fear of water

[momoffive]

Hi. Does anyone else have a child who is terrified of water? if so, how do you deal with it - especially in the summer?

[Mary M]

I don't know if our dd12 is afraid or if there are too many compulsions to complete around water or if it is just too much to handle in terms of the sensory impact of the water on her body BUT whatever the case, she gets to decide if she is going to swim or play with water. We went through a long period of no baths or showers or swimming but post IVIg everything is becoming much easier for her to handle. For instance, she went to a friend's lake house and told us prior that she would not so much as put her bathing suit on or dip her toe in the water and that no one should splash her. We assurd her that she had the right not to go in the water or the boat. BUT when she got there...in she went, of her own accord, clothes and all. So letting her be the master of her body and her choices worked...that time. IVIg has helped tremendously.

[NewBeginnings]

My son was afraid for a few years, and we tried every tactic we could think of, but nothing worked, it was clearly something he did not want to do so we let it go. Then one day, some friends were over with their son who is younger than ours, and he was watching him for awhile and then he just decided to jump in and do it.

 

He now swims like a fish!