When Dylan Lund started at Goldfish Rochester this past April, trips to swim lessons were anything but pleasant, recount Dylan’s parents, Michelle and Drew Lund.

“It was definitely concerning [that Dylan was afraid of the water]. We didn’t know whether to keep him in class, or to pull him out and put him in a private lesson just to help him work past the obstacle of getting in the water,” remembers Drew.

When we asked Dylan what he was so afraid of, he admitted that he was worried the water was going to be cold, but was pleasantly surprised when he jumped in only to find that the water was really warm. In fact, it was 90 degrees!

Goldfish Rochester’s general manager, Ken Turner, who also happened to be one of Dylan’s instructors during the early stages of his development, thinks that his apprehension rooted from more than just the fear of the cold. His self-confidence in the water was low. He was resistant; he really just didn’t like being in the water.

Having worked with plenty of students similar to Dylan in the past, the Goldfish instructors knew just what to do. To alleviate his fear, the instructors got into the water with him. They shared encouraging words and really praised his successes until—eventually—he gained the confidence he needed to swim and stay safe in the pool.

And it couldn’t have been at a better time. As Dylan recounts in the video, this summer, he ran into a scary situation. While at the lake with his family, Dylan fell off the dock. What could have been a traumatic event was prevented by the fact that Dylan didn’t panic; he swam. He saved his own life.

So is Dylan’s situation unique?

Not at all, says Ken. It’s very common for children to be afraid of the water when they first come to Goldfish. Like Dylan, it could be a fear of cold water or it could be:

  • A horrible past experience
  • Unfamiliarity
  • Fear of drowning
  • Fear of being away from parents

If you have a child that is afraid of the water, Ken definitely recommends that you give Goldfish a try.

“There is nothing more important than being safe around the water and confident when in the water. Dylan is an outstanding example of a great team effort on the part of our staff to get him to be safe, comfortable, loving the water and learning new things every day.”

We promise that experience for your child, too. Interested in learning more? Head into our website to pre-register your future Goldfisher!