Why it is important to continue swim lessons through winter

Winter is often the time when parents take their children out of swimming lessons, but it’s essential to understand that the break can hinder your child’s progress, as commitment and consistency is crucial in learning to swim. it’s important to be mindful that disrupting this repetition could result in your child needing to revisit previously mastered material or losing some confidence in their abilities. Here are some reasons why your child should continue swim lessons in winter:

Avoid wasted time, money and effort
By continuing swim lessons, the time, money, and effort already invested in your child’s swimming lessons will not go to waste over the winter months. Also, maintaining a routine is a great discipline to instil in young children.

Indoor heated pool
Swimming lessons in Easy2Swim’s indoor pool, which is heated to 30-32°C all year round, make it comfortable for children to learn in.

Health benefits
Swimming can help boost immunity during winter. Children who attend swimming lessons regularly are often fitter and maintain a stronger immune system.
Contrary to popular belief, catching the flu and colds is not necessarily related to being exposed to the natural elements or being exposed to the cold with wet hair. Research shows that these viruses are more likely spread through close proximity with others in indoor settings. Therefore, there is no need to fear that swimming in winter will increase the risk of catching a cold or the flu.
In fact, swimming during the winter months can have a positive impact on children’s immune systems. Keeping them fit and active through continuous practice helps to reduce their risk of catching colds, and builds resilience to stress and illness over time. So, rather than avoiding the water in winter, continuing to swim can actually be beneficial for your child’s overall health and wellbeing.
Swimming also complements all other sports by stretching many muscles, providing a low-impact form of exercise, and helping to build up and maintain stamina. It also improves strength, flexibility, balance, and posture.

Boost brain development
Swimming is not just a great physical exercise, but it also has cognitive benefits. Research has shown that swimming can increase blood flow to the brain, which means more oxygen, and this can help to improve memory and cognitive function.
For children, swimming is considered vital for their overall development. It not only helps them to stay physically fit and active, but also aids in the development of academic performance, as well as coordination, motor skills, balance, and concentration. Consistently attending swim lessons can ensure that children reap the full cognitive benefits of swimming.
Therefore, continuing to swim in winter is essential to maintaining the cognitive progress that children have made through their swimming lessons. Skipping swim classes or avoiding swimming during the colder months could halt the wonderful cognitive progress our children have been making.

Combats fear and anxiety
It’s important to understand that avoiding swimming during the winter months may actually do more harm than good for children. One reason for this is that avoiding the water for an extended period of time can increase a child’s chances of developing a fear or anxiety around it. This can lead to a reluctance to participate in water-related activities, which could ultimately limit their opportunities for enjoyment and recreation.
On the other hand, continuing with swimming lessons during the winter months can be a great way to maintain and improve a child’s swimming skills, as well as foster a sense of safety, confidence, and joy in the water. By staying active in the water year-round, children can develop a stronger connection with the environment and feel more comfortable in it overall.
So while it may be tempting to take a break from swimming during the winter, it’s important to consider the potential long-term consequences of doing so. By continuing to swim and engage with the water in a positive way, children can build skills, confidence, and a lifelong love for this important and enjoyable activity.

Consistency
Swimming is not just a seasonal activity, it is a crucial life skill that requires consistent practice and dedication. As children learn new skills, including swimming, consistency and practice are the key to improving and progressing through the levels. This is especially true for children under 4, as a significant gap in swim lessons can lead to a significant decline in ability.

Water safety
Water safety is important all year round, and it’s crucial that children know how to handle emergencies and stay confident in the water. Swim lessons can help children remember vital life skills and give parents the reassurance that their child is aware of being safe in and around water.

Maintaining teacher and student bonding is crucial.
Earning trust from a child takes a considerable amount of time. Having children pull out of lessons during the winter period can hinder that relationship.

In conclusion
Children should continue to swim in winter for a variety of reasons.
Firstly, it avoids wasting time, money, and effort already invested in their swimming lessons. Secondly, indoor heated pools make it comfortable for children to learn in, and swimming can boost immunity during the winter months.
Thirdly, swimming has cognitive benefits that can help with memory and academic performance.
Fourthly, continuing to swim can combat fear and anxiety around water.
Fifthly, consistency is essential in learning to swim, and practicing water safety is crucial all year round.
Lastly, maintaining a positive relationship between teacher and student is crucial and can be hindered if children pull out of lessons during the winter period.
Therefore, it is essential to prioritizse swimming lessons and make sure children continue to swim throughout the year, including in winter.