Swimming is Britain’s top sport with over 2 and a half million people swimming at least once a week. Despite this figure, the number of people participating in the sport has dropped by over 24% the last few years.
What’s more shocking is the figures released by the ASA (Amateur Swimming Association) recently that shows 1 in 3 children are leaving primary school unable to swim. The National Curriculum says that children should be able to swim 25 meters unaided by the time they are age 11. 40% of the children that can’t swim those 25 meters have never been offered the opportunity to learn how to swim and with drowning the third most common cause of accidental death in children, it’s time that we as a nation start prioritising children learning to swim- it’s not just a sport, it’s a skill that can save someone’s life. The ASA report calls on head teachers to make swimming a priority in their school budgets and wants Ofsted to monitor the inclusion and the delivery of swimming lessons.
It’s not just the skill to save a life that children will learn during their lessons, there’s a whole host of reasons to learn and what better to time to start than when they’re young…
- Children tend to be more comfortable in the water compared to older children. Babies are especially comfortable having just spent 9 months in a womb so this is the best time to start them out in a pool. Older children have a higher chance of developing a fear of the water which will cause more problems when they come to learn.
- Babies and toddlers tend to absorb information quicker and therefore will adapt quickly to the water environment. Researchers have found that people are unlikely to learn to swim if they haven’t done so before the age of 9.
- Swimming helps children gain and develop their coordination skills earlier on. Those who learn to swim as babies have better balance and a better grasp on things as swimming allows them to use more muscles than they do on dry land.
- Learning to swim allows children to develop their social skills. During a lesson they have to follow instructions from a teacher, interact and share with other babies and also listen to their parents. Young swimmers tend to be less shy, more independent and more comfortable in social situations. They also have greater self-discipline as they learn to respect the rules of the water.
- It opens up the opportunity to get involved in other sports where swimming is key. From surfing to kayaking to fishing- there’s plenty of water based sports that would be dangerous if the participant couldn’t swim. Once you learn to swim, it’s a skill that you’ve got for life.
Swimming lessons aren’t just for children! Even though it may be easier to learn when you’re young, that shouldn’t deter you from booking up some lessons even if you’re well into your adult years- there’s plenty of benefits for you as well! Swimming is a great way to achieve a whole body work out whilst training your cardiovascular system. It’s also a low impact exercise so is a great sport for those who suffer from arthritis and for those with other muscle and joint problems. It’s also a great sport for the young and old alike due to its ability to improve your mood and decrease depression by releasing high amounts of endorphins.
Here at activeNewham, we provide lessons suitable for all. Not only do we provide school lessons and group lessons for children, specialist disability lessons and one – to – one sessions, we also have swimming lessons for adults – it’s never too late to learn! Whatever level you’re at, there’s a lesson suitable to all! Check out our website to find the most suitable for you and find a list of all our lessons during February Half Term!
