How to Help Your Child Become Comfortable Getting Their Face Wet
Many, if not most, of the kids I teach are working on becoming comfortable with getting their faces wet. It is very common for children to experience anxiety about this during swim lessons, regardless of whether they are 18 months old or 4.5 years old. However, it is a crucial step in their progression because children cannot learn to swim independently without learning to hold their breath and go underwater.
There can be many reasons why they’re uncomfortable:
From a physical development standpoint, they are still developing their lung capacity and breath control, so it can feel scary to put their face in the water when they are still learning how to hold their breath.
They are brand new to swim lessons, and the pool can feel intimidating and look very big to them, and they’re getting used to new instructor.
They had a scary experience with water when they were younger, which is contributing to their nervousness.
They weren’t progressively introduced to getting used to water on their face as a baby or toddler, making it seem more intimidating as they get older.
They simply aren’t fans of it! Some kids are born water babies, while others need to work at a slower pace to get comfortable putting their face in, and that’s okay.
There seems to be two approaches to introducing water acclimation:
Progressions that build on comfort and proceed at the child’s pace.
Having the child submerge right away, even if they cry or become more afraid of the water.
I'm a fan of the first approach. I believe in intrinsic motivation and that a child should always have agency over their own body as they learn a new skill. It may take a little longer, but if a child can get comfortable getting their face wet on their own, they will ultimately become more confident swimmers. They will learn to trust their own bodies instead of being forced to submerge before they’re ready. Think of it like this: you could force a child down the biggest slide at the playground even though they’re expressing that their terrified, or you could allow them to work up to climbing their way up to the entrance of the slide over time and slowly gaining the strength, coordination, and confidence in their own bodies to feel ready to do it. This is my approach in a nutshell.
So, what do these progressions look like? What do I do in my lessons to help children get comfortable getting their face wet? All of these tips and tricks can be used at home, in the bath, or at the pool steps (where kids feel safest and more willing to try these activities). I encourage families to practice these activities between lessons.
Tip: I usually see the most success when demonstrating these activities on something like a baby doll, water toy, or on my own (smiling) face first. This lets your child know that it’s not scary and they’re not alone in doing it. Demo on the toy and/or yourself and then encourage them to do it themselves.
“Wash Our Face” - Simply show them how to get their hands wet and rub the water on their face, hair, over their forehead and eyes.
“Sprinkle” - Have them dip their hands in the water and use their fingers to “sprinkle” a small amount of water on the top of their head, then their forehead so it trickles down their face over their eyes. Show them to “blink, blink, blink” to clear the water.
Tip: They’ll impulsively want to rub their eyes, which is fine, but the more they can work up to blinking the better because they’ll learn that their eyes have the capability of going in water and as they learn to swim and paddle their arms, they won’t be stopping to rub them.
3. “Cup Conditioning” - have them take a small cup of water and pour it in this order:
-on their shoulders
-one cheek at a time
-their nose (with their mouth closed)
-the back of their head
-the sides of their head
-their forehead (I say this instead of “eyes” bc it’s usually less intimidating)
Tip: you don’t have to fill the cup up the whole way, start with just a little water at a time. When demoing on the baby before pouring it over their whole face, you can say “1, 2, 3, go!”
Side Note: If your child is keeping their mouth open when pouring water on their face (this is very common in children 3 years and younger), show them how to take a big breath in, close your lips and hum. Show them this over-and-over, humming a part of their favorite song as you pour water over your own face with your mouth closed. Eventually, after lots of practice, they’ll learn to close their mouth too. This is an important pre-cursor to learning to blow bubbles and they should learn to hold their breath with their mouth closed first. While some children can blow bubbles at 2 or 3 years old, many don’t develop this skill until a little later. They can still learn breath control and learn to swim underwater by learning to take a breath and close their mouth. As they learn to blow bubbles with their mouth, they can work up to blowing bubbles out of their nose for optimal breath control and longer swims.
4. Retrieve Sinker Toys - At the pool steps, place sinker toys such as rings, mermaids, gems, etc. on a pool step that’s just low enough for them to reach in and get their shoulders and chin wet. Have them stand on the steps at the wall and hold the pool wall for balance and safety. Have them reach for the sinkers in the following order:
-shoulders in
-chin in
-one cheek, then the other cheek
-one ear, then the other ear
-their closed mouth
-their mouth and nose
-their forehead (I say “forehead” or “eyebrows” instead of eyes)
5. Traditional Hold to Glide or Kick in the Pool:
Hold your child in the pool under their armpits and facing you. Make sure they’re in a horizontal gliding or kicking position (we want to teach this proper form rather than a vertical form which is the drowning position).
