on limb coordination

Let your imagination run wild! Activities like this can maintain the connection between the mind, body, and water. They can even create beautiful moments of bonding and fun with your little one. This will allow them to stay connected to their sensations and make the "real" resumption of swimming easier when the time comes.

💡Tip Plouf: the Floating swimsuit Plouf can also be used during your resumption sessions.

 

Transforming fear into confidence

At the start of the school year, fear of water is common and can even be present in children who previously had no particular problems. It is important to distinguish between a temporary fear and a true phobia of water: phobia manifests as an intense and lasting fear, often linked to traumatic experiences, and may require a professional support. This apprehension may come from a lack of practice or a change of environment (cold pool, unknown places or people, noise, etc.) which causes a loss of bearings.

To ensure your child maintains confidence in the water after the summer, place them in a positive situation:

🤿 Start with short immersions
💦 Prefer games and splashes
🦦 Remind them that they already know how to swim/float

The goal is to make the child comfortable in the water even if they have had negative experiences before. It is important not to forget that the risk of drowning always exists, so it is crucial to remain vigilant during each session.

At Plouf, we have often noticed that the fear disappears as soon as the child knows and feels that they can float. Thanks to the exclusive technology FibreAir®, the Floating swimsuit Plouf offers a natural balance in the water, without inflation or armbands. This support allows the child to focus on fun and enjoyment rather than fear and apprehension.

 

Maintaining a connection with water throughout the year

As with everything, the key is regularity. For your child's swimming progress to continue, it is important to maintain a regular connection with water throughout the year.

Here are some activity ideas to maintain confidence in the pool:

🏊🏽 Enroll your child in swimming lessons
🐠 Go to the municipal pool on weekends
🌊 Go to the sea, river, or lake when the weather is nice and warm
🫧 Play water games in the bath or garden

The benefits of swimming are numerous: it promotes physical development, motor skills, and self-confidence in children.

 

 

Support from professionals such as a lifeguard is essential to ensure safety and the learning of swimming techniques adapted to each child. Remember to book your spot in the swimming lessons, as the number of places is often limited, especially during holidays or after school. For the youngest, the baby swimming classes are an excellent option to gently introduce your baby or toddler to water, under the supervision of qualified professionals.

Make sure to choose activities suitable for your child's age, whether they are a baby, toddler, or older, to respect their pace and needs. 🐥

Even outside of swimming, favor moments by the water to familiarize your child with this environment and enhance their water comfort.

At Plouf, we believe that confidence is built and maintained through pleasure, gentleness, regularity, kindness, and encouragement.

 

What to remember

Helping your child maintain confidence in the water after summer is primarily about giving them time, offering a supportive environment, and providing familiar cues.
With regular support, positive encouragement, and anFloating swimsuit adapted, returning to the pool after summer becomes a natural and reassuring step.

Because learning to swim is not just a skill. It's an adventure of confidence and autonomy that builds throughout the year! And at Plouf, we are proud to contribute alongside you. ☀️

 

Don't wait any longer, explore the collection Plouf on our website and enjoy a discount on your first order with MONPANIER5 🎁 ! 

It's your turn! Tell us what you think in the comments!

 

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