Have you spotted any signs of Spring such as snowdrops, daffodils and bumble bees? As the clocks went forward at the end of March, we bid farewell to dark, long and gloomy evenings and start looking forward to getting out more. With this mindset, indoor activities such as swimming tend to take a backseat for some. We encourage parents to prioritise children’s swimming over other activities in the Summer term, especially for those who are going away to somewhere hot during the summer holidays.
Here are 5 reasons why you should prioritize swimming ahead of your summer holidays.
1. Swimming saves lives
Unfortunately, drowning incidents increased last year as people were drawn to lakes, rivers, and sea whilst the country faced the hottest summer on record. It was a sombre reminder that being able to swim is fundamental life-saving skill that could save your life and the lives of others. You cannot say the same about cricket and horse-riding (There is no disrespect for horse lovers and avid cricketers!).
The research, released by national governing body Swim England, found that 96 per cent of youngsters are stopping lessons too early, revealing only four per cent of seven to 11-year-olds are meeting the required grade. The research also found that while 81 per cent of parents want their children to learn to swim so they can look after themselves if they get into trouble, the majority of mums and dads are taking their children out of lessons before they are able to do so.
In order to be a competent swimmer, children should be able to:
- Swim at least 100 metres without stopping
- Tread water for at least 30 seconds
- Experience swimming in clothing
- ‘Float to live’ (performing a star float on their back for at least 30 seconds)
Swim England is recommending that parents and guardians only consider stopping lessons for their children when they are ‘competent’ swimmers, rather than just displaying confidence in the water.
Your time on the beach or by a swimming pool during the summer holiday will be far more relaxing and enjoyable if your child is a competent swimmer, or at least water-confident for younger children.
2. Swimming builds strong bodies that help with other sports
Swimming is not just a cardio-based sport; it also builds up strength and hones full body movements. Each stroke encourages children to achieve a greater range of motion around the shoulders and through their hips and torso. This is helpful for other sports that require rotational motion such as golf, baseball and football.
According to the Olympic gold medallist Janet Evans, “Swimming is the ultimate all-in-one fitness package, working most muscles in the body in a variety of ways with every stroke.” She points out that most other sports benefit only certain parts of the body or areas of fitness.
Swimming promotes greater lung capacity because of the intervals and frequency in which you can breathe, allowing for aerobic and anaerobic gains to be made. A greater lung capacity is an advantage for both water and land-based sports. Swimming also trains children to hold their breath longer. Better breath control not only helps them last longer under the water, it also sustains them during high-intensity exercises.
Continuing with swimming helps your child with other sports. No wonder why professional athletes use swimming training in their exercise programme to improve their performance.
3. It has positive psychological and emotional impact
We have all felt it before, whether it is a quick dip in a lake or swimming a few laps after work, something about being in water makes you feel good. Water activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which drives ‘rest and digest’ conditions in our body. When you are in this state, your body naturally relaxes with lower heart rate and blood pressure.
Swimming is a naturally mindful activity. The physical exertion of swimming signals the body to release endorphins, which give us a sense of wellbeing.
With the recent NHS data showing that 1 in 6 children in England has a probable mental health condition, it is definitely worth considering this ‘water therapy’ to support the children who often feel over stimulated or overwhelmed.
4. It Opens opportunities for new water based activities
You are not able to take part in many activities unless you are a competent swimmer. To name a few:
- Rowing
- Snorkelling
- Surfing
- Windsurfing
- Sailing
- Scuba diving
- Water polo
- Diving
- Artistic swimming (synchronized swimming)
- Water rugby, water football, water basketball
- Canoe polo
Learning to swim is not just about keeping your child safe in a shallow pool on holidays. As your child gets older, they would want to try out new sports such as sailing, paddle boarding and surfing on holiday. It is vital that they acquire this skill that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
Swimming is one of the best and most valuable activities out there for young children with countless benefits. Sports Generation offer swimming lessons to children from age 2.5 years and above with up to two children per class to maximise learning potential. We have limited spaces available for Summer term swimming lessons.
For more information about swimming lessons with us, call 0208 940 9431 or email contact@sportsgeneration.co.uk
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