You and Your Child

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 24 January 1939, Page 2

You and Your Child

Frightened Tot Can't Be Taught Swimming

(By Jane Herbert Go ward) Walking hand in hand with Daddy, little Eunice went down to the edge of the lake. Here she hesitated in wonder and fear. Dad gave her a push. The child planted her heels firmly in the sand and refused to budge. This puzzled the father as he recalled the good times they had had together in the water last summer. Eunice was four years old now and he had decided to teach her to swim. “Just step in and get your feet wet,” he coaxed. And when the child did, he picked her up and carried her into deeper water. Eunice kicked and screamed. “Stop that. Don’t be afraid. I’m going to teach you to swim,” father said. The little girl was not reassured, however. She thought she would drown and was fighting for her life. Finally dad, in annoyance, gave up the struggle and took her ashore. When Eunice stopped at the water, she may have been trying to make up her mind to go in. Dad should have left her standing there, watching, while' he jumped in and swam around. It would have given her a chance to gather courage. Then she might have called him to come to get her. Last year Eunice was overpowered by the same feeling of dread on her first visit to the lake. But her parents were sympathetic. They did not force her to go in. She was allowed to play near the wat-*r> edge and on the second visit she went it. wad ng by herself.

It is not uncommon for littl? children to be afraid in new and strange situations. While the lake was not strictly new and strange to Eunice, almost a year had passed since she had seen it. She was a different girl now. Indeed, she may even have developed a fear of the dark in the meantime which would tend to make her more fearful in general. Once acquired, fear of the water may not be easily overcome. Before attempting to teach a tot to swim, let him get used to the water and be sure he is unafraid and willing to learn.