Overcoming fear of water (aquaphobia): Tips for parents

Is your child nervous around water? Did you know one of the most common obstacles faced by parents when trying to get their children into swimming lessons is a fear of the water? But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

Overcoming a fear of water takes time and patience and, at Swimtime, we want your child to get all the fun and freedom that comes from knowing how to swim safely. That’s why we’re here; to work through the tears and to encourage you and your swimmer to fight the fear and we have pulled together some useful pointers for parents to help. We hope these fear conquering tips will go some way to preventing or combatting aquaphobia and support your child in feeling competent and confident in the water:

Early exposure – Expose children to water at a young age so they can get used to the feeling of water around them. This can help prevent the development of a water phobia as they grow up.

Acknowledge their fear - Don't dismiss your child's feelings.  Let your child know that it's okay to be scared and that you understand how they feel. Talking about their fears can help them navigate their emotions and overcome the fear of water.

Be consistent - Regular participation in swimming lessons or leisure swimming sessions can go a long way to helping your child overcome their fear or prevent worries from developing. Long gaps between time in the pool can delay growth in confidence and can even cause regression in some cases.

Start off slow - Let your child ease into the water and gain confidence bit by bit, gradually immersing them. If your child is afraid of deep water, start at the shallow end and incrementally move towards deeper water.

Swimming lessons - Learning to swim early can reduce a child's fear of water. Swimming lessons can also help children develop confidence in their swimming ability.

Time and patience – Try and be relaxed about the process. Pressure to progress quickly could be detrimental and may make fears and worries worse, ultimately making them harder to overcome. Every swimmer will develop in their own time, trust the process.

Explore why – It’s perfectly normal for children to feel scared of the water or starting swimming lessons. While some children are too small to properly describe their worries it is worth taking the time to try and understand what exactly your child is feeling scared about, it could be nothing to do with the water at all. Is it the fear of not knowing what to expect? Is it being in a new, unfamiliar environment? It could be as simple as the sights and sounds feeling a little overwhelming.

Lead by example – Children mimic what they see. Show them water is fun by playing and splashing around yourself. You could make use of toys, making water time playful will make them feel more comfortable.

Swimming lessons with Swimtime teach your children the skills necessary to give them the best chance at feeling unstoppable, have fun and be safe in the water!

Our group lessons can provide the peer support that some children thrive on best to push themselves to overcome challenges and build confidence.

And for those who find they need just a bit of extra attention and support we also offer private lessons on a 1 to 1, 2 to 1 or 3 to 1 basis. The beauty of a Swimtime private lesson is that you can choose what you would like your child to achieve, you can make the sessions fit in with your busy schedule.

For some children, the water can feel a little intimidating at first – and that’s totally normal! But with the right guidance, support, and a splash of fun, we help kids transform their fear into excitement and confidence.

At Swimtime, our patient and experienced teachers create a safe, encouraging environment where children can take things at their own pace. Whether it's learning to put their face in the water, floating on their back, or taking their first strokes, we’re here every step of the way for the journey from fear to fun.

We can overcome any fear of swimming together - see you poolside!