Kiddipedia
Swimming is often only thought about when the sun is out and the mercury is high, but swimming lessons should be at the forefront of parent’s minds all year-round.
Throughout last summer, 86 people tragically lost their lives to drownings in Australia[1], a 30% increase compared to the previous summer, leaving families and communities devastated.
However, accidents can happen at any time of year in the water, so it’s important that children understand how to handle emergencies in order to feel comfortable and stay confident in the water. Undertaking swimming lessons from an early age helps to reinforce those essential swimming safety skills, so children and parents are prepared in the event something goes wrong.
To help parents and their kids feel safe and comfortable in the water, the team at Kingswim incorporate a safety program as part of the lesson plan, to ensure that swimmers are armed with the skills they need if faced with an emergency in the water.
Kingswim Area Manager, Anne Brown, says each class at Kingswim is based on ability not age, so no matter what stage of development or skill your child is at, it’s never too late to start swimming.
“Every goal is a big goal at Kingswim. For our youngest swimmers it’s all about blowing bubbles, safe play in the water and starting to float and kick with the help of their parents to build confidence for parents and bub,” Anne says.
“Between four and 12, students start building momentum with their confidence, kicking unassisted or with a kickboard, and start to learn the different strokes along with basic water safety.”
Leading Child & Educational Psychologist, Dr Andrew Greenfield, says that compared to other sports, swimming lessons are one of the best extra-curricular activities for children and provide a well-rounded spectrum of benefits in and outside of the pool.
In addition to making children feel more confident in the water, Dr Andrew Greenfield says that being there and celebrating milestones with your children, whether it’s that first splash in the pool or if your child has completed a fully clothed swim for survival training, helps parents to feel more comfortable too.
“Many parents can feel quite anxious in the lead up to their child’s first swimming lesson, but the benefits far outweigh any hesitations parents might feel, when every lesson further develops theirs and their child’s swimming skills in order to feel safe and enjoy the water.”
Dr Andrew Greenfield shares the top benefits of swimming lessons
- Assists with social and cognitive development i.e. turn taking, coordination
- Improved ability to follow instructions
- Helps develop confidence in and out of the pool
- Leads to release of endorphins and serotonin which lead to feelings of positivity, happiness and reduced stress levels
With a devastating year of Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 that resulted in the shut down of swimming pools across the country, many children missed out on months of swimming and water safety lessons – impacting their skill development, confidence in the water and sense of safety.
It’s never been a better time to head into your local swim centre to get started and prepare for the summer months ahead. As we prepare for plenty of interstate travel, you’ll want to jump into the pool or wade into the beach, armed with the knowledge that you and your child will have the confidence and skills to have plenty of fun in the water.
And remember, no matter how confident your little one is around water, it is imperative that they are never left alone no matter how shallow or deep.
