Swimming is fun in the water, but it offers many benefits out of the water too. For young people especially, it offers physical and mental development that can give them advantages in other physical activities, as well as academic and social settings.
For children and adults, swimming can provide obvious physical health benefits, as becomes clear when children who swim go for a school sports checkup at the local urgent care, for example. But it can also provide many benefits in other areas of life. For young people, swimming lessons can be particularly advantageous, helping to develop discipline, self-confidence and improved focus – skills useful in all areas of life.
Swimming Builds Self Confidence
Regular swimming builds muscles and coordination but it also builds self-confidence. Learning to swim can be intimidating and challenging, but as young people develop skills, they also develop self-confidence. And as they progress, they will begin to see that they are capable of doing things that they previously thought were impossible. This realization can be empowering and help them to develop a greater sense of self-confidence. This is all good news, as parents are increasingly encouraged by pediatricians to enrol their children in swim lessons from as early as one year old.
Benefits of Group Swimming Events
These types of events engage students in team sports. This means that young people have to learn to work together with a view of a common goal. This helps to build teamwork and collaboration skills, as well as to foster a sense of community. It also allows young people to learn how to work within a group, share responsibility and develop the art of negotiation. These are all valuable skills that will serve them well in many other areas of life, including other sports, school and work. While it may not seem comfortable at first, learning to work as an active team member transfers into other areas including school teams and later business teams.
Developing Social Skills
Many young people are still creating the social skills to interact easily with others. Working with others in swimming activities and events allows them to develop friendships and to relate with other people. This is all done in a supportive and warm environment with trainers. Through swimming activities, young people can develop a network of friends that can also give them a feeling of being part of a larger community. Through these interactions, they can also learn how to help others, be empathetic and learn how to express themselves clearly and effectively. Swimming programs provide the structure that helps nurture these skills.
How Competition Helps Children
Competition is another important benefit of swimming in that it provides young people with opportunities to participate and challenge themselves. Whether they are competing in a school swim meet or at a regional competition – or even just with other swimmers in the pool – they will learn how to push themselves to their limits and strive for their best. This can help to build a strong sense of self-discipline and focus, as well as to foster a competitive spirit. In many situations, they can also learn leadership skills. Furthermore, they will learn the importance of perseverance, determination and hard work, which are valuable skills that will serve them well in many other areas of life.
Mental Acuity and Decision Making
Swimming is also a great way to improve mental acuity. As young people participate in swimming activities, they will be required to think critically, make quick decisions and stay focused. This will help to sharpen their mental abilities, which can be beneficial in many other areas of life, including school, work and other sports. Furthermore, swimming can help to reduce stress and anxiety, which can have a positive impact on overall mental well-being.
Ever since an Australian study showed that swimming improved mental acuity, focus and discipline, researchers have been striving to find out exactly why swimming is good for the mind. Studies show that the benefits from swimming can also help with other areas of life such as getting homework done or learning a musical instrument.
Developing Discipline and Focus
Swimming requires a great deal of discipline and focus, and these are important skills that can be applied in many other areas of life. Young people who participate in swimming activities will learn how to set goals and work hard to achieve them. They will also learn the importance of following rules, practising good sportsmanship and taking care of their bodies. These are all valuable skills that can transfer to other areas of their lives.
Other Skill Development
The rhythm of swimming has led many young people to develop a love of the arts. It may be music, writing, or painting. Some young people listen to music while they swim, which develops their appreciation of the medium. For many young people, this helps them to develop their coordination and improve how they move their bodies through the water. The beat of the music helps coordinate movement. Beyond music, the freedom of swimming and learning to move your body in the water develops self-confidence and creativity in other areas of life.
While developing swimming skills can be an important part of anyone’s life, for young people it can help develop skills that are transferable to other areas of their lives. Most young people who learn to swim when they are young become lifelong swimmers. This is a healthy way to exercise, to relieve stress and to strengthen life skills.
