How Swimming Lessons Can Help Your Child Get Ahead In School

When we ask parents their main reason for enrolling their child in swimming lessons, they usually say ‘to learn life-saving water skills’.

Living in a country surrounded by water, being able to swim and knowing basic water safety skills is crucial and why learn-to-swim programs are so important.

However, there are many more reasons to learn to swim with far-reaching benefits beyond safety, which your child will thank you for now and in the future.

Develop social skills and make new friends

Recently, the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) conducted a study on the impact swimming has on wellbeing and found that because swimming pools are meeting points, they offer opportunities to socialise.

Swimming lessons introduces kids to a whole new social environment, creating the perfect opportunity to engage with and build friendships with new groups.

This is both great for school aged children, to expand their social skills and friendships beyond the classroom and younger children, who will enter school with developed social skills and the confidence to make new friends in any environment.

And it’s not just the kids who benefit from the social aspect of swimming, classes also provide parents a great chance to socialise, make new friends and expand their support network. We know many parents have formed great friendships and started regular coffee dates after our lessons.

Swimming makes you smarter

A research report from Griffith University found children who participate in early-years swimming achieve many milestones quicker than other kids – across physical, cognitive and language development.

At a high-quality swimming school, children can learn more literacy and numeracy skills, making them well prepared for the transition into preschool and school.

Swimming children also scored significantly better in visual-motor skills such as cutting paper, colouring in and drawing lines and shapes, many mathematically-related tasks, and better oral expression.

Improve mental health and wellbeing

The same report on wellbeing from ASA also concluded that the full body movement, rhythmic strokes and breathing techniques used during swimming have incredible relaxation benefits.

Swimming creates free-floating muscle relaxation and releases endorphins, making it great for reducing stress, anxiety and depression.

Swimming also assists the development of emotional skills such as perseverance and time management and with our small class sizes, instructors work closely with students, reinforcing their confidence and self-esteem in the water.

Physical health advantages

Over time children that take up swimming lessons tend to see an increase in their strength and stamina. This assists in maintaining a healthy weight and increased respiratory capacity. For children who suffer from asthma, swimming is one of the preferred forms of exercise because it is believed to be less constrictive on the airways.

Swimming also improves co-ordination, balance and posture through the development of visual-motor skills. These include hand eye co-ordination, gross motor skills (arms, legs, feet) and fine motor skills (wrists, hands, fingers, toes). Benefits that will not only assist them when they start school, but are also transferrable across a range of other sports and activities your child may take part in.

Furthermore, the increased physical health children enjoy from regular swimming contributes to an improved immune system, which means they’re far less likely to get sick, especially if they continue lessons throughout winter.

A lifetime of fun

By feeling confident and comfortable in the water, children will naturally begin exploring and enjoying other recreational, water-based activities. So, when the family takes their next holiday or weekend away to the beach or lake, everyone can join in and make new memories together.

Making the decision to enrol your child in swimming lessons will provide them with the skills to take part in other water-based activities such as surfing, snorkelling, canoeing and even white-water rafting.

While your child might be confident in their swimming level, when taking part in these activities it’s important to still follow safety warnings and maintain parental supervision to ensure everyone stays safe and has a great time.

One last thing

Swimming gives children a head start as they transition into school and opens them up to a lifetime of inclusion and enjoyment in the water.

By enrolling your child in swimming lessons, you’ll not only be ensuring their safety, but also helping them develop into a resilient, healthy and happy little person. We’re certain they’ll thank you for that!

Do your kids do/did swimming lessons? Tell us in the comments below.

34 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 03 Aug 2023
    11:36 am
All 3 of my kids learnt to swim at school

- - DaffyD said
  - 20 Feb 2020
    1:46 pm
Both of mine go once a week and its an essential skill

- - Mum2archer said
  - 11 Feb 2020
    2:45 pm
I really need to look into getting my son into swimming lessons!

