Why Kids Should Swim Year-round
Now that school has started, the holidays are coming up, and the weather will be getting cooler, many families are deciding to stop swimming lessons until next spring. However, swimming is something that we believe should be done year-round. Let us explain why.
First, swimming year-round prevents the “winter slide.” Like the “summer slide,” which involve the loss of academic skills like reading, writing, and math over summer vacation, the “winter slide” involves a loss of swimming skills during the autumn and winter months for those who put swim lessons on hold or stop altogether. Think of it like going to the gym. If you are consistently working out and suddenly stop for an extended period, you will likely see some loss in the progress you made when you were consistently working out. Whether it’s academic skills or swimming skills, repetition and consistency are key parts of skill growth and retention.
Second, the autumn and winter months are the best time of year to take lessons because it prepares swimmers for the spring and summer months when they tend to be around water the most. Like academic skills, swimming skills take time to develop. Waiting until the spring or summer to start swim lessons is like waiting to study for the SATs the week before you take the test. You can’t reasonably expect anyone to perform at their best in either case.
But what about the cold weather? Our pools are heated year-round to prevent little swimmers getting too cold. We have also found that bringing kiddos to class without sun shirts helps because sun shirts are designed to protect us from the sun and to keep our bodies cool. Thus, not wearing them helps swimmers stay warmer. At our front desk, we also sell wet suits that maintain warmer core temperatures called “Warm Bellies.”
Year-round swimming helps to ensure that your little swimmer(s) will continue to learn and grow in the pool; creating safer and smarter swimmers!
Related Posts:
6 Reasons Your Child Should Learn to Swim
“Access to Success is Thru the Mind!”: Our AquaChamps Philosophy
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