The Benefits of Year-Round Swimming

Leaves crunch underfoot and a crisp wind ushers in brisk mornings. The sounds of summer — children laughing and splashing in a crystal-clear pool — have been stowed away along with our flip-flops and pool bags.

Except they don’t need to be stowed away.

Even if a tropical vacation isn’t in the cards for your family this winter, you can make your children feel like they are on vacation by taking them to your local indoor pool for swim lessons and indoor swimmingThe American Academy of Pediatrics supports swim lessons for most kids ages 4 and older. And yes, swim lessons do continue from summer into fall and even through those cold winter months. Here are some excellent reasons to continue swimming through the winter. 

Water Safety Should Always Be a Top Priority 

“Drowning is the No. 1 leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 4 and under,” says Lindsay Thayer, owner of Aqua-Tots in Indianapolis. “The fact is that swimming is a life skill that everyone needs to learn. Like most other learned skills, swimming takes time and practice. A child is not going to learn how to swim over the course of a quick summer practice session. Being a participant in a formal swim lesson program reduces the risk of drowning by 88%.” 

Keep Them Active, Relaxed and Happy 

Swimming also promotes mental and physical health, Thayer says. It reduces stress, builds strength and increases energy. Swimming is an excellent cardiovascular exercise that involves multiple muscle groups. This kind of exercise is similar to running, in that it releases mood-boosting endorphins.

According to the American Council on Exercise, water supports 90% of one’s body weight. This makes swimming a wonderfully accessible sport for almost anyone at any age. Regular swimming practice during childhood may just lead to a lifetime of fitness.

In addition to being an excellent aerobic activity, swimming is also good for your child’s mental well-being. The intentional breathing that swimming requires mirrors meditative breathing. The synchronized breathing and movement is restorative and relaxing, while the quiet that one experiences under water is soothing. 

Stay Sharp 

Swimming might seem like riding a bike: Once you know how to do it, you just don’t forget itWith swimming, however, there are actually quite a few skills taught in a linear fashion. You can’t just be away from the pool for six months and expect to pick up right where you left off. In addition, to be a good swimmer, one needs practice. Lots of it.

Andrew Joseph — area manager of three Goldfish Swim Schools in Carmel, Fishers and Greenwood — said that one of the biggest reasons to have your children continue swim lessons through the winter is that “it gets them ready for the summer!” 

Immunity Builder

There is an old wives’ tale that getting wet in the winter will lead to the sniffles. Research shows the opposite. Exercise, nutritious eating and good sleeping habits are actually what keep kids healthy through cold and flu season

Taking weekly swim lessons is excellent exercise, which leads to awesome sleeping and healthful eating. It will lead to just excellent health in general.

During the cold months, it is a good idea to bundle up on your way to and from swim lessons. Always change your kids out of their suits, and make sure you have plenty of layers, including a warm hat.

Most indoor swimming pools keep their pools and decks very warm during the winter months. Many also provide hair and swim suit dryers. Be sure to bring a hair dryer, if the facility doesn’t provide one. After swim lessons, it is important to get your child as dry as possible, to keep them as warm as possible on the way home.

With so many excellent facilities in the area that offer swim lessons year-round, it will be easy to find a place to take your child for warmth, fun and exercise this winter.

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