- - mom81879 said
  - 10 Feb 2020
    9:29 am
There were no local out of school swimming lessons nearby when my kids were young. They both did at school swimming lessons, one loved it the other dreaded swimming days, and he still does. The swimming lover did really well at school, always above her year level. The other wasn’t so much book smart, although passed all subjects, but has more hands on abilities

- - mom290396 said
  - 10 Feb 2020
    12:30 am
Interesting read. I have a child who has never done swimming lessons and is a genius! I also have one who was gifted prior to swimming lessons! And as a teacher one of my lowest level students was one of the top swimmers. Once again I don’t believe it’s so simple and that everyone is completely different! But swimming is an important life skill that could not only save your life but that if someone else’s!

- - mom343701 said
  - 05 Feb 2020
    6:19 pm
I think that learning to swim is a critical skill for all children to learn this days but understand that for some it can me expensive

- - Eunice said
  - 05 Feb 2020
    11:32 am
My daughter started swimming lessons at 11 months and she’s now turning 2 years old. Classes occur once a week and we do it on weekend so it becomes like a family activity. Since then we noticed that her development including fine motor skills and ability to follow instruction is way faster than that of expected from her age.

- - ThisIsMe said
  - 03 Feb 2020
    2:50 pm
My girls are 9 & 11 and are still swimming have been since around 2. They are now in squads. My eldest is getting a bit over it but I won’t let her stop as she has no other sport and needs to do something for her health

- - taynik46 said
  - 02 Feb 2020
    7:53 am
my girls did so well with swimming lessons – both taking them right up until they were chosen for squads – i think it does wonders for their mental health – shows them that with perseverance, determination and practice they can achieve everything they want to

- - mumof1 said
  - 01 Feb 2020
    6:34 pm
My 7 month old had his first swimming lesson today! very timely article
- Ellen replied
  
  02 Feb 2020 , 8:57 am
  How did she go ?
- - mom90758 said
  - 01 Feb 2020
    5:35 pm
My daughter used to have swimming lessons and she liked them. But when, from the warm pool, she was moved to the big, cold one… she didn’t want to go on anymore. Too cold.
- Blossom replied
  
  01 Feb 2020 , 6:21 pm
  a suggestion. You could try getting her to wear a rashie top over her bathers. One of our toddlers wears a 1 piece that does up at the back which is made of rashie material over her swimmers. She used to go “blue” in the water within about 10 minutes even if the water was warm.
  - Ellen replied
    
    02 Feb 2020 , 8:52 am
    
    That’s a bit like me I still get cold within 10 minutes even in an inside pool. I remember when I was a kid and we went swimming in the summer my siblings friends and cousins would swim for hours on a hot summer day and I was cold and not having fun. Actually I experienced it as suffering, lol !
- - littlehandsofmine said
  - 01 Feb 2020
    4:07 pm
I really need to get our little boy into swimming classes

- - tessie said
  - 01 Feb 2020
    10:35 am
Both my boys had swimming lessons with the school.

- - mom81879 said
  - 01 Feb 2020
    9:59 am
I would have loved for my kids to have swimming lessons before they were school age. Sadly, they weren’t available in our country town at that time. Once my daughter started kindy tho, she loved swimming and attended 6am classes (before school) to boost her prowess

- - Amanda Holland said
  - 01 Feb 2020
    9:01 am
All my kids have had lessons, my youngest at 6 still is but he’s now at a point where he is more than capable in the water he doesn’t need many more.
All 3 kids started when they were old enough too start

- - Ellen said
  - 01 Feb 2020
    8:34 am
I agree and yes my older kids went to swimming lessons and now my youngest is going too

- - MisChip said
  - 01 Feb 2020
    12:05 am
I agree with the article. I believe swimming lessons have taught my son good listening skills and how to follow instructions.

- - mom265671 said
  - 31 Jan 2020
    11:47 pm
It’s a great idea. I hope my daughter has the confidence to do it

- - mom101628 said
  - 31 Jan 2020
    10:12 pm
My kids all learnt to swim and are as happy in the water as they are on land.
I wasn’t aware of the study, but can attest to it having done wonders for my children’s self-esteem and they never looked back going through their school years and when they started work in their chosen careers.

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 31 Jan 2020
    9:59 pm
I don’t know about the developmental side of things- my kids have both done swimming from age 3 and have been slow in learning some basics. It’s not all fun and games either my son just mucks around and hasn’t learnt anything- he’s 4.