By Anonymous Swim Parents
Every year our 10-year-old son tears himself away from Minecraft, his DS, Wii and TV to swim on a summer swim team. And every year, we watch him transform from soft and puffy to lean and ripped.
The first week of the summer is a struggle, but after a few weeks, his muscles “remember” their form, his confidence returns and he reacquaints himself with the friends from last summer. We really see a transformation – and most obviously in his fitness.
He does other physical activities during the year, but none can match the intensity of swimming. There aren’t many activities (especially ones that appeal to kids) that max out fitness-fun quotient like swimming. By the end of the summer our son looks and acts like a different kid than the one with the wintertime “screen physique.” He’s not just more lean and muscular, but he has more energy and wants to take on other physical activities, too. So after observing this transformation for a few years in a row, the light bulb suddenly went on for us.
What’s our confession?
“Duh! Why should he just be fit in the summer? We should have our son swimming all year long.”
Swimming is a lifelong activity and an important life skill to acquire. And once acquired, you must sustain it. It’s true that if you don’t use it you’ll lose it. Each summer, our son has to regain lost ground to get back into his swimming form because the break literally erases progress. If he swam year round he wouldn’t ever have this loss. He could just continue to sharpen his skills. To us, this is especially important since he has express interest in competing on the high school level!
What’s your takeaway?
Don’t be slow on the uptake like we were. Get your child in year-round lessons now!
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