What Are the Benefits of Swimming for Children?


In recent years, parents have started taking their babies, who have not even begun to walk, to the pool. It's no surprise that this trend is picking up as it has many benefits. 

If you do not enjoy taking your infant to the pool, it's Ok, you can introduce them to swimming lessons where they will be taught by a qualified instructor and they will start to receive the advantages listed below. In this article, we present a lowdown on 8 of the potential benefits of swimming for children. 

Swimming Improves Cognitive Functioning

Swimming involves cross-patterning movements whereby you use both sides of your body. Such movements build neurons in your brain. Thus, swimming equips your child with communication skills and modulation resulting in improvements in:

Swimming also exposes your child to unique social experiences which further boost their brain activity. Griffith University in Australia conducted a four-year study on 7000 children; both swimmers and non-swimmers. The results suggested that swimmers faced improvements in their physical and mental development as compared to non-swimmers.  The three to five-year-olds turned out to be six months ahead in maths, two months ahead in literacy, and eleven months ahead in verbal skills.

Swimming Reduces the Risk of Drowning

Swimming is a life-saving skill. As per the KidsHealth.org, the second leading cause of death for children between five and 24 is drowning. By encouraging your child to swim, you are lowering their risk of drowning.

Most of the drowning incidents among children and toddlers occur in pools at homes. So, if you have a pool, start swimming lessons as soon as possible.

Swimming Improves Confidence

Initially, your child may lack confidence and be fearful of water. However, they will get over this fear before you know it. Overcoming any fear is empowering and confidence-boosting.

Furthermore, swimming involves interactions with peers, instructors, and caretakers which further boost their self-esteem. Helping your child improve their self-esteem early on instills a positive approach towards life in them. It is reflected in your child’s greater self-control, stronger desire to succeed, and being more comfortable in social situations.

Swimming Improves Social Skills

It is important for your child to communicate with people outside their comfort zone. You may find sending them to school enough. But, unfortunately, schools do not give the right kind of exposure always. Your child makes friends he feels comfortable around and socialises with them only.

During swimming lessons, your child has to learn from an instructor who is new to them. This is like an exercise in a safe environment where they can learn about socialising and breaking the ice. Their social engagement is further improved when they meet their peers. This further gives them a chance to find comfort in people outside their family and school friends.

Swimming Improves Physical Health

Swimming is, undoubtedly, a great physical activity. Each limb is active while you are swimming. It helps promote muscle development and control in children. They learn how to hold their heads up, move their limbs in coordination with the rest of the body and much more. While improving flexibility, swimming also helps with your child’s stamina, balance, and posture.

Apart from improvements in muscle development, swimming has some internal benefits on your child’s health as well. It is a great cardiovascular activity that strengthens your little one’s heart and lungs.

With problems like childhood obesity and diabetes on the rise, we further encourage parents to enroll in their kids in swimming classes to reduce the risk of such health issues.

Swimming Improves Sleeping Patterns

Pool time presents your child with extra rigor. They move their body in new ways every day, use their brain to focus on the lesson, and work hard to stay afloat. All this extra activity consumes a lot of your kid’s energy.

The day your child swims, you will notice they will feel more tired and go to bed earlier than usual. You may want to squeeze in some post-swimming nap time in their schedule.

Swimming Improves Appetite

Swimming not only makes you feel sleepy but a lot hungrier as well. The physical exertion resulting from swimming burns a lot of calories. So, you might notice an increase in your child’s appetite once they start swimming.

Also, this is a great point for those parents whose children have a low appetite. If you are of those parents, swimming would be very beneficial for your kids and your peace of mind.

Swimming Lowers Stress

It may sound unusual but stress issues among children are getting more and more common. With the increasing competition in the society regarding education and careers, children are exposed to this negative facet of life very early on.

American Psychological Association (APA) reported that children aged between 8 and 17 worry about their academic performance. Some even worry about their family’s financial situation. Kids today have been known to get headaches, stomachs issues, and insomnia. Parents often attribute such symptoms to other things or may not notice at all.

If you happen to be one of those parents who have noticed any of these symptoms in your child, start taking them to the pool. Just like adults, they require to be disconnected from the day to day hustle-bustle as well. Swimming increases endorphins in the brain which results in stress release.

The Key Takeaway

Now that you know about the benefits of swimming for children on their physical, mental, cognitive and social health, get your child to swim today!

Before you grab your swim bag, be mindful of some of these safety tips:

Happy swimming!