While swimming is a great way for adults to stay healthy and keep in shape, many overlook the number of benefits that swimming can have on children too. Not only does it help them to stay active, but it also promotes confidence, mental well-being and teaches them to work as part of a team.
Whatever the reason, the advantages of teaching your child to swim can’t be argued against. So, here are just a few of the most important reasons you should consider swimming lessons for your kids.
1. Overall Fitness and Well-being
With childhood obesity on the rise, maintaining your kid’s fitness is more important than ever. Swimming is often considered to be one of the most beneficial forms of exercise for people of all ages. Not only does it use the whole body and get the blood racing, but it’s also an excellent way to increase stamina and lung function.
Compared to other certain forms of physical activity, there’s also a wide range of fun activities for children to keep them engaged and focused.
2. Safety
Drowning is a serious risk for both young children and teens. Learning how to become a strong swimmer not only keeps them fit, but also provides them with invaluable experience in the water, preparing them for any real-life situations.
This is particularly useful if your child ever finds themselves in an emergency such as being pulled into deep water at the beach. Through certain lifeguard programs your child may even learn to save others who find themselves in trouble.
3. Reduces Stress
The natural buoyancy of water means that swimming is a far more relaxing activity compared to other forms of exercise. On top of this, certain studies have shown that swimming allows people to exercise for longer periods.
Staying active has also been shown to improve both emotional and mental health, reducing the risk of certain mental conditions such as depression. There are a number of other benefits too. For instance, finding a suitable outlet for your child’s stress will provide them with improved levels of concentration, leading towards a healthier, happier life.
4. Social Skills
Swimming is also a great way to promote confidence in children. As they become more experienced and comfortable in the water they’ll gradually develop belief in their athletic talents. Taking your child to swimming classes also encourages them to interact with other children, helping them to make more friends and be more sure of themselves in the process. In addition, swimming can also help to foster discipline and team-building skills, both of which are crucial in later life.
5. Promotes coordination and intelligence
Finally, swimming is an ideal way to build your child’s hand-eye coordination and intelligence. This is especially crucial during the early childhood development stage, and many believe that children who swim are far more likely to excel in activities such as cutting, coloring, and drawing in comparison to others. Exercise also has a positive effect on your child’s brain by boosting blood flow, and swimming regularly can have a vast number of benefits in later life.