Swimming is a sport kids can get into at a young age. It helps with mental and social development. Swimming is therapeutic and builds a sense of self and confidence. Swimming teaches children persistence, perseverance and social values. Kids also learn to get active and gain a positive attitude towards health and fitness.
What are the swimming benefits?
1. Socialization
Team sports are social. Swimming isn’t directly a team sport, but it can be (i.e. water polo). In the summer, children go to the beach or the pool to splash around and have fun; we can’t forget about summer birthday parties!
Kids who don’t know how to swim feel or are excluded from receiving such invitations. That’s why some children lack confidence or feel socially isolated. However, with a few swim lessons, anyone can learn to swim. Swim lessons are an opportunity to make friends while learning an essential life skill.
Learning to socialize is a significant part of a child’s development. According to this article, encouraging children to socialize from a young age sets them up for success later in life. Children learn from those who care for them and connect with friends and family members as they age.
Kids build a sense of who they are through relationships and social interactions. They respond to influences around them, which is why we should set a good example for them.
2. Life Saving Skill
Whether they’re saving their own lives or someone’s else, kids knowing how to swim is quite helpful. Unfortunately, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children between one and fourteen years of age.
Swim lessons are helpful because they teach kids essential water safety skills. As a parent, you play a role in keeping your kids safe in the water. You should adopt a multi-layered approach to water safety.
Learning to swim allows kids to gain the self-rescue skills they need to succeed in the pool. Instructors should be teaching children basic swimming and water safety skills. Back floating and treading water are essential skills for kids learning to swim for the first time.
3. Confidence
Children with a strong sense of self-worth feel competent to cope with life’s challenges. As parents, it’s our responsibility to teach children to develop healthy patterns of self-esteem building and experience the concept of success following effort and persistence.
This research study finds those who learn from professional swim instructors are more confident. Experienced swim instructors teach kids proper swimming techniques at their own pace. Learning a new skill allows children to thrive, set and achieve goals and celebrate accomplishments.
Becoming a swimmer teaches kids to work towards getting better at a skill over time. Confidence is an important part of life. Learning an essential life skill at a young age gives kids high self-esteem and confidence later in life.
4. Health and Fitness
Here’s the most obvious aspect of swimming. Health and fitness are something kids and adults get from swimming at a young age. Encouraging your child to swim at a young age allows them to get in shape, stay healthy and enjoy exercise.
Teaching children how to swim shows them that exercise can be fun. Whether they’re swimming recreationally or competitively, your child gets a full body workout. Since water supports up to 90% of your body weight, swimming is easy on the joints.
Swimming is fun and doesn’t feel like exercise. You don’t need to swim laps to reap the benefits either. When you swim, you use all the muscles in your body regardless of your favorite stroke. Splashing around for a few hours does wonders for the body and boosts circulatory and respiratory health.
