Bathing is a mandatory daily routine, and for young children it is also a kind of ritual that helps to calm down and tune into sleep. Despite the fact that parents teach their children to swim from the first days of life, their attitude to water procedures is different. Someone happily splashes and plays in the water, quietly dives and swims, and for someone diving, and in general everything related to water and bathing becomes a source of panic fear. Often parents complain that previously a calm and loving to swim a child, suddenly became afraid to swim, refuses to go into the bathroom, etc. It is important to understand that there is no inherent fear of water for babies - newborns are happy to frolic in the water, feeling themselves in the familiar water environment for him easily and at ease. The reason for later developed fears is that we are adults.
Why is the child afraid of water?
The most common cause of fear is fright or unpleasant memories. For example, the water in the bathroom was too hot or the kid accidentally slipped, was frightened by a strong jet from the shower, unsuccessfully dived, swallowed the water, soap came into my eyes, etc.
Try to remember what exactly scared the child, and take care of removing the source of fear - watch the water temperature, use children's cosmetics not irritating, put a non-slip mat on the bottom of the bathtub or use a special baby chair for bathing. If the child is afraid of water, do not make him dive, do not immerse in water by force - this will only exacerbate the situation.
There are often cases when a child is afraid to swim in the bathroom, but easily takes water procedures elsewhere.
How to save the child from fear of swimming?
- Do not force, do everything gradually. For example, the crumb calmly stands in the water on the ankle, but when its level reaches the knees, begins to cry. Do not insist, let first bathe in the "little" water, with each bath a little raise the water level. If the child is afraid of being in the water, do not keep it in the bathroom for a long time, try to complete the bathing more quickly, and you will increase the duration of the water procedures when the baby gets used to it.
- Do not ridicule fear, do not put the baby in the example of other children who boldly dive and swim well.
- Do not leave one in the bathroom. Parents often believe that children 5-7 years old are already completely independent and should bathe themselves. Meanwhile, to get rid of the fear of crumbs, your help and support will be required. Be with him during bathing, water him with water, so that he does not freeze, play with him with drowning toys - all this will do him good.
- Turn the bathing into a game. Playing, the child is distracted from feelings and fears, feels more confident. You can use rubber toys, colored pebbles, soap bubbles - anything that will help the kid to get distracted.