Don't miss reading through this whole article and the GIVEAWAY at the bottom!
Even though your baby may not be able to walk yet, he or she can enjoy time in the pool with mom or dad working on early swim skills and water acclimation.
There are many benefits to getting your baby comfortable and confident in the water at an early age; from working on cognitive development skills to helping foster a lifelong love of swimming. Plus, this is a great way for parents to enjoy time with baby.
Here are a few reasons to get your baby into swim lessons before age one:
Development of the whole child
Not only does swimming benefit children physically, but it also improves their development intellectually and emotionally. According to scientific studies at the German Sports College Cologne, kids who swim year-round fared better academically, particularly in problem-solving skills. The swimmers also displayed more self-discipline and had more self-esteem, which made them more comfortable in social situations.
Improved development of motor skills
Your little almost-walker cautiously pulls along on the couch, holding onto the table and anything else in his or her path — while you follow along, holding your arms out to prevent any bumps and bruises. Sound familiar? Well, studies conducted at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology by Dr. Hermundur Sigmundsson and his colleagues concluded that the youngest swimmers showcased better balance and grasping techniques.
Enhanced brain development
Kids learn a lot through touch and the texture of different objects — which is known as tactile sensory development. Research by Dr. Ruth Rice determined that babies make “significant gains in neurological development, weight gain and mental development” from the tactile stimulation of the nerve pathways of the skin. Swimming in water is a great way to stimulate these important pathways.
Advanced cognitive development
A four-year Early Years Swimming Research Project (that included 45 swim schools in Australia, New Zealand and the United States) found that children younger than five who had swim lessons were more advanced in their cognitive and physical development. Plus, researchers found that kids in the study had higher IQs than their peers.
Stronger social skills
Swimming lessons help teach kids how to take turns, listen, share and cooperate. Researchers have found that kids who had taken swim lessons from two months old to 4 years old adapt to new social situations more easily because they had more confidence in social settings.
Reduced risk of drowning
It’s a scary fact, but the Centers for Disease Control says that children aged 1-4 have the highest drowning rates. In 2010, A National Institutes of Health (NIH) study found that formal swimming lessons between 1-4 years of age resulted in an 88% reduction in drowning risk.
Time together in the water can deepen the parent-infant bond. Being face-to-face with your child and having skin-to-skin contact in the water gives your child a sense of attachment and connection to you. This experience is good for both of you!
Goldfish Swim School’s Mini Classes offer high-quality swim lessons for babies starting at 4 months of age. Mini Class activities include singing group songs, practicing tummy time, and getting little ones comfortable in the water. Babies practice their grasp reflex, move to holding onto the edge of the pool wall and eventually inching their way along it. With the help of mom or dad, babies work on their pulling paddle, glides, floats and kicks. As babies progress through the Mini Program, they will work on their breath control, crab walks and getting out of the pool safely by using the elbow, elbow, tummy, knee technique.
It is never too early to introduce your child to water and start to encourage a love of swimming!
Sonali Morris is a mother of two competitive swimmers and the owner of Goldfish Swim School Cleveland East Side and Goldfish Swim School Fairview Park. Goldfish Swim School is also now open in Hudson! Goldfish Swim School provides swim instruction to children ages 4 months to 12 years in a unique setting with highly trained instructors, small class sizes (max 4:1 student-teacher ratio), shiver-free 90-degree pools, and a state-of-the-art water purification system. For more information, please visit the website: goldfishswimschool.com.
GIVEAWAY!
We are giving away free registration and one month of Mini Classes at either the Cleveland East Side, Hudson or Fairview Park location. (Your choice!) What a great way to get your Mini Macaroni started in the water!
How to Enter:
- Fill out THIS FORM
- You must be a subscriber and at least 18 years old to win
- One entry per email address
A winner will be selected on Wednesday, September 27, 2017, at 12 p.m. Another winner will be chosen if you can't be reached by Friday, September 29 at 5:30 p.m.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE OF ANY KIND WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. ODDS OF WINNING WILL DEPEND ON THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ENTRIES RECEIVED. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. DO NOT ENTER THIS SWEEPSTAKES IF YOU ARE NOT EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AS OF SEPTEMBER 20, 2017 AND A LEGAL RESIDENT OF AND CURRENTLY RESIDING IN ONE OF THE FIFTY (50) UNITED STATES OR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. Click HERE for complete rules.
