Even though beach and pool season is coming to a close, experts at Goldfish Swim School caution that families should not put away their swimsuits and goggles quite yet.
Year-round swimming has many obvious benefits for children. This lifelong skill provides them with an outlet for exercise and of course teaches the very important skill of water safety. Beyond these obvious advantages, there are a number of developmental benefits that come with consistent, year-round swim instruction.
Here are a few reasons to keep your little ones in the pool this fall:
1. Develop fine and gross motor skills. Swimming lessons provide a whole body form of exercise. Children who regularly practice movements such as the simultaneous kicking of arms and legs, paddling, breath work, and strokes improve overall coordination (hand-eye, grasping), concentration and focus, and balance.
2. Build brain power. Studies are showing that swimming is wonderful for children’s brain health. A four-year Early Years Swimming Research Project (with 45 swim schools in Australia, New Zealand and the United States) found that children younger than 5 who had swim lessons were more advanced in their cognitive and physical development.
3. Help foster independence. Formal instruction teaches children how to take turns, listen, share and cooperate in a group setting. These activities promote comfort and confidence in the water and, in turn, build self-esteem and the ability to try and adapt to new things. Plus, swimming is fun.
All of the wonderful benefits of swimming come with time and repetition. Consistent, year-round swim lessons are the best way to achieve that result.
Goldfish Swim School provides swim instruction to children ages 4 months to 12 years old in a unique setting with highly trained instructors, small class sizes (max 4:1 student-to-teacher ratio), shiver-free 90-degree pools, and a state-of-the-art water purification system. In addition to swim lessons, Goldfish Swim School also offers weekly family swims (for members and non-members) and birthday party packages.
For more information or to register for lessons, visit goldfishswimschool.com.