Science Says: Young Swimmers Are SMARTER! Find Out Why

COACH OLGA • April 6, 2018

Find Out How Early Swim Lessons Create Lifetime Benefits!

We all know somebody that has started their child swimming since practically giving birth, but is this REALLY worth it? The fact is, scientific information regarding when to start swim lessons is very sparse but we have done our best to provide some honest insight into this question.

What Science Says: The American Academy of Pediatrics notes children that participate in lessons between 1 and 4 years of age may be less likely to drown than their counterparts with no experience. They go on to note that formal swim lessons for children under 1 year of age hasn't shown any improvement in water safety or skill retention. Whoa, that first statement is HUGE ! As parents of swimmers, we know that lessons have definitely helped them, but now the scientific community is finding what we've known to be true all along, Swim Lessons Save Lives.

Additionally, a long-term study by Griffith University in Australia ( click here) found that children that participate in swimming lessons show more advanced physical and cognitive functions than their non-swimming peers. In fact, young swimmers were were between 6 - 15 months ahead of the non swimming population in problem solving and following directions!

What Our Experience Shows: While its true that children under 1 year of age aren't going to be doing the front crawl any time soon, the motor, cognitive & sensory development that swimming lessons provide are all the reason you need to get them in the water as soon as possible. Infant swim lessons are often your child's first introduction to water after birth & it is important that children stay acclimated and comfortable in an aquatic environment to ensure that future lessons won't be hindered by their unwillingness to enter the water. In fact, each month we see some children with parents that waited too long to start lessons, only to find that they have sensory issues with simple experiences such as water on their face or problems closing their mouths to hold their breath.

Starting lessons at 6 months may sound like overkill, but for the parents that have them continuously enrolled from this age we typically see much more skill for their current age than their older counterparts. Additionally, infant swim lessons provide the following benefits to our youngest of swimmers:

• Increased Mobility & Motor Skills: The zero gravity environment promotes movement and coordination of arms and legs, important milestones for guppies and carpet crawlers alike!

• Cardio health: All that movement, holding breath, and laughing helps provide exercise for the heart & lungs.

• Cognitive Development.. YES REALLY! Time in the water, especially in groups provides your little one with important neural and sensory stimulation. Studies (like the one listed above) have shown that children that participate in swim lessons often reach important cognitive milestones sooner than their non-participating peers. So much credence has been given to these studies that even the American Academy of Pediatrics changed their previous long-standing recommendation that children wait until 4 yrs old to start swim lessons. The AAP acknowledged that swim lessons for children under 4 years of age CAN decrease the risk of drowning or injury!

• Important Bond Building: Did you know that YOU are your child's first teacher? They are always watching you for guidance and your time with them in the water is no exception. They are looking for your encouraging smiles, laughs and kisses for constant feedback. This helps you show them boundaries and provide the assurance that swimming can be fun!

So when should we start swim lessons?

We always recommend to start children as soon as possible, not because it is good for our bottom line, but because the sooner your child gets acclimated the easier it will be for them to transition and to develop more skills. You don't have to be enrolled EVERY MONTH but making a consistent effort to participate in water based activities will go a long way into developing your child into a safe & strong swimmer.

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By Vlad Atlantis • September 28, 2018

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By Oksana Dudin • August 31, 2018

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