I was recently invited to write about my experiences of swimming when my children were younger. It is part of a campaign this autumn, to get more people in the swimming pool with their little ones. Baby Swimming Shop started the campaign, after finding out that nearly 400 people die in the UK a year, from not being able to swim. If they had been able to swim, perhaps the stats would look a little different. So just how important is it for our little ones to swim?
What are the benefits of swimming for babies?
Submersion in water gives babies the support and freedom they need to practice kicking, wriggling and developing their motor skills safely to develop muscle control and strength. As they gain confidence and progress, they will learn to master the basic swimming techniques.
Swimming can be so important for building confidence and helping our children to develop.
Here is how:
- The unique sensory experience accesses all five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch
- Swimming encourages our children to meet physical milestones more quickly as it helps to work the large muscles in the body
- It hones in on gross motor skills and builds coordination
- Research shows that swimming can stimulate brain development and increasing intelligence
- Breathing becomes easier and more mature for small babies that swim. This means they can make clearer sounds and help their communication skills
- For small babies, they can be reminded of being in the womb, due to the weightlessness, so it will help them to relax
- Children who have swimming lessons from an early age will develop a lifelong confidence and enjoyment of water. It will encourage a lifetime of physical activity
You can download and read the ebook here. I’d love to hear what you think?
*this is not sponsored.
**updated post
we haven’t actually started swimming lessons yet, and I really want to because I think it’s such unimportant skill to learn.
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I learnt swimming when I was a kid, and I am still very grateful that I’ve learnt it. I think whatever skills, it is always great to build when you were a kid.
I don’t have children, but will definitely take them to swimming lessons when I do. I can’t swim, so I think that makes me realise even more just how important it is x
You’ve just reminded me to book my daughter’s swimming lessons for next year, I think it’s such an important skill to learn x
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Swimming is a great skill for youngsters to have. My toddler loves the water and I think that’s because we’ve taken him swimming from a very young age.
Alana x
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