- As compared with a control group which did not take year-round lessons, the children who swam consistently from infancy were significantly stronger and more coordinated.
- The children also scored higher for intelligence and problem-solving, which carried over into excellence in academic achievement.
- Emotionally, they were found to be more self-disciplined with greater self-control and an increased desire to succeed.
- They rated higher in self-esteem and were more independent and comfortable in social situations than the control groups (German Sports College 1979).
- Research showed that children, who were taught to swim by 5 years, had statistically higher IQs.
- It showed the high water resistance strengthens the child’s muscles more rapidly than playing on the floor.
- Swimming uses all of his muscles, if playing on the floor only certain muscles are working.
- Babies can move more freely in the water, using their whole body
- By Dr. Hermundur Sigmundsson has shown that baby swimmers developed better balance, movement and grasping techniques than non-swimmers (Science Daily, 5/10).
- This difference persists even when the children are five years old when babies who have been taught to swim still outperform their peers.
At what age can children swim on their own in the ocean?
What do you look for?
Swimming in the ocean is not the same as swimming in a pool or lake. Wind, waves, the change of the tide, the slope of the beach and other factors can cause strong currents to be present in the water even on the calmest days. Children should not swim in the ocean without adult supervision.
All children should be enrolled in swimming lessons at their local swim school. The younger they learn the better: confident swimmers are safer swimmers. Ocean swimming will be more enjoyable and safer if the child’s swimming skills are solid. With competent swim skills children have the strength and confidence to react to different situations quickly and correctly. Good swimmers who can swim freestyle with bilateral breathing for twenty five yards have less difficulty swimming back to shore if they end up drifting away from safer areas. They should also be able to rotate onto their backs to float if they get frightened, tired or if they are pulled far out into the ocean. They can roll over and float to save energy while waiting for a rescue in an emergency.
How do you let go when they’re ready?
Swimming is learning to balance oneself in the buoyancy of the water. A good instructor will gently bring the child outside his comfort zone each lesson, but not so far as to invoke fear. The gradual path is most often the most successful in this arena. Building trust with the child student in the water is paramount when teaching a child to swim.
Encourage underwater exploration. Let them play on the steps. If they step off into deeper water, calmly and gradually help them back to the step, the side of the pool or rotate them onto their back where they can rest and breath. Let them retrieve toys of rings from the top step, then a lower step and eventually the bottom.
What can swimming do for kids?
INTELLECTUAL & PHYSICAL BENEFITS
Scientific studies at the German Sports College Cologne have shown that early year round swimming lessons for babies, toddlers and young children accelerated their development physically, intellectually and emotionally.
MORE RECENT STUDIES
Research in Melbourne Australia
As reported in (Healthmade, March 8, 2011)
2009 Studies conducted at Norwegian University of Science & Technology
More information and studies on the benefits of swimming can be found in the books "Move and Learn" and "Movement the Key to Early Learning" on the swimkidsusa.us website
