Hi there,

It can feel frustrating or upsetting when you’re told to take part in things you don’t want to. There are times when your parents or carers will make you do things to learn important skills, but it’s never okay for them to threaten to hit you.

Part of having swimming lessons is helping you to feel more comfortable in the water. It’s natural you’d be worried when you’re scared of swimming, but it can help to remember that a swimming teacher can help you with that.

Before you start your lessons, it might help to think about what you’d like to get from them. Talking to your teacher in your first lesson about your worries can help you work together with your fears. They can also help with talking to your mum and dad about ways to make you feel comfortable. Even though it’s hard, feeling more confident in the water can help you to feel less scared in the future.

Whether it’s a disagreement about swimming or anything else, you deserve to feel safe. If someone is threatening you, hurting you, or scaring you, then it’s important to get help. You can get support from Childline any time, or share what’s happened with an adult you trust.

Lots of young people have struggled with swimming and their fears. 

Take care,

Sam