How Does Swimming Affect a Child’s Development?

Survival swimming lessons are a crucial part of childhood development. They allow children to save themselves should an aquatic accident occur, equipping them with skillsets to roll-back-to-float and eventually swim. How else does swimming positively affect a child’s development? 

1. Builds Strength and Endurance

Swimming is a full-body workout that engages various muscle groups simultaneously. The resistance provided by the water requires children to exert effort, leading to the development of strong muscles and improved cardiovascular fitness. Increased strength and endurance acquired through swimming contribute to overall physical well-being and help children excel in other physical activities.

2. Enhances Gross Motor Skills

Gross motor skills involve the coordination and control of large muscle groups, and believe it or not, swimming provides an ideal environment for children to refine and enhance their gross motor skills. Activities like kicking, reaching, and pulling require coordination between the arms, legs, and core muscles, promoting body awareness and control. So think about what it takes to swim. You are kicking your legs, reaching through the water, and pulling yourself out of the pool. Children develop balance, coordination, and spatial orientation skills through repetitive movements, which are vital for various sports and everyday activities.

3. Improve Coordination and Balance

A swimmer must synchronize different body movements while maintaining buoyancy and balance during their time in the water. The constant practice of coordinating arm and leg movements and body positioning helps children refine their coordination and balance skills. This improvement in coordination transcends beyond the pool, allowing children to navigate their environment with increased stability and poise.

4. Stimulates Sensory Integration

Young children are sensory and tactile by nature. They like to touch, feel, see, hear, and smell. Swimming allows kids to engage in multiple senses simultaneously, making it a fantastic activity for sensory integration. Being in the water gives children a unique sensory experience, simultaneously stimulating visual, auditory, tactile, and proprioceptive senses. The sensation of water on the skin, the sound of splashing, and the visual perception of movement all contribute to sensory integration. Such sensory input strengthens neural connections and helps children better understand their bodies and the world around them.

5. Boost Cognitive Development

Engaging in swimming at an early age is linked to enhanced cognitive development. The combination of physical activity, sensory stimulation, and social interaction promotes the growth of neural connections in the brain. Studies suggest regular swimming can improve cognitive functions such as problem-solving, decision-making, and memory retention. The focus and discipline required during swimming lessons can enhance a child’s ability to concentrate and follow instructions.

6. Promotes Social Skills & Self Confidence 

As children get older and out of survival swimming, most lessons often involve group activities and social interaction, giving them valuable opportunities to develop social skills. Peer interaction, instructor-led activities, and participation in team-based activities foster those social bonds and skills. In addition, as children progress in swimming and achieve new milestones, their confidence will grow, leading to increased self-esteem and a positive sense of self. 

Your Katy Survival Swim Experts

When it comes to the growth and development of children, partaking in swimming lessons has proven to be an exceptional way to see kids flourish. Contact the survival swim experts at Texas Swim Academy to start your children on the right foot. We offer several programs, including survival swim lessons, stroke development, and adaptive aquatics, so that every child can be their best self. 

SWIM SCHOOL IN KATY 

Texas Swim Academy is a state-of-the-art swimming facility offering water safety, survival swim, and kids swimming lessons in Katy, Texas. Owners Kathleen and Bruce McMordie, alongside our certified staff, help parents introduce children to water at an early age through the Infant Survival Swim Program , teaching life-saving techniques and basic swimming skills.

Our Stroke Development Program offers six different levels to help students progress in their swimming skills at his or her own pace. Our Adaptive Aquatics Program was created specifically for children with special abilities. Find swimming class registration information here. By subscribing to Texas Swim Academy’s blog , you can stay current on valuable water safety resources such as survival swim, health and wellness, Texas Swim Academy news and more. Follow our Facebook , Twitter, and YouTube pages for even more news, updates, and tips!