Tips for working with kids with sensory issues?
Does anyone have tips or strategies for working with kids who have sensory issues/a severe aversion to going underwater? For example, a kid who is otherwise understanding and following instructions, explains that they aren't *afraid* of going underwater, but gags and coughs if any bit of water gets in their mouth, and freaks out about submerging no matter what you do? I've had one kid who was like this and made extremely slow progress, requiring a full 30 minute lesson to work up to going underwater (with distraction and game breaks to avoid psyching them out too much) and then still being distressed afterwards.
I've worked with a lot of kids who are really *scared* of going underwater due to trauma or lack of exposure, and have been successful with the progression of pour water on the head > blow bubbles > surprise submerge > super excited praise, but I have less experience with kids for whom that strategy doesn't work. I've also had success with a related sensory issue (autistic student who hated wearing goggles), negotiating "Okay, we'll wear goggles for one lap of freestyle, then no goggles for the next lap," but haven't been able to apply that strategy as well to kids with a sensory aversion to water on their faces.
Quick edit - other body language and info from parents suggests other sensory issues, not just water, or i would assume it's a fear of water that the kid just isn't classifying as a fear for whatever reason
Thank you!