He put his whole head under water!!!

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Registered: 03-27-2003
He put his whole head under water!!!
4
Wed, 05-17-2006 - 10:44am

Ok, this is a completely inane topic that only you guys would understand.

Sam (7) has been petrified of putting his head underwater and getting his eyes and ears wet. It makes learning to swim (and washing his hair) tough and he loves going to the beach and water in general. He's been working up to getting his whole head wet for awhile now. Self-lead with our enthusiastic encouragement, no pressure and little ,"it's time to practise..." talk.

He stuck his entire head underwater last night in the bathtub. I did make a comment that maybe he could try it out while he was laying on his back. I thought he'd bristle at it and that'd be the end of it. But he pinched his nose and took the plunge. He actually did it twice. I showed him in a mirror that he got his whole head wet!!! We were all so excited. He said, "now I can learn to swim!" He's been trying so hard every summer at the beach, but gets held up every time the water goes into his ears. Every year he's a little better.

It's harder at the beach because he's also anxious about minnows, hermit crabs...etc. But water shoes seem to help with that a little. I'm so happy for him!

Chrystee

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 05-17-2006 - 12:52pm

That is fabulous Chrystee! I am so glad.

I am with him on minnow and squirmy things in the water. I never could swim in lakes and such because I couldn't see what was underwater and if a fish swam by an touched my legs....ewe. I can still feel a chill go up my spine just thinking about it. I was much better with a mask and clearer water so I could see underwater.

How about ear plugs? Would he wear them? Would they help? Then he wouldn't have to worry about water in his ears as much. I hate the feeling too where you can't hear and get the water out of your ears. Wet is one thing but that thing were you have to shake your head until it gets out could be really annoying to some kids.

Glad he did it though. Major major kudo's to him for sticking with it.

Renee

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Registered: 01-19-2005
Wed, 05-17-2006 - 4:49pm

Way to go Sam!!! My son also eased himself into putting his head under water in the tub. He'd also lay down on his back a little more at a time until eventually one day water covered him. We just did like you, suggested he try, encouraged if he did. It really made swimming lessons easier when the time came.

After he did that, we did let him use swim goggles sometimes at the pool, but only after he got really used to putting his head under water.

Hurray!!!

Katherine

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Registered: 11-07-2004
Wed, 05-17-2006 - 5:09pm
That is fantastic! I wish my little guy would do it too. He won't put his head under the faucet or under water at all. I have to rinse his hair with a cup with the bath water. It is kinda gross at this point. But, he absolutely will freak out if we try any other way. I thought I was the only parent who had this issue. I dream of him learning how to swim given we live in Florida and I almost think it is irresponsible parenting not to have taught your child to swim.
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Registered: 10-03-2004
Wed, 05-17-2006 - 5:45pm

Chrystee,

Congrats!!! We sure know what a milestone that is. Hooray for Sam.

It took Malcolm over 3 years of swimming lessons (age 3 - 6) to put his head under water! And during all that time, hair washing was difficult at best. We rinsed his hair with a cup for years, clean enough, I always thought. When he was at his most sensory, I had to use a washcloth to get the soapsuds out...

When he did actually stick his head under water at his lesson, it was a big huge day. He was so thrilled, so was the teacher and everyone else at the pool. But in the meantime, he became amazingly good at swimming with his head completely above water, so then once he could go UNDER, well, he was a pretty strong swimmer.

Now, he LOVES to swim under water. Restful, he says. And he washes and rinses his own hair all by himself.

Sara
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