Bribing kid for swim lessons

my son is 6 as well... and for a number of years in the midst of summer swimming lessons, he too was afraid to put his face in the water.... he!! he wouldn't even let me carry him out into slightly deeper areas where he couldn't touch. At some point some switch just flicked. Now his face goes in the water and all. 

Trust the swim teacher.  When he is ready it will happen. It seems you are doing everything right. Pressuring and cajoling will likely only raise the anxiety. 

My $.02

My son is 5 and same thing.  we started swim lesson when he was 4 and have had him in ever since.  he still is a little skidish about being face down in the water with his actual face in it, but he's grown quite accustomed to going under water to get rings.  If he won't go under water your next bribe will be getting him to swim with his face in the water.

The approach we are taking/have taken is to keep him in swim lessons year round consistently (so that he's not forgetting anything) and let him take his time.  Some pick up on it quicker than others and I have no problem with my kid being the slow one.  I would rather he learn slowly and enjoy it and it be fun, than forced into it and not look forward to swim lessons every week.  (not suggesting yours doesn't, just saying mine wouldn't)  We like the group class because he can see other kids doing things and it seems to give him an increased level of confidence.  We are letting the instructor do the teaching and just telling him we are proud of how well he is doing every now and then.  That's just our approach.  Won't work for everyone.

** *Double Post for some reason ** *

When I worked with kids on swim lessons it really just seeemed to be a switch that just kicked on.  Some people, like me, have really sensitive eyes, but I think I was born in the water, but not for speed.  Just born to float!!!!

We tried games with putting faces in the water, but sometimes I would clean up a pair of my old swim goggles and try to get them to fit the kids face pretty good and I would ask them to put their face in the water to count how many fingers I was moving in the pool.  Just enought movement that they had no choice to put their eyes in the water.  Different things work with different kids.

I don't think we intentionally avoided water in his face aside from when we were washing shampoo out of his hair.  We just didn't think about it.  Then because he was iffy in water we intentionally did pour water on the twins when they were born 2 years later.  The twins are better in water, but not sure how much that played into it.

M&M's.  Seriously, you could get me to paint the exterior of my house if you bribed me with enough M&M's.  It worked for my girls for potty training, putting faces in water, tying shoes, skiing solo without falling over.  It should be nearly instant gratification though.  Have them on hand and ready to go!

I do agree with others though, if he isn't ready, he won't do it until he is ready.

The funny thing I was thinking the exact opposite thing this past weekend.  We were at a dinosaur thing, and I understand that it attracts a certain type of kid, but there were several kids about 10-12 years old that I was completely surprised their parents let them out of the house.  Shorts up to their belly buttons, long socks with velcro shoes, and hair that looked like they just got out of bed.  I know we want stop bullies, and I think parents should put some effort into making sure their kids aren't such big targets.

Go for the bribery.

Actually, I would suggest a couple of steps.   First, hold a quarter so that he has to get his face close to the water to grab it.  Next a little deeper, enough to get his face wet.  Do that a couple of times. When that is easy, hold it so he has to go all the way under.  Goggles would help.  I predict you will be able to throw a quarter in the deep end of the pool before long.  A trip to the ice cream store to spend his winnings right after swim practice is good reinforcement.

The trick is for the terms of the bribe to be easy enough that the kid always gets the money immediately.  No deferred gratification, it has to be on the spot first time.  And the progression needs to be so easy that it is no effort at all.

I confess I bribed the Geezerettes to practice piano some. Play a short passage perfectly, 10 cents. After that is easy, play it three times for the dime. Interestingly, I was three for three on State Piano Champions. And, I still love to hear them play.

Good luck.  Tell him that he really outsmarted you on getting the quarters.

Lots  of good suggestions.  I had one kid who took a while to get his face wet, two who didn't.  The one that did have an issue is now playing college water polo!  It passes......

As a parent, and a (very) retired instructor, I have one concern.  Please don't ever think that any child is 'water safe'.  Comfort in the pool is a great thing, but sometimes it can bring a false sense of security.  This is the time of year we all start hearing of tragedies......kids that can swim, kinda, but drown. Don't ever let the littler ones out of your sight, and don't ever let the older ones play alone!!

Not trying to be a downer......just a voice of caution!!!