Many parents have an interest in putting their kids into swimming lessons because of the safety factor. And while helping your child learn to swim and be safe around water are some of the most worthwhile motivations for enrolling them in class, there are even further benefits beyond this. In fact, the overall health benefits for kids that accompany regular swimming lessons are astounding!
If you’re looking to keep your kids active, swimming is one ideal activity to pursue. Learning to swim helps improve children’s cardiovascular health, stamina and flexibility, as well as many other components of physical health. Beyond all the advantages we detail below a Griffith University study of 7,000 kids around the world concluded that those in swim lessons were at least seven months ahead of their non-swimming peers in overall motor development. Keep reading to learn more.
Strength
The amount of physical development that takes place over the first few years of a child’s life is remarkable. Babies go from being unable to even hold their own heads up to nearly running within a single year. And then it’s impossible not to keep kids active! But building strength should not come to an end once a child has mastered the most fundamental motor skills. Swim lessons provide numerous health benefits for kids, and strength building is one of them. By using their own body weight in the water, kids’ muscles are challenged and strengthened in a safe, gentle way. The water offers significant resistance and goes a long way in helping kids become stronger and healthier.
Balance
Balance is something that adults often take for granted (yoga class anyone?), but all it takes is one look at an unsteady toddler to remind us that even walking requires a good deal of balance. In order to improve a child’s balance, their core must be strengthened and their balance must be tested regularly. By keeping kids active in swim classes, both of these objectives will be met. Depending on the skill level and curriculum, children might learn to balance on a pool noodle or a floating kickboard during swim class. These unstable surfaces, along with embracing new swimming strokes, teach kids how to balance proficiently.
Posture
When you promote an active lifestyle for kids, their entire lives change for the better. Regular exercise, higher quality nutrition and energy all go hand-in-hand. But something that is every bit as intertwined – and yet not as often discussed – is posture. Erect posture requires core strength and can help a child feel more self-confidence. Swimming lessons help to engage numerous muscles in a little one’s body, and also naturally position the child to have better posture. This might be seemingly simple, but proper posture can positively impact numerous areas of a child’s life.
So as you look for activities that return the greatest amount health benefits for kids, consider swimming. Contact us to enroll your child in classes today!
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