Swim Lessons: More than you bargained for…

When trying to find great activities for our kids there are so many different things out there. Parents gravitate towards anything that will give their kids a head start in life from things like sitting their infants in front of baby Einstein videos to….swimming lessons? While swimming is often on the forefront of parent’s minds for health and safety reasons, they often don’t realize the other benefits that swim lessons at a young age can do for their child. I would argue that swim lessons are one of the most important activities young children can do to prepare them for a successful future.

The first thing that comes to mind is determination. While interviewing several teachers at WFSS, a reoccurring theme of determination and goal setting comes up. Often times swim lessons are the first place where a child can set goals and achieve them through hard work and determination. They learn that success is attainable through determination and practice.

Second, swim teachers are often the first teacher a child ever has aside from their parents. They learn what it means to have someone to guide them and instruct them in the best way of doing things. They learn that they don’t always get to do exactly what they want and that when the teacher asks them to do something they had better try it. They also learn that following instruction from a teacher can lead to great success.

Another thing that swim lessons do is confront children with their fears. They enter into one of the first situations where they will be without a parent in a new environment. Here they make that first step towards independence and rely less on their parents. They are being prepared for their first days of school which will seem far less intimidating.

In addition to the afore-mentioned life lessons, children learn many basic academic principles during swim lessons. As a teacher myself, I know that anything and everything is fair game at distracting and comforting an upset 20 month old. Some of these things include learning shapes, colors and numbers. Along with these techniques, often times teachers use singing songs such as the ABC’s or reading them books about different animals that enjoy the water.

So, while parents often consider swimming for safety, one might now see all the hidden educational and life learning lessons involved as well. Parents who sign their kids up for lessons are getting far more then they might have realized. Not only is swimming a gift for life, it is also a great way to jump start a child for a successful future

-Jason

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