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Starting swimming lessons from an early age has many benefits for children, both in and out of the pool.
Not only do swimming lessons for kids teach important water safety skills and support their physical wellbeing, but they can also help your child grow socially, mentally and academically.
The sooner your child starts swimming lessons, the sooner they’re able to become comfortable and confident in the water as well as learn essential skills that will stay with them for life.
Let’s dive deeper into the amazing benefits of swimming in early childhood.
Enhancing physical health and strength
Like many forms of exercise, swimming is a fantastic way to support your child’s overall physical health.
Swimming from a young age promotes cardiovascular health, improves strength and flexibility, and contributes to a healthy and active lifestyle.
It’s also a great activity for burning energy and can help children sleep better (which may also give you a little more peace and quiet!).
Building water safety and survival skills
Perhaps one of the most important benefits of early swim lessons is the water safety skills and knowledge your child will learn.
Sadly, drowning is a very real occurrence and a common cause of death for children. Swimming lessons help reduce this risk by teaching vital skills such as floating, treading water and basic swim strokes.
At Kingswim, we teach survival skills in every swimming lesson to help your child feel more confident and capable in the water, especially if they find themselves or someone else in difficulty.
Boosting cognitive and emotional development
Research has shown that swimming lessons can support your child’s cognitive skills, like concentration and problem-solving, alongside their confidence and independence.
When you introduce your child to the water at a young age, you can help them become comfortable in the water from the offset. This can alleviate any fears of swimming and provide a sense of accomplishment, which is great for their self-esteem.
Social skills and teamwork
Group swimming lessons offer the opportunity for your child to interact with other children of a similar age, so they may be able to meet new friends.
Group activities in the water encourage children to learn how to share and work together, fostering important social skills that they can carry beyond the pool and into their day-to-day life.
As your child gets older and develops their skills in the water, they may also want to join a squad program where they can have fun, socialise and compete with a community of swimmers.
Preparing for academic success
An unexpected benefit of learning to swim in early childhood is the positive impact that it can have on children’s academic abilities. Studies have found that early swimming can lead to enhanced learning abilities and better academic performance.
Research by the Griffith Institute for Educational Research in Australia, for example, found that three to five year olds who take part in swimming lessons have better reading, speaking and mathematical skills, as well as improved visual motor skills, compared to the normal population.
Encouraging a lifelong love of exercise
Children who start exercising early, by taking part in sports such as swimming, are much more likely to continue exercising into adulthood. By making swimming a regular activity, you’ll be introducing good habits from a young age. This sets your child up for a lifelong love and commitment to physical exercise, which is great for their health and wellbeing.
FAQs about early childhood swimming lessons
How early can you start swim lessons?
Most children learn to swim around the age of four years, however you can certainly introduce your child to the water before then.
Baby swimming lessons are a great way to do this. At Kingswim, babies can go in the pool as young as 12 weeks. While your baby won’t learn any technical swimming skills (such as strokes), our baby and infant classes will ease them into the water and help them feel comfortable in the pool environment. It’s also a great way to bond with your baby in a relaxed, supportive environment.
Children usually start more formal swim lessons from the age of three or four years. Our independent program, for example, is a great beginner class for little ones who are new to swimming.
How long does it take for babies to learn how to swim?
Every child is different. Some may take to swimming like a duck to water, while for others it may take a little longer. This is completely normal and our qualified swim teachers will be there to guide your child every step of the way.
When children learn to swim, the first step is to become comfortable in the water. From there, they’ll learn basic skills such as floating and kicking. Gradually, children will learn how to improve their technique and hone their skills.
It’s important to give your child time to progress and be consistent with their lessons. If your child takes a long break from swimming (such as over the winter months) this can greatly slow down their progress.
How can you support your child’s swimming journey?
To support your child, it’s essential that you take them to swimming lessons regularly. It’s also important not to push your child too much or compare them to other children. Every child learns to swim at a different pace and that’s totally normal.
Plus, if your child is nervous about swimming, you can help them become excited by showing your own enthusiasm for swimming and explaining the benefits of swimming. Let them know that swimming is lots of fun and a great skill to learn.
You can also supplement your child’s learning by enrolling them in swimming holiday programs or by taking them to the pool outside of lessons (active adult supervision is required at all times).
Find out more about how to be an awesome swim parent.
Start your child’s swimming journey today with Kingswim
As you can see, there are many benefits of early age swimming – from improving your child’s physical health, social skills and academic abilities to providing them with vital water safety and survival skills.
Find out more about our learn to swim programs and contact us today to get started.
