Why do you want your kids in summer swimming lessons?
1. Swimming lessons teach kids lifesaving skills. Kids learn critical safety skills including pool safety rules and how to enter and get to the edge of the water. These techniques may save a life someday.
2. Swimming lessons calm fears. Many kids are terrified of getting their face wet or putting their head underwater. It’s likely that these kids would panic if they unexpectedly fell into the water. Swim lessons start with basics like blowing bubbles in the water to get kids used to having their faces near water. Spending time in the water during lessons also helps kids become more comfortable with wet surroundings.
3. Swimming is a great way to keep kids active over the summer. There is no question that childhood obesity is increasing across the country. Exercise is a key to slowing or even reversing this trend. Swimming is great exercise but so is splashing around in the pool with family and friends.
4. Swimming lessons can help kids build confidence. Helping kids learn and master new skills is great for their confidence and self-esteem. Swim lessons are often taught in stages, so with each round kids learn new skills and then graduate to the next level.
5. Swimming lessons can set off interest in a new hobby or sport. Lessons aren’t competitive and their purpose isn’t to turn a kid into the next Michael Phelps, but who knows? Swimming lessons could spur a love of swimming or could reveal an amazing talent that could open up opportunities in competitive swimming. Regardless of the kid’s level of talent, swimming can be the start of a healthy activity that a kid can continue to use for exercise throughout life.
Remember that no matter how many lessons your kids have had, how well they’ve learned their skills and can navigate the pool, there is nothing that can take the place of active adult supervision when around any pool or water environment this summer. Drowning remains among the leading causes of injury-related death for children.
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