Our big summer issue......HELP

We don't have a pool so we spend a lot of time at my parents house in their pool. Last year, Emma was great whenever it was time to get out. Emma is 5. This year, getting out of the pool has become a nightmare. We give her a warning when its almost time to get out and when its time it turns into a full blown tantrum. It is hard to just get her out because I'm afraid one of us will slip. Once we get her out, we put her in the bedroom until she calms down. Almost each time, its been at least 45 minutes. Anything that we use as a normal incentive doesn't work.....nothing works. She starts summer school tomorrow and my original plan was to take her in the pool after school, but I cant keep doing this every time.
I hate that something so much fun has to bring what it does for the both of us.
Does anyone have any suggestions, PLEASE?????????

Our big summer issue......HELP

What works for AJ is the actual timer with the notification jthat it's time.

So if we say 5 min we set the phone timer show him and when it goes off (a special ring tone) he knows it's time to get out.

We do this for just about everything

Re: Our big summer issue......HELP

Have you tried a kitchen timer? I would verbally reinforce the issue before she goes in the pool. Then give her several warnings as the timer is approaching the end of swim time.

They also sell timers that are more visual at teacher stores that have green yellow and red lights as it counts down.

I have also tried making a visual "agreement" so to speak on the computer with pictures of desired behaviors.

Our big summer issue......HELP

We will try the timer and see how that works. Thanks girls! Andrea, we might be in your pool till midnight on Thurs..... Lol

Re: Our big summer issue......HELP

I would also suggest a timer, we use this for bathtime and it's the only thing that works. He has a clear display of his time being up and he's well aware that it's coming. He still doesn't like it, but no tantrums.

Re: Our big summer issue......HELP

before reading anyone else's responses I was also going to say a physical timer. We use the one on our cell phone and DS never gives us a problem. Good luck!

ETA - Ruby, we also use for bathtime too. Works like a charm

Message edited 7/9/2012 12:52:15 PM.

Our big summer issue......HELP

WE use a kitchen timer inside and an alarm on my watch when we are outside. I also give him a 5 minute and 2 minute warning before the timer will go off. He may drag his feet a little, but the timer really works the best for us.

Re: Our big summer issue......HELP

The timer is a great idea. At the preschool where I work, we often use sand timers with the kids so that they can see the "time" moving from the top to the bottom. This helps make "5 minutes" more concrete for them. They sell large sand timers of various durations at Lakeshore.

Re: Our big summer issue......HELP

Maybe a timer paired with a visual cue. Maybe a schedule with 3 steps "Time for pool", "5 more minutes", and "time to go in". Sometimes the visual is key.

Also, maybe she could earn extra minutes in the pool on Friday for every day she comes in without a problem, if she can understand the relationship between the two.