The Vital Role of Swimming in Childhood Development
The Vital Role of Swimming in Childhood Development
Parenting is one of the most divisive of human actions, prompting wide-ranging debates about everything from food, to routine, to education, and everything in between. When it comes to parenting, the majority of people will agree that it’s very beneficial for teens, children and babies to have hobbies, or activities, or, in the case of very young babies, that parents/guardians are facilitating positive development methods as much as possible. For some, this is speaking in different languages, playing music around children or reading to children. There are a myriad of hobbies and extracurricular activities outside of formal education that have been proven to be beneficial for your child’s health.
Sports, or physical activity in general, have numerous and wide ranging health benefits, both physical and mental. Physical activity has been proven to be essential in aiding the prevention of a number of detrimental health issues, such as obesity, heart disease and many types of cancer. To be medically accurate, there is no magical cure for these ailments, meaning that physical activity (and healthy eating) go a long way in preventing a range of illnesses but they are not a guaranteed “silver bullet”. In terms of physical health, cardiovascular exercise - such as swimming and running - is extremely effective in increasing lung capacity, strengthening bone density and muscle development, as well as countless other physical benefits.
Swimming in early childhood (and throughout one’s life) is one of the best forms of aerobic exercise. The biggest obstacle your child will face is not knowing how to swim! They can learn to swim with a private coach, which would boost their confidence and skills in the water. Swimming offers many benefits to children, primarily cardiorespiratory fitness, and maintenance of healthy weight. Due to the increased weightlessness of our bodies in the water, swimming (and other water aerobic exercise), have less of a long-term physical impact on our bodies. Long distance runners (especially those who run on concrete) often find that their knees get damaged in their late thirties. Comparatively, swimmers are likely to sustain the least amount/least serious injuries. In 2017, researchers at the University of North Carolina (US) conducted a study on sports injuries among children, and found that out of all the sports analysed, swimmers sustained the fewest injuries. The weightlessness of swimming on our bodies means that there is less pressure on key areas of our bodies, like our joints, knees, backs and shoulders. Protecting these areas in early life is key to a longer life free of debilitating injuries.
The psychological benefits to swimming in early childhood cannot be understated. Countless studies discuss the importance of physical activity in children’s mental health and development. In a 2013 study conducted by researchers in Griffith University, Australia, it found that children who swam were ahead of the normal population in the following metrics:
- Eleven months ahead of the normal population in Oral Expression
- Six months ahead in Mathematical Reasoning
- Two months ahead in Brief Reading.
The NHS (UK) prescribes swimming in childhood as an activity which decreases stress, anxiety and lessens the likelihood of the development of chronic depression or other mental health issues in childhood and in later life. Swimming is also found to be beneficial for children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), ADHD (Attention Deficity Hyperacitvity Disorder) or other forms of neurodivergence, as it has been suggested that it improves speech, coordination, social skills, self-esteem, and cognitive processing. Self-esteem is extremely important in healthy cognitive development in children - those both neurodivergent and neurotypical. High self-esteem in children contributes to positive behavioural patterns, as well as better adjustment to social situations and increased confidence when socialising with peers.
The benefits provided by swimming are numerous for the positive growth and development of your child, from both a physical and a psychological perspective. Furthemore, swimming with family allows for increased bonding with parents and siblings, while swimming with peers positively contributes to higher confidence levels and comfort interacting with peers. Lastly - it’s fun! The one thing that children might be reluctant about is actually learning to swim, but once they get the hang of it - they’ll be swimmers for life!
