Strategies to Overcoming Aquatic Phobias

Children, who suffer from extreme fear of the water, aqua phobia, end up enduring much more than just an avoidance of water. This problem can have a huge influence on a child's self-esteem, ability to problem solve, willingness to face and overcome obstacles and their overall social, physical and emotional fitness. Especially here in Florida, where water is everywhere and people take such an interest in an aquatic lifestyle, two very serious problems confront child aqua phobics and their families. A child, who fears water and never receives help, probably will never learn how to swim, correctly anyway. This presents a clear and present danger considering how many opportunities this type of environment provides for exposure to water. Between the beaches, lakes, rivers and pools that saturate this area, it's almost impossible to avoid them on a consistent basis. A child that does not know how to swim is at a real disadvantage and at a loss to help themselves or others if the need ever arose to use aquatic skills in an emergency. Furthermore a child that does not learn how to swim is missing out on an entire world of aquatic experiences that would benefit their physical health. It is well documented that swimming is the best form of exercise available. It develops your emasculatory and respiratory systems more so than any other form of exercise that's available to children. The beauty of this form of exercise is that any one can succeed. A child does not need to be an exceptional athlete, not even athletic; they only need to be willing to learn. A child who has felt inadequate on the playground and uninterested in more traditional sports can develop a level of physical and emotional fitness that far exceeds their present condition. Rather than feeling left out and unfit, a child that learns to swim and feel confident about their ability to handle themselves in an aquatic environment , will be a much happier, healthier and safer child.

As the parent of a child who suffers from aqua phobia, many questions arise to why and how this condition exists. After all why do some children come into this world and seem to adapt to water like the fishes were once all were, while others reject it as if they have experienced some water related trauma. You might wonder why if all children spend approximately nine months in their mother's womb, surrounded by water, this transition and evolution occurs. Parents might ponder whether or not it's their fault that their child suffers form an extreme fear of the water.