Swimming problem with toddler

Andy Davis said:

My three year old daughter has been doing infant aquatics (Australia) for
approximately 4 months now. However at present we cannot encourage her in
any way, shape or form to "blow bubbles" in the pool with her instructor.
She will do it in the bath at home without any problems. ....

I would begin by changing the language. For example: let's whistle
under water, I'm not sure if I can, can you? How about Mary had a - now
just Little lamb - third time, whose fleece was. Can we do in just one
whistling under water the whole first line? I don't remember, though,
if 3 years old can whistle. Maybe there's something else along the same
lines. Blow bubbles may be a little power struggle and kids are too
successful with that. Easier to just move over to a game without side
shows.

Ruth Kazez

Quoted message said:

Andy

The best way to turn a kid of anything is to force them; especially in
the water. Please remember that your daughter is only 3 years old. As
such, she has quite a lot of time in order to blow bubbles, or do
anything in the water for that matter. I've taught aquatic programs
for more than 10 years and when a kid doesn't want to do something in
the water, they just will not. At this point, the goal is to create an
environment where your daughter can feel comfortable in the water. The
best way to do this is to play.

It is VERY worth it to take her to a public pool and just play with
her. I always recommend to parents that when a young swimmer is stuck
on a skill is to take a break and just come and play in the pool.
Don't even focus on the skill. Play breeds comfort. Find teachable
moments within the play time, and if you can't, relax, you have to have
a good time as well.

Your daughter's instructor has probably tried this b/c it is one of the
oldest tricks in the books, but it works. Get a bunch of colourful
straws (let her pick them out if you want) and just like you can blow
bubbles in a glass of water or juice, let her blow bubbles in the pool
like that. If you have to, but the cup on the side of the pool and
start there, and then move the cup to the surface of the water, then
lower the cup into the water. I'm sure you get the idea.

I hope this helps.

Andy Davis said:

My three year old daughter has been doing infant aquatics (Australia) for
approximately 4 months now. However at present we cannot encourage her in
any way, shape or form to "blow bubbles" in the pool with her instructor.
She will do it in the bath at home without any problems. She can swim
without any floating device and her instructor has said she is now ready to
go to stage one swimming, but cannot until she can put her face in the water
and blow bubbles. Should we just let her carry on in her own time until she
is ready or is there anyone else who has had a similar problem and can offer
some advice. I've tried everthing like bribery, sweets, toys etc but to no
avail. Is it worth taking her to a public pool and seeing if she will blow
bubbles with me in the water with her? I'm quite happy to continue as we
are, as I don't want to push it too much to the point where she wouldn't
want to continue any more.

Thanks in advance

Quoted message said:

Andy

The best way to turn a kid of anything is to force them; especially in
the water. Please remember that your daughter is only 3 years old. As
such, she has quite a lot of time in order to blow bubbles, or do
anything in the water for that matter. I've taught aquatic programs
for more than 10 years and when a kid doesn't want to do something in
the water, they just will not. At this point, the goal is to create an
environment where your daughter can feel comfortable in the water. The
best way to do this is to play.

I absolutely agree with this. I *taught* my kids to sit on the bottom
of the shallow end of the pool, to swim between my legs, to jump off my
shoulders, that sort of thing. They loved the water. But I think it
actually begins with their baths at age zero. Some moms and dads really
enjoy bathing little babies and that is conveyed concretely. Our bath
times were wonderful giggly playtimes.

Ruth Kazez

[email hidden] wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Your daughter's instructor has probably tried this b/c it is one of
the oldest tricks in the books, but it works. Get a bunch of
colourful straws (let her pick them out if you want) and just like you
can blow bubbles in a glass of water or juice, let her blow bubbles in
the pool like that. If you have to, but the cup on the side of the
pool and start there, and then move the cup to the surface of the
water, then lower the cup into the water. I'm sure you get the idea.

