Swimming with Young Children: Benefits and Safety Tips

 

 Nothing beats a cool pool on a hot summer day! Most young children love to splash and play with toys in pools, lakes, or other swimming areas . Swimming - whether in the arms of a caregiver, kicking while wearing a life jacket, or even in the first few swimming lessons - provides unique benefits for little ones.

The benefits of swimming include:

Health and Fitness : Swimming is an amazing physical activity for kids. The water provides a natural resistance, which works and strengthens the large muscles of the arms, legs and abs. The lifeguard training recommends at least 60 minutes of moderate exercise every day starting at age 2 , and swimming is a fun way for little ones to meet this important exercise time.

Balance and coordination: Water is a unique place for the development of balance , because the body positions of little ones change constantly, and in ways that they simply do not experience in games outside the water! Swimming also involves body awareness , cross body movements, and memorizing how to use the body to get from one place to another in the water.

Confidence and independence: It is common for children to start swimming with a lot of anxiety (especially when it comes to formal swimming lessons). But as they begin to understand the concepts of floating and moving in the water, they will become more comfortable exploring the water. Over time, learning to swim will be a great achievement for the little ones.

Safety skills : This benefit is very important! No parent or caregiver wants to think about the potential dangers of water, but keeping little ones safe around it is essential. In fact, many formal swimming programs for young children begin by teaching them what to do if they fall into the water.

Swimming safety tips

We hope we've convinced you that swimming is a great activity for your little one! But as we mentioned earlier, water can be dangerous. In fact, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children ages 1 to 4. This is what you can do to keep your child safe when swimming:

Swimming lessons : The American Lifeguard Events (ALE) notes that children as young as 1 year old can start taking swimming lessons, which can reduce the risk of drowning.

Supervision : Always supervise children around bodies of water, even if they are simply floating in shallow water.

 

 

Pools with fences : Pools should have a security fence installed around it, with a closed, child-proof gate. Make sure the area is closed and locked at all times when you are not using it.

Wear life jackets instead of flotation devices : A life jacket is a safer option for non-swimmers. Review the size chart for life jackets to make sure your child meets the size and weight requirements.

Have your mobile phone handy : In the event of an emergency, your cell phone will allow help to arrive as quickly as possible.

Inspect pools : Before each use, you should complete an inspection to make sure no drain covers are missing, which can create unsafe suction for young children. Also, look for any slippery spots or sharp objects in and around the pool.

With you as their guide, your young child can play safely in the pool and take advantage of the many developmental benefits of swimming.