6 ways
swimming
lessons help your
child thrive

We all know how important it is to teach our children to swim.

Above all else it keeps them safe in and around water – but new research from Swim England conducted as part of their #LoveSwimming campaign shows there are lots of other benefits for their overall health, wellbeing and development… including some you may not have even considered.

Here are six super ways swimming lessons can help your child thrive…

Safety

Let’s start with the most obvious and most important one.

According to the Royal Life Saving Society, an average 328 UK and Irish citizens lose their life to accidental drowning each year. Meanwhile, many others have non-fatal experiences or suffer life-changing injuries.

Children and young people are naturally more vulnerable and, sadly, drowning remains among the top three causes of accidental death of children in the UK.

Learning to swim and gaining water competence is therefore vital to staying safe around water through childhood and into adulthood.

Health and fitness

Ok, so that’s the most serious one out of the way. From here on in it’s about how learning to swim really helps our children be healthy, happy and get the most from life.

As a low-impact form of aerobic exercise, swimming is fantastic for fitness whatever your age – but for kids especially, it’s an amazing way to burn off energy while keeping things fun.

While lots of health benefits aren’t obvious to the eye (like being good for our heart and lungs), it’s clear that parents notice the positive impact of swimming.

In fact, 92 per cent of parents surveyed by Swim England said that their child’s health and fitness improved after starting lessons.

Swimming doesn’t just help keep our heart and lungs healthy; it also builds strength, increases flexibility, improves stamina and boosts balance and posture – all super important for a healthy body.

92 per cent of parents surveyed by Swim England said that their child’s health and fitness improved…

Happiness

We all want our children to be healthy, but their happiness is just as important.

The good news from Swim England’s research is that swimming lessons contribute to kids feeling better mentally and emotionally as well as physically.

In fact, no fewer than 84 per cent of parents said that their child’s mood improves right after they’ve had a lesson.

Meanwhile, 8 in 10 working parents believed swimming lessons had helped reduce their child’s stress or anxiety levels.

School performance

Swimming lessons are fun, but they also introduce some structure. While they’re in the water, little ones will need to listen and follow instructions to develop and practice their skills.

Sounds a little like being at school, doesn’t it? (Only wetter!) So, it’s probably no surprise that having swimming lessons leads to benefits in the classroom.

The research certainly suggests so, as nearly 8 out of 10 parents say swimming lessons improved their child’s concentration and attention span.

Nearly three-quarters of parents believed learning to swim supported their child’s overall development at school, helping them be more engaged, motivated and ready to learn.

8 out of 10 parents say swimming lessons improved their child’s concentration and attention span…

Confidence and social development

It always makes us feel good when we learn something new or gain a new skill, no matter our age. But for young children, that feeling of accomplishment and recognition is especially important.

By providing challenges and rewarding achievements, swimming lessons help children become more self-confident and grow belief in their abilities.

The effect can be really powerful, encouraging children to push their own limits and explore new skills – not only in the water, but in many other ways (and it’s so lovely seeing the smile on their face when they earn their latest certificate or badge!).

Interacting with other children and making friends can also help them become more socially confident.

Parents surveyed by Swim England certainly agreed, with the majority noticing increase confidence and self-esteem.

Swimming is incredibly inclusive too, and more accessible for children with additional needs than other sports.

Opening up new experiences!

Swimming can be a great way to relax, have fun and keep fit – on our own or with family and friends.

Being a confident swimmer means you can visit a splash park, jump in the pool on holiday, or enjoy a safe paddle in the sea next time you hit the beach.

And there are lots of other activities that strong swimmers can enjoy too, from paddleboarding, kayaking and canoeing to surfing, sailing and scuba diving.

Having that core water competence opens up all sorts of doors, and means your child can explore new experiences and discover new passions safely.

Learn to Swim with Be Well

Our enjoyable and engaging lessons will grow your child’s water confidence and help them become safe, strong swimmers. All our lessons are delivered by experienced, qualified teachers and follow the official Swim England framework so you can easily understand and track your child’s progress.

Find out more