From Tub to Pool: Navigating Plateaus and Building Confidence
September 13, 2026Overcoming the Plateau
I often hear from parents, “It seems like they’re just not getting anywhere, like their skills aren’t advancing.” To this, I say, it is entirely normal for a child’s swimming progress to stall. A child may blow us away by blowing bubbles for weeks and then suddenly shut down or hesitate when asked to float. According to Shapland Swim Schools, when introduced to swimming, children have to quickly adapt to learning new skills in a completely different environment (Chris Shapland, 2019). Usually, they learn new skills on solid ground, which helps build confidence in trying new things. Because water has significantly less gravitational force, children’s brains are often busy consolidating and processing the new physical data they receive cognitively and through their senses. This, in turn, can contribute to a plateau. So instead of viewing this as a concern, parents can see it as their children’s minds busy working to understand this new sensation and learning environment.
To navigate these plateaus, parents can maintain consistency, prioritize low-pressure play, and communicate with their instructors. As a parent, it can be tempting to pull your child out of an activity when they express discomfort. However, Swimtastic Swim School (Swimtastic Corporation, 2011) emphasizes the importance of continuation. Stopping lessons because your child’s progress stalls can cause them to lose foundational skills they will need to relearn later in life. Low-pressure play is a fantastic tool for building comfort in the water. Children naturally interpret and organize their environment through play, which is why play therapy, an evidence-based practice, is rapidly growing! Water Babies USA recommends bringing a favorite waterproof toy to class to provide a sense of familiarity (David, 2019). Although instructors will have toys for your children, sometimes children find relief in familiar items.
Bath Time Practice
The bathtub, a familiar place for children, is warm and secluded, which makes for the perfect environment to build water confidence. Parents can introduce subtle cues during normal routines that can significantly contribute to their children’s formal lessons. Next, we will discuss essential swimming skills you can introduce at home! Beginning with a verbal cue game, parents will work with their children to build predictable breath control. This comes with a verbal cue. As suggested by Swimming Safari Swim School, parents can use a simple “1, 2, 3, Go!” or “Ready, go!” before trickling a cup of water or a ‘watering can’ over your child’s head (Swimming Safari, 2026). This prepares your child to blink, close their mouth, and anticipate the water on their face. Another tactic is submersion progressions. Rather than unexpectedly forcing your child’s face under water, use smaller progressions. Parents can start by encouraging them to touch their chin to the water, then their mouth, nose, and eventually ears. This lets your child control the next steps and can build their confidence in the water.
By shifting our views on plateaus, we can see this is an essential time of processing for children, and by using bath time as risk-free training, parents can support their swimmers throughout their aquatic development!
