Swimming is the ideal after-school activity for kids of all ages. Find out why, as well as the benefits that your kids stand to gain from this activity.
Why Swimming is the Ideal Extra-Curricular Activity for Kids
Explore the benefits of after-school swimming.
The warmer months have rolled around again, and your children are eager to do something exciting in the few hours between the end of their school days and dinner time. You’re probably looking for an activity that’s fun, constructive, educational, equips your children with important skills and social abilities, and allows them to get in plenty of exercise as well.
Swimming could be the answer you’re looking for.
No child wants to spend all of their time at school, and this is one of the most popular after-school activities among all age groups. Swimming is a pastime that keeps kids fit and active, promotes their mental development, and helps them to meet like-minded friends with similar interests.
If your kids don’t know how to swim just yet, it might be time to book them some swimming lessons with a trusted instructor to help them build confidence in the water. Once they’re ready to jump in, they’ll thank you for organising extra-mural activities that they will genuinely look forward to!
Here is why swimming is the perfect after-school activity for your kids.
Swimming Keeps Kids Active and Healthy
The Chief Medical Officer of England suggests that children should enjoy physical activity for at least an hour a day, every single day. Unfortunately, less than a fifth of British kids are meeting this target, and a third of them do fewer than 30 minutes’ worth of exercise daily!
As a parent, it’s up to you to encourage your kids to join extra-curricular activities that get them off the sofa and their iPads and get them as active as possible. Swimming and swimming lessons are fantastic choices.
The average swimming lesson takes around an hour to complete, and once your children can swim, they can enjoy this activity for as long as they’d like. The physical activity will keep them fit and at a healthy weight, while also strengthening their muscles, building their stamina, and stimulating their appetites.
Swimming, unlike other sports, is not based on running, so your kids will be able to get active without wearing shoes. This activity allows children to move their bodies and feet freely, while enhancing their upper body strength and dexterity. It’s also a low impact sport, which means fewer chances of movement-related injuries.
Swimming Teaches Crucial Life Skills
It’s an undeniable fact: children need to learn how to swim and how to handle water with confidence. Extra-curricular swimming lessons will teach your kids how to play and exercise safely in the water without doing anything dangerous or putting their peers at risk.
After-school sessions also give them a chance to improve their current swimming skills, to learn new strokes, and to hone a skill that they can call on for life. Knowing how to swim has saved many lives, which is also a great reason to encourage your children to learn!
Swimming Equips Kids with Social Skills
Children who join a new swimming class or team will meet a whole new group of people their age with at least one similar interest. Booking them in for after-school lessons is a great way to help your kids meet new friends and share fun new experiences with acquaintances they already have.
Your kids will also practice other valuable skills during lessons, including listening, following instructions carefully, and waiting their turn to show off their skills in the pool.
Swimming Offers Value for Money
You are likely looking for an after-school activity for your children that is worth the money it demands. Swimming could be the answer you seek. You will love watching your children’s swimming skills develop and improve over time, and they may eventually get to the point where they wish to swim competitively in the future.
You can attend sessions and cheer your kids on from the benches, while knowing that come holiday season, you can enjoy yourself and relax around the pool knowing that the kids are safe in the water.
Swimming Helps Kids to Unwind and Relax
Stress and anxiety are huge and growing problems among younger generations, with more children on anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications than ever before. Swimming is a great stress-relieving activity that can help to relax your kids, lower their anxiety levels, boost their confidence, and help them to overcome their fears of swimming, water, or even social interaction.
Signing them up for swimming lessons will give them something to look forward to after school, and help to get them out of the house and meet new people on a regular basis.
Give Your Child The Swimming Advantage
If you are looking for an after-school activity for your kids that ticks all the boxes, swimming may be the perfect choice. It will help to keep your children fit and healthy, provide them with plenty of opportunities to socialise, and equip them with important life skills that they will take with them into adulthood and beyond.
You may also like:
