Swimming is a beneficial activity for everyone, and even more so for children. Here are 9 reasons to go swimming with them or enroll them in pool classes.
Swimming one of the best activities for children
Written by : lisa boucher
at : 22/04/2023
It's a complete and healthy sport:
Swimming involves every muscle in the body, without tiring the joints. In fact, it's a low-impact sport, since 90% of the body's weight is carried by the water. There's no risk of falling and injuring yourself (just be careful not to run along the poolside). What's more, it's excellent for working on your breathing, building endurance and stimulating your heart.
It can be done from an early age:
The activity can start as early as 6 months, in the form of aquatic awakening, during baby swimming sessions. The aim of these sessions is to stimulate babies through aquatic games to familiarize them with this new environment. After a few sessions, they may be able to retain or regain their apnea reflex when immersed. Please note: for this activity, we strongly advise you to be supervised by a lifeguard. He or she will guide you in the gestures and attitudes to adopt, and suggest appropriate workshops to carry out with your child, according to his or her age.
Water is a fun element that children love to play with:
Above all, it's by having fun that children will feel reassured in this new environment, and learn the basics of swimming to be safe. Swimming therefore combines safety and fun. What's more, it promotes children's cognitive, emotional and social development. Beware of accidents (falling in the water, pierced armbands, etc.), which can trigger phobias. It's often the fear of water that delays learning to swim.
Their skills are for life:
So you're giving them a great gift by enabling them to learn to coordinate their actions, to move, to balance in this particular environment and to become aware of their bodies. These things are essential for their development, and once they're acquired, they stay that way forever.
Knowing how to swim will open the door to other water sports:
they'll be able to sign up for and enjoy aquatic and water sports activities, planned during school outings or vacations, without fear or stress.
They'll discover new sensations:
Swimming gives you the impression of being weightless, as you can barely feel your earthly body. The freedom is total.
They'll forge their personalities:
Swimming has many advantages for personal development, especially for shy, introverted or awkward children. It allows them to familiarize themselves with their bodies, as water is a medium that slows down our movements. The sport also enables them to evaluate themselves, measure their abilities and surpass themselves individually, within the group. Lastly, competitions teach them to manage stress and can develop their competitive spirit.
They will develop their morphology and physical capacity:
From the age of 6, children will be able to coordinate their movements correctly to be able to swim all four strokes. As training progresses, their respiratory capacity develops and they gain in endurance. Little by little, muscles lengthen and refine, and the rib cage develops. Shoulders broaden, backs and arms become more muscular. Their heart becomes stronger and their heart rate slows down. All positive points for growing up fit and healthy, which is a very important asset when the teenage years arrive.
They'll be able to spend their energy to the full:
a good night's sleep awaits them after each session.
