5 reasons why swimming should be a year-around activity
We hear from many parents that their children will “take a break” from swimming lessons in the winter as they think it is enough for their children to swim during the warm summer months. We beg to differ; here are 5 compelling reasons why swimming should be a year-around activity.
1. Swimming is a non-weather dependent sport
It can be hard to get your children to be active during cold and dark months as they would rather sit on the sofa, glued to digital screens than be exposed to the elements of a British winter. But not so with swimming; the weather cannot touch them in an indoor swimming pool! Having a weekly lesson is the ideal way to ensure that children are getting the exercise they need, rain or shine (or snow, or sleet…).
2. Swimming is a mood booster
We all have good days and bad days, particularly in winter. Who hasn’t had a dose of the January blues…Christmas is over, money is tight, and we’ve consumed our body weight in chocolate! Children are no exception – I think we can all remember that back-to-school feeling being at its worst in January. Swimming is the best antidote; because of its repetitive nature, it produces a feeling of “letting go”, by which you can press the “PAUSE” button and forget your daily hassles for a while, leading to massive mental health benefits. The energy expended and being immersed in water triggers the body to secrete endorphins that produce a general feeling of well-being and calm. Moreover, if your child swims after school, this will help them sleep better and be fully refreshed for a day of school ahead. Plus that grumpy child at the beginning of the lesson usually transforms into a beaming one at the end, a definite mood booster for parents!
3.Swimming all year optimises progress
We have witnessed in our lessons that students who have not swum for a while not only forget their skills but are more at risk of developing fear of the water. Being confident and comfortable in the water is the foundation to becoming strong and competent swimmers. Swimming all year round builds on skills acquired without the need to repeat past instruction to regain lost or rusty skills. This means your child’s progression is not slowed down; just like everything else, children regress if they stop swimming and it takes a while to get back to the level they were at, both skill and confidence-wise. This has a direct impact on your bank balance too, as more lessons will be needed overall if your child takes a break!
4. Swimming prevents drowning
Many of us live by the sea, lakes, rivers or canals; these bodies of water don’t disappear during the winter. The potential risk for drowning is everywhere all year around. A 2012 report from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reveals drowning leads to more deaths among young children aged 1 to 4 than any other cause except birth defects. Children under 4 also had the highest rate of non-fatal drownings, meaning injuries from near-drowning that may have landed them in A & E. The bottom line is swimming is a vital life-saving skill, so it’s important your child keeps swimming year-round to retain the skills and confidence needed to equip them if they get into difficulty in the water.
5. Summer holiday swimming skills are made in the winter
Do you crave relaxing by the pool with a good book and an ice cream on your holiday this summer? Well you can forget the relaxing bit if your child can’t swim very well as you will be putting in long shifts watching their every move to make sure they are safe. So don’t leave it until the summer term to get your child swimming strongly; like anything, swimming needs time, practise, effort and continuity. There will simply not be enough time before your holiday if you allow your child a break from swimming in the winter term to enable that longed for recline – undisturbed – on the sun lounger!
So make it your new year’s resolution to keep your child in the water this winter for the benefit of not just your child, but for the whole family!
For more information about swimming lessons with us, call 0208 940 9431 or email contact@sportsgeneration.co.uk
