Are Kids Swim Lessons Essential?
02/09/2024 | Written by Nikos Kaskaras in Kids
This is a question that most new parents in Australia have: Should I look for swimming classes for kids near me? Or is it an unnecessary luxury? Well, it’s a good question. But it needs to be explored more thoroughly.
Building Water Safety Skills
In such debates, it’s always better to look for data and evidence. In the case of kids' swim lessons, the figures are indeed striking: In such debates, it's always better to look for data and evidence. In the case of swimming lessons for kids, the figures are indeed striking: The latest report from the Royal Life Saving Society Australia (RLSSA) shows a huge increase in the number of children taking swimming lessons. Specifically for young children, the data shows that the highest individual increases in enrolments have been for children aged 0-3 years. Specifically, Queensland saw an increase of up to 151%, while NSW saw an increase of 81%.
As a result, most parents in these two states would be asking themselves: "Can I find kids’ swim classes near me?" Fortunately, there are plenty of learn-to-swim courses for kids, not only there but all over the country. Most families are beginning to realise that swimming lessons for their children should be a priority. And not without reason.
Why Book Swim Lessons for Kids
Again, we will rely on reliable data to give a detailed opinion. The RLSSA published a study in November last year which revealed four startling figures:
- The risk of drowning triples after a child reaches the age of one.
- 27 children drown each year. 40% of them are one year old
- Over the last 20 years, 40% of all drowning children were under the age of 5.
- During the same period, 549 children drowned in a swimming pool (85% of them in a backyard pool).
- About 40% of all drownings occur between December and February.
These are sad figures, but they are also a wake-up call to take precautions and prevent these tragic incidents. With a large number of Australian households owning a swimming pool, there needs to be a greater awareness of how to prevent kids from drowning. Supervision is, of course, the primary means of ensuring their safety. However, starting swimming lessons at an early age to familiarise them with the aquatic environment is equally important
How to Choose Swim Lessons for Kids
Choosing the right swim classes for kids can be a daunting task for parents. Before looking at the main criteria, it is important to answer one crucial question: At what age should kids start swimming lessons? The answer is after the age of one, because before that, babies and newborns can't lift their heads above the water to breathe. A very effective preparation technique that parents can use is to bathe their children frequently in the bathtub to "train" them to feel comfortable in the water.
After the first year, children can start swimming lessons. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the most important things for parents to consider when choosing a swimming lesson are
- Instructor experience and qualifications
- Proper teaching of good safety habits
- Teaching kids what to do if they fall into the water unexpectedly
- Allowing parents to attend swimming lessons to gain first-hand experience
- Requiring regular swimming lessons to ensure gradual and steady progress
The Benefits of Swim Lessons for Kids
It should be clear by now that swim classes for kids are a necessity rather than a luxury. Especially as Australia is an ocean country and all its inhabitants should at least be able to survive in the water. Are there any other benefits, other than drowning prevention, to teaching kids to swim? The answer is definitely yes. Let's look at some of them:
- Swimming improves coordination and balance
- Swimming improves strength
- Swimming increases appetite
- Swimming promotes better health of the cardiovascular system
- Swimming improves sleep patterns
- Swimming is good for mental health
- Swimming improves social skills
- Swimming improves cognitive function
For people who start swimming lessons at an early age, the overall improvement that swimming can bring to their lives is significant. It is no exaggeration to say that learning to swim from the earliest age is a lifetime investment. Not only does it prevent the tragic statistics of drowning. It also lays the foundations for a healthy lifestyle and constant training of body and mind.
You can check out the Sydney preschool swimming lessons offered by Nereids here.
