And you can take that title literally.
Jorden has been taking swim lessons for over a month now. You would think that she will at least try to swim without clutching to someone but no... she still needs to hang on for dear life to her instructor. I even held her back a level so maybe she would get over this. I mean, everytime she jumps in the water she jumps on her instructor. I've tried about every encouraging word I can think of but she still won't get over it. So I went drastic.
Tonight we stayed after class and I informed her that we would not be going home until she jumped in the water. We went over to the ladder and I gave her two choices: she either jumped in on her own or I would push her. After 20 minutes of encouraging, arguing, and her crying, I stood behind her, picked her up, and dropped her in the pool. Then I took two steps over to the ladder so she could grab my arm and then grab the ladder.
Maybe it was a little mean. And she sure wasn't happy about it (although the lifeguard who watched the whole thing was a little amused). But she had to get over it sometime. And if she jumps on her instructor next week I'll drop her in the pool again.
The FIT Challenge
15 years ago
1 comment:
You know what? I did the very same thing to my son. He would NOT jump in the pool without jumping into someone's arms. I made him stand at the side and I was in the water (it was preschool class, though), and as he reached out for me, I pushed him...and moved away.
And I did it 2 or 3 times, and he realized it was FUN. There were a few other parents who were trying to get their child over the jumping in fear. I told them what I did (mean as it DOES sound)...they tried, and lo and behold, they managed to get their kids jumping too. Guess what worked for me as a child still works (I was thrown into a river when I was 5!)
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