Involving your kids in water sports isn’t just about making them athletic, active, and fit. They also help your kids become confident, create lasting memories, and have fun.
However, introducing kids to water is no easy feat. Naturally, they hesitate and feel scared, and sometimes, the situation can even escalate to meltdowns.
So, if you want to encourage little ones to get obsessed with water sports, here’s everything you should try!
1. Take Baby Steps
First, help them become familiar with being surrounded by water by simply letting them play in the bathtub. If you have a toddler, start with enough water to dip their feet. If they’re a bit older, the water level can be higher.
Don’t pressure them into doing anything. Make it appear like they have the upper hand by asking, “Would you like to get in the tub? Do you want to play with us in the water?” This will make them want to try it out more.
Then, try splashing water at each other. Be gentle, and don’t do it too fast. Next, teach them how to get their face wet by scooping water with their hands and applying it to their face.
Don’t let your child stay in the water for too long – whether in the bathtub or the community pool. Start with just 10-15 minutes, and then increase the time limit by a few minutes every time. However, don’t exhaust the little one, or they’ll have negative thoughts about it.
Baby steps ensure your child doesn’t feel overwhelmed. It’ll help them get accustomed to water.
2. Introduce Little Fun Elements
Next, increase the water level to their waist. This may make them a little nervous, so help them overcome their fears with some distractions.
For instance, add some squeaky floating ducks in the water. Let one toy float ahead, and ask your child to chase it with another toy.
Install sprinklers in your bathtub to make them feel comfortable with water touching their face, creating positive feelings about water. Make them blow bubbles in the water to make them feel confident when dipping their faces in it.
Invest in a high-quality, colourful towel with a zip. Such towels are way better than the boring everyday towels. Plus, there’s no need to chase your little one to dry them up. Just make them slip it on and pat them over it.
The hoodie-like design will give them a fancy feeling. Your child will look forward to playing in the water daily with this!
3. Make it a Family Bonding Time
Children love to mimic their parents, so take advantage of this fact. For instance, you can join your child in the bathtub.
If you have a backyard pool or a local pool, you can also take your kids on a family pool outing. Be excited about water play and watch them follow suit!
Paddle together on the shallow side of the pool or have a little competition of who can reach a point faster.
4. Enroll them in Lessons
Once your kid gets used to the water, enrol them in age-appropriate lessons. For instance, kids under 5 can try shallow swimming and kick boarding.
While older kids can try more complicated activities like snorkelling and surfing, it’s best to start with swim lessons to build the foundation of how to swim, manoeuvre their bodies in the water, and tackle any risky situation. Moreover, swimming participation increased in 2023 by 33% in Australia.
After they learn swimming and are at least 6 years old, try out other options. Enrol them in kids’ sailing, kayaking, and surfing camps. However, you can let them stick to swimming if they would like to.
5. Get Them All the Gear
Sometimes, kids fear water just because they don’t feel secure. To help your little one grow to love water sports, get them all the necessary safety gear.
If you enrol them in any lessons, the instructor will tell you everything necessary. However, if you want to take them on water activities with the family, invest in life jackets, rash guards, swim vests, and inflatable swimming tyres.
Conclusion
Besides these, don’t forget to celebrate every little win. Praise and reward them with stickers (and candies occasionally) for their progress. Be positive if they can’t do it right.
Explore different waters, such as nearby shallow lakes, ponds, water parks, and beaches. Normalise being around the water, and they’ll become water sports enthusiasts in no time!
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