You need to approach the technique of facial submersion for three to four-year-olds in a different way than for younger children. At these ages, children become full participants in the “when” and “how” of submerging their faces in the water. By
using playful games, your child will initiate this defining moment and submerge her face herself. Her face will beam with pride and a sense of accomplishment in conquering the unknown.
With your child sitting on a shallow pool step if she is nervous, hold her in the Face-to-face Hold with your arms outstretched and your elbows slightly bent. Play a game of “quick draw”—see who can dip their face in and out of the water fastest. Start by dipping your eyes, nose, and mouth in and out of the water, then ask her to copy you and see if she can do it as quickly as you.
Stand in chest-deep water with your hands gripping the pool wall. Ask your child to hold on to the wall next to you. Tell her that you are going to play a game of peekaboo Pop your head under the water, then come up and quickly say, “Peekaboo. Your turn!” You may need to go up and down two or three times before she copies you, and at first she may just dip her chin in the water and not her whole face.
Sit facing your child on a shallow pool step. Take your finger and pretend to “paint” the colors of the rainbow one at a time on your child’s forehead. Ask her to tell you which color comes next. Now ask her to “wash off” the imaginary paint, and encourage her to lean forward and dip all or part of her face into the water. Repeat a few times.
Hide some colorful “treasure” on a shallow pool step, such as plastic weighted toys, coins, costume jewelry, or diving rings.With both you and your child wearing goggles, put your face in the water first to look at the sunken objects. Then encourage your child to come and dip her face in and look at the treasure with you.
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