Kids spend lots of time in front of one type of screen or another whether they’re watching TV, playing games or doing homework. Unfortunately, being in front of a screen means they are not getting exercise or interacting face-to-face with others.
It’s not that kids shouldn’t spend time doing these things, but it is that they should spend time being active and interacting with others as well. There is screen time and there’s green time. It’s the balance between the two that is challenging for parents.
“Everything in moderation” applies to those screen hours. Balancing screen hours with active time is important because it helps them to unplug and enjoy time in connection with nature.
Did you know that swimming can help with this? Swimming actually gives kids a connection to nature?
Stimulation to Explore
Many swimming activities are outdoors and that puts kids in a special environment for learning and connecting to nature. Swimming stimulates exploration wherever the swimming is taking place. Lakes and beaches become instant playgrounds that kids will explore every inch, learning about what lives in and around the water. Water creatures – whether at the beach or lake – inspire curiosity in kids. Natural curiosity will push kids to ask question after question – which provides parents with built in quality time.
Inclination to be Healthy
Swimming is healthy, working muscles that other activities don’t use, increasing stamina, balance, and coordination. Swimming outdoors adds the benefits of exposure to sunshine aka Vitamin D.
Inspiration to Socialize
Swimming inspires interactivity with others. Many developmental skills are sharpened by an activity like swimming that is usually done with others. Kids grow enormously in interpersonal skills when fun activities are filled with actions that encourage competition, following instructions, being responsible for actions, waiting in line, figuring out how control muscles and create specific movements, and gaining self-confidence.
Swimming and being active also encourages interest in more activity. And the more active kids are, the more apt they are to be fit, strong, stress-free kids.
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