Frequently, parents sign their kids up for swim classes just to give them something to do, expend energy, and keep them busy. Swimming lessons are a great way to make kids safer around the water and prepare them for involvement in water sports and recreation. However, one of the most important benefits that swimming can offer to kids is boosting confidence and self-esteem.
Overcoming fears
Trying new things can often make children fearful of getting hurt, fearful of not succeeding, and fearful of judgment by others. However, overcoming these fears in a supportive environment can be empowering for them and equip them to deal with other challenges.
Social Skills
From group swimming lessons to camps and teams, swimming allows kids to positively interact with their peers. Kids will learn to deal with and resolve conflicts on their own and get to know people with different backgrounds than their own. Making friends and building social skills give a boost to children’s overall self-esteem and is a critical part of healthy childhood.
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Healthy Habits
Swimming builds muscles, burns fat and teaches coordination. In an age where child obesity is a real problem, swimming is a great way to make exercise fun for kids and give them the foundations for an athletic lifestyle.
Setting and Achieving Goals
Sports like swimming help children learn how to set goals, experience failures and learn to succeed. By guiding children in setting goals and achieving them, we can enable them to build a strong sense of self.
Fostering your kids’ self-esteem is very important from the time they are young, and swimming is a great way to do that. Children take great pride in mastering new skills and showing off their achievements, and success encourages them to take on new challenges. These feelings can stay with them for life and play a vital role in giving them the confidence to pursue their dreams as they grow.
If you want to try a free group swimming lesson for your child, consider the annual World’s Largest Swimming Lesson on June 20, 2019. Merritt’s Towson, Eldersburg, White Marsh and Canton locations will be participating in this event, and it is open to members and non-members. Just drop by any of these locations’ Welcome Desk for more information on times and to sign up.
