Why Are Kids Afraid to Dunk?
According to psychologists, this stems from our instincts; we naturally panic when something threatens our breathing. We overcome this instinct if we slowly and calmly learn that by holding our breath, we can submerge our heads without inhaling water. If kids are traumatized instead — say by being tossed in the pool — they can develop a fear of water.

Fun Facts
Why do we float?
The human body seems big and heavy, but it is less dense than the water it displaces partly because our bodies contain fat, and partly because our lungs, like balloons, are full of air.