Why Learning to Swim is a Lifelong Skill: Benefits for Kids and Adults

EB Health & Leisure

As a health and leisure charity based in Cheshire East, we seek to make participation in any activity an enduring habit from the earliest years to later life. Our vision is to help people to live well and for longer by providing ‘Leisure for Life’.

Published: August 15th 2024

Category: Mental Health, Men's Health, Women's Health

Why Learning to Swim is a Lifelong Skill: Benefits for Kids and Adults

Swimming isn’t just about having fun; it’s a crucial life skill with so many perks outside the pool. Whether your kid is splashing around or you’re an adult trying to stay fit, swimming can really make a difference in your life. Let’s chat about why picking up this skill, no matter your age, is awesome and how it can boost your health, safety, and overall happiness in the long run.

Learning to swim benefits:

1.    Water Safety: A Crucial Lifesaving Skill

2.    Physical Health Benefits

3.    Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being

4.    Social Skills and Community Building

5.    A Lifelong Skill for All Ages

6.    Family Bonding and Enjoyment

Water Safety: A Crucial Lifesaving Skill

Learning to swim is super important for staying safe around water. Drowning is a big risk, especially for kids. When you know how to swim, it helps lower the chance of drowning and gives you the confidence to deal with any water situations, like having fun at the beach or swimming while on vacation.

Physical Health Benefits

Swimming is a great way to stay fit and healthy. It works out your whole body, making your muscles stronger, keeping your heart in good shape, and making you more flexible. Kids who swim grow up strong and with lots of stamina. Adults love swimming because it’s easy on the joints – no stress! It’s a cool exercise for staying fit without going too hard on yourself. Plus, swimming regularly helps manage weight, keeps you standing tall, and boosts your overall fitness level.

Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being

Swimming is awesome for mental health, whether you’re a kid or an adult. It helps chill out stress and anxiety, boosts your mood and can even make you feel better if you’re dealing with the blues. The soothing rhythm of swimming in the water can be super calming, almost like meditation. Plus, it clears your mind and keeps your emotions on track. And for kids, it’s not just fun – learning to swim can boost their confidence and self-esteem as they tackle new tricks and conquer water challenges!

Social Skills and Community Building

Swimming lessons are a great way to improve social skills and feel part of a community. Kids can learn teamwork, communication and co-operation by swimming with friends. Adults who take classes or go to leisure centres often make good friends and create a supportive group that keeps them motivated to keep swimming.

A Lifelong Skill for All Ages

Swimming is a skill that surpasses age, providing benefits throughout people’s lives. Whether it’s teaching a child how to be safe around water or an adult looking for a new way to stay active, swimming offers something for everyone. Swimming can be a lifelong activity that adapts to your changing needs and abilities, making it a perfect exercise for seniors and those looking to maintain their health as they age.

Family Bonding and Enjoyment

Learning to swim can also be a wonderful way to bond with family members. Parents who swim with their children not only ensure that their kids are safe but also create lasting memories through shared experiences in the water. Family swimming outings can become a regular part of your routine, promoting a healthy lifestyle and fostering a love for the water that can be passed down through generations.

Learning to swim is an invaluable skill that benefits both kids and adults, providing lifelong advantages in terms of safety, health and overall well-being. Whether you’re looking to keep your children safe, improve your physical fitness, or simply enjoy the many pleasures that swimming offers, investing in swimming lessons is a decision that pays off for life. So, dive in—your future self will thank you!

So, if you’re looking for swimming lessons near you, Everybody Learn to Swim instructors are experts who are committed to your child’s safety and success. To find out more about swimming at Everybody Health & Leisure visit www.everybody.org.uk/what-we-offer/swimming/  

Everybody Learn to Swim Scheme Stages

1.   Adult and Child Classes – Age under 3 years (from 6 or 12 months depending on location) Our Adult and Child classes allow parents to be in the water with their child to help gain confidence in the water and prepare for the next step into Duckling Awards 1-4.

2.   Ducklings Awards 1-4 Our Duckling classes are for children from 3 years old. Duckling 1 will see children start to move by themselves in the water. By Duckling 4 they will be jumping in, going underwater, floating and travelling 10 metres without support.

3.   Learn to Swim Stages 1-7 (4+) – The ‘Learn to Swim’ Stage 1-7 Awards are divided into progressive stages. They make up the core, national syllabus of learning to swim for primary school aged children.

4.   Alpha- Splash & Play – Splash & Play is a free 6-week block of pool sessions, for young people with a disability or additional need, to encourage children to be more relaxed, have fun whilst developing basic safety awareness and swimming capability.

5.   Alpha Swim – Alpha Swim is a 12 week course of swimming lessons for young people with a disability or additional need. These lessons will be a basic introduction to swimming to encourage children to have fun, be more relaxed in the water whilst learning basic water skills.

6.   Further Swimming Pathways – Children can choose from a range of different pathways once they pass stage 7, such as stages 8, 9 and 10 or our rookie lifeguard programme.

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