How to help a child overcome their fear of the pool at school?

Our tips to reassure your little one

 

The fear of the school pool is much more common than one might think. Every year, many teachers, swimming instructors, and parents accompany children who are apprehensive about physical education sessions related to school aquatic activities. Screams, tears, refusal to enter the water, anxiety facing the pool or even the idea of dressing in the changing rooms… So many signs that show a child is not yet confident.

Rest assured: this fear is nothing abnormal and with the right gestures, the right words, and reassuring support, it can be overcome very well. As a brand committed to drowning prevention and swimming learning, we share with you today a complete guide to help parents with a child who is afraid of water at school, understand why this situation occurs and how to act with gentleness and efficiency.

 

Why are some children afraid of the school pool?

Each child arrives at the school pool with their own personality, their own experiences, and their own level of familiarity with water. Several elements can explain the anxiety:

👀 An impressive environment

The pool is a large, noisy, and sometimes cold place, with echoes and rapid movements. For a child or young adolescent, all these elements can be intimidating.

🥺 A difficult first experience

It is possible that your child almost drowned, witnessed a drowning, slipped, swallowed water, made an uncontrolled jump, experienced a poor learning method… A bad experience can sometimes be enough to anchor a memory to a lasting apprehension.

🎮 A lack of control

Children like to control their experiences. In the water, they lose some usual landmarks (balance, support, breathing) that can disturb them or even provoke a form of fear.

🩵 Personal sensitivity

Some children are more cautious, more sensitive, or more anxious. Others may also feel your fear, transmitted unconsciously. It's normal and they should not be compared to others. Each child has their own personality.

🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 The effect of the group

Swimming lessons in primary and secondary school often take place in groups. The pace of the group and the gaze of other classmates can be experienced as an additional pressure.

Understanding these reasons already helps to approach the situation with kindness. But don't worry, many children are afraid and/or refuse to go to the pool at school and it is absolutely not an insurmountable problem.

To learn more about the fear of water, read our article on aquaphobia.

 

 

Signs that your child is not confident

Each child expresses their fear differently. Among the most common signals are:

- Crying before or during sessions

- Failing to sleep and/or having nightmares

- Saying they have a stomachache and/or experiencing nausea/vomiting

- Saying they don't want to go

- Clinging to an adult or refusing to enter the changing rooms

- Remaining frozen at the edge of the pool

- Clinging to an adult in the water

If your child cries at the pool or systematically dreads the moment of going, the goal is not to rush them but to support them.

 

How to reassure a child before the pool?

The school plays an essential role. But you too, as a parent, can gently prepare your child.

Speak calmly of the session

Avoid anxiety-inducing speeches like "You absolutely have to go" or " You don't have a choice". Prefer phrases like:

"I understand that this worries you, we will find solutions together."

"You will be surrounded by adults who are there to protect you."

This type of phrase can help to reduce pressure.

Describe how a school swimming session goes

Describe the different steps of the swimming pool (changing rooms, shower, small pool, large pool, educational games, presence of lifeguards…). This step will help your child to visualize, project themselves and thus reduce their apprehension.

Legitimize their emotions

Avoid phrases like "It's nothing" or "You have no reason to be afraid," as they can instead increase your child's stress. Instead, show them that their feelings are legitimate and recognized by you by favoring phrases like "It's normal to feel impressed by the pool, many children feel that way and are in the same situation as you."

Anticipate their questions

To reassure a child, answer the questions they may have with simple and clear answers to reinforce their confidence. Here are some questions your child may ask:

- Can I touch the bottom?

- Will I be able to stand?

- Will the teacher / the lifeguard stay with me?

- What if I can't do it?

…

The most important thing, as in many other contexts, is communication. You need to be able to talk with your little one and understand where their fear comes from. This step can take time, but it is essential. Do not rush things and let your child move forward and communicate at their own pace, it is crucial not to rush them.

For more information, read our article on our Top 5 activities for your child to gain confidence in the water .

 

 

Our practical tips for overcoming the fear of the pool at school

Plouf has been supporting families in aquatic learning for years. Today, we reveal our tested and approved strategies by thousands of parents, teachers, and swimming instructors.

Tip 1: Familiarize your child with water outside of school

A simple bathtub, a small pool, or even playing with water in a bucket can already improve your petit poisson's confidence in water. You can start by:

🫳🏼 Dipping hands

😶‍🌫️ Gently wetting the face

🫧 Blowing into the water to make bubbles

Tip 2: Explain the concept of safety to your child

Children who are afraid often feel like they are going to sink. Explain to your child that the body naturally floats and that lifeguards are there to protect them.

Tip 3: Prioritize gradual progress

There is no rush to "jump into the deep end" as they say. Let the swimming instructor set the appropriate pace for your child. They will generally proceed as follows: edge of the pool, then shallow depth, then movements with support, then gradual immersion.

Tip 4: Create a reassuring ritual

Before the session, you can start with an action, a gesture, or a phrase to repeat each time. It can be a key phrase, a little hug, a small lucky gesture. This ritual can become a reference for your child and help them to calm down.

Tip 5: Add a confidence tool to the practice

Without ever replacing the vigilance and supervision of an adult which is essential to a child's aquatic practice, some equipment can help your petit poisson enter the water with serenity.

At Plouf, we created the Floating swimsuit, a swimwear that facilitates buoyancy thanks to our innovative technology: the FibreAir®. Our swimwear supports children during their first aquatic sessions, and even sometimes until adulthoodadulthood.

This swimwear is a psychological and practical support, a "cushion" of confidence that can promote calm learning - always under the active supervision of an adult.

 

The essential role of teachers and swimming instructors

During aquatic sessions in the pool, educational teams are trained to manage the individual apprehensions of each child, differences in pace, and stressful situations.

For this, they use fun exercises, group games, floating mats, adapted courses, etc. Their expertise is precious to ensure safety and reassure the children.

Do not hesitate to talk with them if your child is going through a difficult phase. A note in the notebook or discussions can help adapt the session and gather valuable expert advice.

 

When to ask for additional help?

If your child refuses to enter the changing rooms, systematically panics persistently, and continues to cry before each session, we recommend opting for a discussion with their teacher and swimming instructor. Sometimes, individual support during the first minutes or sessions can be enough to unlock the situation.

 

Patience, listening, and gradual progress: the winning combination

Helping a child overcome their fear of the pool at school is above all about understanding, supporting, and valuing every small victory. With time, a nurturing environment, and a solid educational framework, children discover that water can become a true space for play, enjoyment, progress, and confidence.

What you need to remember is that each child progresses at their own pace, but none are doomed to remain in fear. While it is essential to stay patient, it is equally important to celebrate progress, so congratulate your little one for each of their advancements! 🩵

 

 

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