Any advice on how to get my son to like the water?????

I have a 30 month son (2 1/2) and he is horrified of water unless it is in a bath tub. Everytime I try and take him to the lake or even to a kiddie pool he freaks out and screams the whole time. We went to the beach for the 4th and ended up leaving because he wouldn't even walk in the sand down by the water. I am a bit concerned, most kids his age you can't keep them away from it. Some people have suggested swimming lessons, but I don't see how that will work if he freaks just looking at it. please help!Any advice on how to get my son to like the water?????
Dont push him. When you do this can be a scare for life. Try to get a DORA or his favorite show DVD where they go to the beach. Bring someone who has kids his age that he likes to play with and have them go in the water... Get some toys specifically for the water and beach and dont let him play with them anywhere else.. maybe this will push him.. Wish you luck!Any advice on how to get my son to like the water?????
Little kids are smart. It might just be that he really isn't that fearful of water, but enjoys the attention he gets by freaking out.





Whether he's truly afraid or not, I don't think forcing him to be by water is a good idea. Just expose him to it once or twice a month. If you wait a few weeks, he might just ';forget'; he's afraid of water.
How does he do with an inflatable kiddie pool? If he is ok with that then maybe the waves scare him. My 2 year-old granddaughter is a bit afraid at the beach but is absolutely crazy about the waterpark. I guess you'd just have to start really small with a large container of water that he can play with and perhaps step in and out of, like a large dish pan. Or how about playing with a trickling hose and some buckets.Maybe bring him a bucket of water to play with when you are at the beach. If you force him, it will definitely only get worse. My daughter at 2-10 years always had to keep wiping her face with a towel. That was weird. At 24, she loves the beach but just never became a real water lover. Go gently and slowly and let him decide where his comfort zone is. Perhaps someday when he is not too freaked out, he will want to join the other kids playing in the sand or at the shoreline. He is still young enough to change. Definitely no swimming lessons until you can hold him with you in the water without him screaming. Too bad you can't pinpoint what has happened or what he is really afraid of. The sinking feeling of the sand? the force of the waves? Too deep? Lost his breath when he went under? Can't see the bottom? Then you could work around it. Good luck. I hope he eventually outgrows it.
Maybe have children his age around that like the water, and Keep a close eye on him because even those little kids can be cruel . Eventually he'll get used to it.
My son loves water...but hated to get his head wet! Once we told him to close his eyes...then it was fine....





Anyway..back to your question...give him time...He will be ok with water in his own time....
give him time, there are other things he likes. He will grow out of it, he just is unsure. The water is cold, it is nothing like the bath and the sand may not feel good to him. Wait till he is older don't rush or push him into doing something he doesn't like.
Maybe he doesnt like the cold water.


Try putting him in a colder bath for some playtime when it is hot outside to get him used to the colder water.
I had the same problem with my son. I took him to the beach last year and he absolutely hated it. My daughter was having a great time so I had him sit in my lap the whole time. The next time we went I took some toy cars and boats. After sitting on a towel for 20 minutes or so my son decided he wanted to play with the trucks and cars in the sand. He had to sit on the towel, but at least he was playing. Before we left the beach that day he was sitting in the sand having a great time. He is three now and we still go to the beach on a regular basis. He is just now wanting to wade in the water and he is now playing in a kiddie pool at home. I hope his fear of the water will completely disappear soon -- well almost completely!!





Good luck and God Bless!!!
have you gone in yourself to show him there is nothing to be afraid of? go in and call him in to a shallow pool. show him how fun it is and not scarey. make sure he has a life jacket on at all times. cus once he finds out how fun it is, he may jump in. best wishes.