Show them how you first put your chin in, then your cheeks, ears, mouth, nose, and eyes. Have them copy you working up to whatever body part they’re most comfortable submerging.
6. “Peek-a-boo” - Once your child is comfortable with those progressions, have them dip their chin in the water and then put their whole front of their face in for 1 second. I like to have a baby doll or toy on the pool wall for them to say “peek-a-boo” to when they pop back up. You can get silly with it and have the toy giggle or cheer for them with each progression.
7. Submerge Entire Head - Once your child is comfortable putting their face in, then they can work up to putting their whole head in for a second. They can practice this at the steps first by retrieving sinker toys. Then they can practice this as they are kicking to reach safety. For example, with you holding them to kick forward, they can dip their head in as they reach their arms out straight to balance themselves on the top pool step and they can dip their head as they reach their arms straight to practice grabbing the pool wall with both hands.
Tip: As children start putting their face in and then putting their hold head under, start with literally 1 second. Slowly build to having them hold their breath for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 seconds at a time. This takes time because they’re literally building their lung capacity and development for breath control. If they’re coming up coughing or sputtering, do 1 less second. After repeating that over and over with confidence, add an extra second.
Three ways we add more seconds to our breath control is: 1. Going under as we kick back and reach for the pool step. 2. Going under as we kick to reach and grab the pool wall. 3. Doing a “humpty dumpty”, where the child slides into the pool on their bottom at the pool wall with a cue “1, 2, 3, go” and has assistance with turning to grab the wall.
Tip: If at any point, you try a progression that sends your child into a panic, simply take one step back and work on a previous activity they were comfortable with and then try again later.
Here’s a caveat: I believe there are times when children need a little push out of their comfort zone. Some children need a little boost to get to the next level, it’s true. For a child who needs some assistance being brave and progressing to the next level, it is crucial to first establish a sense of trust and safety. Some children may show all the signs of readiness to slide in from the wall and submerge for one second to turn and grab the wall, but they might still say they don’t want to do it. For instance, if they are repeatedly putting their face in the water at the steps, this is a sign of readiness for a submerged “humpty dumpty”. In such cases, you can tell them that they will be doing this activity, but make sure to reassure them that they are safe and that you are there to ensure their safety.
Tip: As usual, you can use a baby doll or toy to demonstrate first. Have the toy do a "Humpty Dumpty" by singing the song, “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. Jump in the water and turn to the wall. 1, 2, 3, go.” Alternatively, you can simply use the “1, 2, 3, go” cue and then simulate you or the toy taking a big breath in to hold their breath before going under.
You know your child best. A swim instructor should take the time to establish a sense of trust and safety with a child and understand their pace before helping them try something out of their comfort zone. You’ll know this assisted exercise was a success if the child either:
Shows that they’re calm and excited afterward, or
Is initially a little nervous but recovers quickly after some celebration and reinforcement of what they’ve accomplished and how awesome they are.
Alternatively, if the child goes into a full cry or a hyperventilating panic that they can’t get out of, you’ll know they aren’t quite ready for the exercise. In this case, pull back a bit and work on a part of water acclimation they’re more comfortable with trying.
Tip: You can always go back to the safety of the pool steps to practice the above activities. The pool steps help children retune and retain a sense of safety again as they work up to doing a new skill.
Conclusion
Helping children become comfortable with getting their faces wet is a crucial step in their swimming journey. Understanding the reasons behind their discomfort and adopting a gentle, progression-based approach can make a significant difference in their confidence and skill development. By building trust and providing consistent, supportive guidance, children can gradually overcome their fears and become more proficient swimmers.
Remember, every child is different, and their pace of learning should be respected. Use playful and reassuring techniques to make the process enjoyable and less intimidating. Practicing these activities at home or at the pool steps can reinforce their progress and help them feel more secure.
By following these tips and being patient, you can help your child develop a positive relationship with water, paving the way for them to become confident and independent swimmers. Always celebrate their successes, no matter how small, and provide comfort and encouragement when they face challenges. With time and practice, they will learn to trust their own abilities and enjoy the water more fully.