I also used to often use "magic" rings.
The play would consist of various games, maybe looking through the magic
ring with eyes, reaching through it with a hand, blowing bubbles like a
"jacuzzi" -- whatever was fun for the child to match the skill we were
working on.

Whistle while you work, whistle while you play....... <grin>

Playtime at a public pool would definately be good for both of you.

Andy Davis said:

My three year old daughter has been doing infant aquatics (Australia) for
approximately 4 months now. However at present we cannot encourage her in
any way, shape or form to "blow bubbles" in the pool with her instructor.
She will do it in the bath at home without any problems. She can swim
without any floating device and her instructor has said she is now ready to
go to stage one swimming, but cannot until she can put her face in the water
and blow bubbles. Should we just let her carry on in her own time until she
is ready or is there anyone else who has had a similar problem and can offer
some advice. I've tried everthing like bribery, sweets, toys etc but to no
avail. Is it worth taking her to a public pool and seeing if she will blow
bubbles with me in the water with her? I'm quite happy to continue as we
are, as I don't want to push it too much to the point where she wouldn't
want to continue any more.

Thanks in advance

Have you tried holding her under and squeezing her? 🙂

"Mark P" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Andy Davis said:

My three year old daughter has been doing infant aquatics (Australia)

for

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

approximately 4 months now. However at present we cannot encourage her

in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

any way, shape or form to "blow bubbles" in the pool with her

instructor.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

She will do it in the bath at home without any problems. She can swim
without any floating device and her instructor has said she is now ready

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

go to stage one swimming, but cannot until she can put her face in the

water

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and blow bubbles. Should we just let her carry on in her own time until

she

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

is ready or is there anyone else who has had a similar problem and can

offer

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

some advice. I've tried everthing like bribery, sweets, toys etc but to

no

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

avail. Is it worth taking her to a public pool and seeing if she will

blow

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bubbles with me in the water with her? I'm quite happy to continue as we
are, as I don't want to push it too much to the point where she wouldn't
want to continue any more.

Thanks in advance

Have you tried holding her under and squeezing her? 🙂

lol

diablo said:

"Mark P" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Andy Davis said:

My three year old daughter has been doing infant aquatics (Australia)

for

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

approximately 4 months now. However at present we cannot encourage her

in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

any way, shape or form to "blow bubbles" in the pool with her

instructor.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

She will do it in the bath at home without any problems. She can swim
without any floating device and her instructor has said she is now ready

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

go to stage one swimming, but cannot until she can put her face in the

water

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and blow bubbles. Should we just let her carry on in her own time until

she

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

is ready or is there anyone else who has had a similar problem and can

offer

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

some advice. I've tried everthing like bribery, sweets, toys etc but to

no

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

avail. Is it worth taking her to a public pool and seeing if she will

blow

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bubbles with me in the water with her? I'm quite happy to continue as we
are, as I don't want to push it too much to the point where she wouldn't
want to continue any more.

Thanks in advance

Have you tried holding her under and squeezing her? 🙂

lol

That was sooo bad. L, but not OL.

rtk

Just let her keep doing what she's doing. Eventually, she may grow
tired of being a lump when she sees the other kids swimming quickly
and correctly.

Andy Davis said:

My three year old daughter has been doing infant aquatics (Australia) for
approximately 4 months now. However at present we cannot encourage her in
any way, shape or form to "blow bubbles" in the pool with her instructor.
She will do it in the bath at home without any problems. She can swim
without any floating device and her instructor has said she is now ready to
go to stage one swimming, but cannot until she can put her face in the water
and blow bubbles. Should we just let her carry on in her own time until she
is ready or is there anyone else who has had a similar problem and can offer
some advice. I've tried everthing like bribery, sweets, toys etc but to no
avail. Is it worth taking her to a public pool and seeing if she will blow
bubbles with me in the water with her? I'm quite happy to continue as we
are, as I don't want to push it too much to the point where she wouldn't
want to continue any more.

Thanks in advance