6 Benefits of Starting Swim Lessons Early

With summer upon us, swimming can be a great way to beat the heat and spend quality time with your young children. But, water can also be extremely dangerous if children are not properly equipped to handle time in the water. One way to teach your child to be safer around and in the water is with swim lessons.

Below are several key reasons why starting swim lessons at an early age is so important.

They learn not to fear the water

When you introduce your child to the water at an early age (two years or younger), they’re less likely to develop a fear of the water, which can make swim lessons much more effective. Researchers have found that children begin to form opinions around two years of age, so if they’ve never been in the water by this age, they may begin to show fear of the water, making swim lessons more difficult.

Special bonding time for parents

Swim lessons for babies and toddlers allow parents to spend quality time in the water with their children. This time is special for all parties involved and can be a great way for you to bond with your child in the water. Participating with your child helps to keep them at ease while they’re in the water.

Help to boost self-esteem and interact with other children

Swim lessons can be one of the first experiences where young children are able to interact with other adults and kids. Regular swim lessons help teach kids how to interact with each other and to receive instruction from someone other than their parents.

In addition, swim lessons can help a child build confidence and improve self-esteem as they become more comfortable in the water. There’s little doubt that social skills and self-esteem are both developed through regular interaction with other children and positive experiences with adults.

Increased strength and balance

Swim lessons offer a great way for kids to build strength and improve balance through repetitive exercises in the water. Scientific studies have shown that there are certain periods of time where gross motor skills are developed. While these skills can be developed at other ages, the time between birth and the age of five are extremely critical and are when the foundation for motor control is laid.

Swim lessons teach children to be safer around the water

Kids are naturally curious, especially when it comes to water. Swim lessons help to teach children how to be safer around water, and what skills are necessary to prevent drowning. The earlier that you enroll your child in swim lessons, the better off they will be if they accidentally fell into a pool or another body of water.

Improve physical and mental development

Studies have shown activities that use both sides of the body such as swimming can make a young child’s brain develop. These movements are called cross-patterning movements and require the building of neurons within the brain, which have been tied to improvements in the following:

• Learning

• Reading

• Language development

• Spatial awareness

A study from the Griffith University of Australia found that children who swam were also more advanced in terms of mental and physical development when compared to non-swimming children.