[dac_cincy]

My son is 3- he loves going swimming.
We have done the parent and child class 3 times and I felt he was ready to move up to more advance classes.

I enrolled him in the next level- parents sit right at the edge of pool, but the kids are in the water (one at time) with a teacher. he was all excited about going- we talked about it, practiced his skills from the parent and child class- it was all good until...

we got to class. In the 6 weeks of classes- once a week, he has gotten into the water 1 time. He starts crying, saying no, refuses to participate or even sit on the side.
I am beyond frustrated with him- if he refuses to particpicate or sit on the side with his class- he is not allowed to play after class. I had to stop arriving early since he would play for 10 minutes and then refuse to particpate or sit.

I do not know what to do- he loes the water, he will play without me (I stand off to the side in the water) for as long as I will let him. I do not get why he is refusing to participate or sit on the side.

Any thoughts, suggestions, etc?

Love to you,


Deb

[redbonec]

I wish I had words for you, but I don't. I hope others can help. This past summer, our daughter almost 2, she liked playing in the water too, but when the teacher would get us to do things with them, she didn't want much to do a specific activity.

[lovemy2boys]

When my son was 3, he did the same thing in soccer...so did most of his "teammates"...He did the same thing in bowling - loved it when it was just fun with us and friends, had a meltdown when he was on the kiddie league...

When my youngest son was 4, the 3 year olds on HIS team did the same thing in basketball...

It must be that magical age of 3. All the kids were super thrilled to be at their activity, they were super thrilled to interact with their parents...but once "instruction time" came, it was melt down city!

Funny thing is, we never forced our kids to do these sports - they were all things they asked to do...Now, as my kids get older, they knew that the rule is once you start a sport, you must finish that season...

But at 3, I'd give him a pass on that one...

Good luck!

[Yash]

My son cried during lessons. One lesson was taken completely in tears, then one day he stopped crying and loves it. Now if he's coach is late, he plays in the pool until the coach arrives.

I try to make sure his lessons aren't during naptime because that leads to a meltdown. I think because of his age everything was a battle or a fight and was accompanied by tears. Now some days, he cries because ha has to get out of the pool. And the little boy who was scared to jump off the diving board now loves it, he even tried to jump off backwards like the older kids. Coach xnayed that.

[DPline]

No advice, but sympathy. The summer right after Daniel turned three, he sat next to the pool every day for two weeks for an hour because he absolutely refused to get in for swimming lessons. DS#1 was in lessons at the same time, so I figured after a couple days of Daniel seeing DS#1 having fun, he would give in and get in the pool. I was wrong.

[Slatond10]

Almost the same story. My DD loves the pool / loves playing in the water. We did 2 yrs of Mommy and Me classes with out any issues.... she was SUPER excited about the "big kid" class and did great the 1st class, but then did increasingly worse with each additional class because they had to dunk their head one more time each class (1st class - once, 2nd class - twice...etc)

2nd class she dunked once and REFUSED to put her head in the water. There were 5 in the class, 2 excelled and began going under water more, 2 became more afraid every class and one just cried.

So I think your experience although extremely frustrating is not uncommon.

I would love to know the answer. DD wanted to take swim class again but I have said when she is ready to put her head under the water like the teacher instructs we will take again.? ( not sure what I will do in the spring?)

[megaphonemo]

Same experience with a 3 year old here - but with gymnastics class. We dropped out - it was not worth the money for the frustration. We'll try something more organized when she is a little older (soccer in our town starts at 4)....

Good luck....