Why Winter is the Best Time to Take Swimming Lessons
Many parents are hesitant to engage in water-based sports during winter because of the chilly wind and gray skies. They think swimming can be put off until summer. Swimming is not a warm-weather activity, after all. Not necessarily. Even though it may be cold outside, your child will still make progress in the pool. Indoor pools are usually warm.
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Swimming lessons in the winter aren’t only about keeping active. They’re a crucial part of your child’s water safety journey, support physical and cognitive development, and offer an excellent bonding opportunity for parents–particularly dads–who want more one-on-one time with their little ones. This guide will help you decide whether or not to enroll your child in lessons during the winter months.
Winter Swimming Time is a Bonding Opportunity for Dads
Swimming lessons bring together parents and their children in a unique way. This is something that’s often overlooked. Winter swim sessions give dads the rare opportunity to bond with their children more intimately. Usually, mums tend to be more involved with younger children.
Take, for example, Kingswim Ambassador Adam Dovile. Adam Dovile, a father to two daughters, Ruby and Arabell, recently told us how his family has incorporated winter swimming lessons into their weekly routine, not only for water safety but also for the time spent together. Adam says that as a family, they spend a great deal of time outdoors, doing outdoor activities such as gardening and building. This can be difficult in the cold weather. “I find that the girls’ swim lessons give us the chance to spend time together. It’s a lot of enjoyment, especially at this age, to be able le get in the pool and participate with them.
Swimming gives dads the chance to be fully present with their kids and switch off from devices, work, and other distractions. This is a place where dads can engage, laugh, and play without being distracted. It’s the perfect way to spend time with their children during a busy season.
Why You Shouldn’t Stop Lessons in Winter
When the temperatures drop, it’s tempting for you to stop your swimming lessons. Stopping for the winter could set your child back and delay their progress. It makes sense to continue lessons throughout the year, and especially during winter.
1. Water Safety Repetition is the Key
You don’t want your child to learn swimming and then lose it. Repeated practice builds confidence, muscle memory, and an instinctive awareness of water. If lessons are stopped for more than three months, the children may lose their momentum. Younger ones in particular might even experience a regression.
Safety around water is an issue that affects us all year round, and not just in the summer. Every season poses risks to bathtubs, ponds, and backyard pools. Your child’s ability to respond to an emergency will be enhanced if they are exposed to water frequently.
2. Winter Swimming Increases Immunity and Not Colds
Contrary to popular opinion, being wet doesn’t cause colds. Viruses do. Kids who are active and healthy tend to have stronger immune systems. This is especially true for those children who remain active in winter, when most kids become sedentary.
Swimming can help keep your child’s respiratory and cardiovascular systems in top shape. Exercise improves mood and sleep, as well as helps ward off seasonal illness. Indoor pools are well ventilated and heated, and kids warm up quickly in the water once they begin to move.
Winter Swimming is Good for Your Health and Development
Swimming is not just about water safety. It’s also a great way to bond with your child.
3. A Full Body Workout (Without Fuss)
It is a great way to strengthen your muscles without causing any damage to the joints. Swimming is great for coordination, balance, core strength, and motor skills. This gentle, immersive movement promotes gross and fine motor development in young children.
Swimming is also an exercise that your child will not fight you over. Swimming lessons are more fun than exercise for most kids, as they love the water.
4. Brain Development for School Readiness
Children who are taught to swim at an early age tend to reach developmental milestones more quickly, both physically and mentally. Swimming is linked to improved language development, math reasoning, and memory.
Why? Swimming is a multi-sensory activity that stimulates the brain on many levels: through movement, pattern recognition, and listening to instructions. It also helps kids to coordinate their breath with their actions. Swimming makes children smarter.
The Pool is the Best Way to Avoid Cabin Fever
Winter is a time when we spend more time on screens. With fewer daylight hours and less opportunity to get outside, it’s not surprising that winter means more screen time. It’s easy to turn to TV and tablets for entertainment. But too much screen time can have negative effects on everything from mood to sleep.
Weekly swimming lessons provide a structured and active activity that everyone can enjoy. This helps to break up the week and burn energy. It also prevents restlessness and crankiness, which can often set in when you spend long periods indoors.
Winter Swimming FAQs: Yes, it’s Warm Enough!
Parents often have concerns about swimming during winter. But these are usually unfounded.
Is it too cold to swim in winter?
Not at all. The majority of swim schools keep their pools between 30- 32 °C, which is perfect for children. The change rooms in most swim schools are heated, and your child can be dressed immediately afterward in a warm towel robe.
What happens if my child becomes sick after the lesson?
Swimming does not increase your chances of getting sick as long as you make sure to dry yourself well, dress yourself in warm clothing, and keep yourself away from drafts. It’s germs, not cold air, that cause illness.
Can babies go swimming in winter?
You can enroll your baby in parent-baby swimming classes at any age. These classes are particularly beneficial during winter as they provide constant sensory stimulation and time for bonding.
Swimming Tips for Winter Success
Do you want to make your child’s winter swimming lessons more enjoyable and comfortable? These tips have been tried and tested.
- Buy a swim bag that includes warm layers, hairbrushes, dry towels, snacks ,and a change of clothes.
- If your child feels comfortable wearing a swim cap, then use it. This keeps their hair and head warm.
- If you have a baby, bring a thermos with warm water to provide a soothing drink after swimming.
- Slip-on shoes and thongs are essential to prevent cold tiles.
- Keep to a regular schedule so that lessons seem like an everyday part of your week, rather than something you do on a special occasion.
What You Should Look for in a Swim School
Swimming lessons are not all the same. Swim schools that:
- Indoor heated pools all year round
- Hire experienced and qualified instructors
- Small class sizes and one-on-one sessions are available
- Understanding child development is key to a person’s approach.
- Encourage parents to participate in classes for babies and toddlers, particularly.
- Make-up classes for your child if they are ill for one week
Kingswim is an example of a swim school that has a good reputation for developing confident swimmers within a supportive atmosphere. The classes are geared towards different developmental stages, and they encourage parent-child interaction at the younger levels. This is a great way to strengthen your relationship with your child while teaching them important life skills.
Swimming Through the Seasons Builds Confidence for Life
Swimming during the winter months will build habits that will last a lifetime, whether your child is just dipping his toes into the water or has already mastered the backstroke. Swimming teaches them resilience, keeps their bodies active, and is one of the most valuable skills they can learn.
For you as a parent, especially if you are a father, it’s an opportunity to be present and fully engaged in a place free of distractions. You can splash around, laugh, and share your little victories with your child. As they learn something new, their confidence will grow.
Instead of packing up the bathing suits when winter comes, embrace it. Find a heated pool near you, zip up your swim bag, and make the winter a time of progress and community.
You’ll regret waiting when the summer comes back.
Conclusion
Swimming is more than a sport for summer or a way to reach a goal. It’s an adventure. Winter may be the time when your child makes their biggest step forward.
