I once took my son to a fun Waterpark for his 4th birthday. Eventually we went on a very tame slide that had a "splash pool" at the bottom. It felt safe enough to let him go, so I did, watching as he slid down. After a few seconds I went too, after losing sight of him for just a few seconds.
When I got to the bottom of the slide, he was under the water with top of his head a few cms below the top. He stood there motionless, just looking up at me. I'll never forget that look of helplessness. I picked him up and he was fine luckily.
He loves water and swimming now, no trauma or anything. Don't think the danger registered with him enough, but it did with us as parents. He went straight to swimming classes a few weeks after that.
When I got to the bottom of the slide, he was under the water with top of his head a few cms below the top. He stood there motionless, just looking up at me. I'll never forget that look of helplessness. I picked him up and he was fine luckily.
He loves water and swimming now, no trauma or anything. Don't think the danger registered with him enough, but it did with us as parents. He went straight to swimming classes a few weeks after that.