Swim Fit

Water safety is usually the main reason why many parents start their children in swimming lessons. However the risks posed by drowning don't go away in the cooler parts of the year, so neither should the lessons!

In addition to safety issues, continuing lessons is important to build and reinforce existing skills. This is particularly true with children under 5 years whose long-term skill retention and muscle memory are just beginning to develop. A break in lessons that stretches over many months will often result in a loss of skills. Even when parents can't see substantial progress every week, the child is at least maintaining the current ability level- and that is progress in itself. Don't let all the time and money spent on lessons go to waste, keep up their skills.

Swimming lessons offer a unique combination of social and physical interactions with the teacher, their classmates and the aquatic environment. For some children, before starting school, these relationships can become their primary social bonds outside of the home and immediate family. It can be important to maintain these relationships with regular attendance. For parents involved in the water with their children, the close physical contact and quality time helps strengthen the natural bond like no other environment.

Our pools are maintained at constant temperatures throughout the year, so even when it is cooler outside it can still be a comfortable, year-round, summer experience in the water. With a little extra attention, such as keeping children warm and drying them off well when they leave the pool, swimming will stay comfortable and beneficial all year.

Keep these ideas in mind as you continue with your lessons. Swimming is one of the best activities for children and it's a shame if it only happens in the summer. Whenever possible, enjoy your swimming all year through!