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Step 1
Take extra care to make your child's bath time an enjoyable experience for her. Baths are usually children's first introduction to water, so if they repeatedly get soap in their eyes, or water in their ears, they are more likely not to want to play in a bigger body of water.
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Step 2
Hold fearful toddlers and small children close in your arms as you enter the water, and do not let their heads go below the surface. Once your child trusts you to keep her safe, she will begin to enjoy the water.
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Step 3
Enroll your child in swimming lessons once she reaches about 4 years of age. If your child has a serious fear of the water, you might consider purchasing her private lessons for more individualized attention.
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Step 4
Acclimate your child to the water slowly. Encourage him first to dip his toes in, followed by his legs, then his lower body and finally his arms. This gradual process will help him learn that entering the water doesn't hurt.
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Step 5
Use arm floats or tubes for only a short period of time, as they may give your child a feeling of security she's unwilling to give up.
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Step 6
Explain to your child exactly what will happen if he goes under the water or breathes water into his nose. These fears are extremely common, and once he understands how to avoid these practices and what will happen if they do occur, he will fear the water less.
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Step 7
Work with your fearful child in an empty pool or a body of water that isn't crowded with people. This will help her feel comfortable and enable her to focus on what you're teaching her about swimming.
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Step 8
Encourage your child repeatedly to try swimming, but do not pressure him to do it or make him feel guilty about his fear. Putting pressure on him will only make him more fearful or could cause him to rebel.
