Every child experiences the pool differently — for some, even stepping in can feel daunting. We asked Icaro, one of our experienced GetSetSwim teachers, to share his top tips for helping children overcome fear, build water confidence, and enjoy their swimming lessons in South Kensington.
When a child is scared of swimming lessons, it rarely comes from nowhere.
I’ve seen children who are completely confident on land, full of energy, talkative, curious… and then the moment they arrive poolside, everything changes in that moment. Their body language changes, they go quiet, they hold onto their parent’s hands, they hide behind their caretaker, they nod “no”with their heads. More often than not, that’s not stubbornness, that’s uncertainty.
I usually like to look for details on their towels, swim shorts, jackets, backpack, anything that will help me understand if that child likes a cartoon character, a superhero or anything I can start a conversation with them and show them it’s ok to be there.
Around four years ago I had a student who would refuse to get in the pool, and would cry as soon as he arrived poolside.
I had a chat with his parents and explained it could take some time for him to get used to me first, then to get in the pool to finally start swimming.
I also asked his parents to be patient and respect their son’s pace. It took me a couple of weeks to gain his trust, we would sit on the poolside and chat and play with toys. Eventually he felt comfortable enough to get in the pool with me and we started playing with the same toys but now in the pool.
Another week or so has passed and he was kicking his legs with my help and having a great time. Now he is fully confident in the water everywhere he goes and is already swimming by himself.
There’s no set timeline for building water confidence for kids.
Another thing I’ve learned is that pressure, even when it’s well intentioned, can slow things down.
Parents, please keep this in mind 😉 You naturally want to encourage your child, and that’s completely understandable. But phrases like “just go on” or “there’s nothing to be scared of” can sometimes make a child feel like their fear isn’t being heard. What tends to work better is simply acknowledging it. Something like: “It’s okay to feel unsure, let’s take it step by step.”
That small shift can make a big difference.
It’s not always dramatic. In fact, most of the time it’s very quiet. A child who used to hesitate starts walking in a bit quicker. They smile a bit more. They look around less for reassurance. And then one day, they do something they weren’t ready to do before, almost without realising.
The student I mentioned earlier here, I will never forget the day he stood on the poolside and asked me to jump in the pool without holding my hands. Right there I knew he had the confidence to not just jump in but he would be able to swim by himself back to the poolside (back to safety).
Those are some of the most rewarding moments to witness as a teacher. Because at that point, it’s no longer about a child scared of swimming lessons. It’s about a child who has learned that they can face something uncertain and come through it.
If you’d like to see your child gain confidence and have fun in the water, take a look at our children’s swimming lessons in London or drop by our South Kensington club to chat to our team and take a tour of the pool.