I know what you are thinking…The pools are closed, we have no plans to go on vacation near the water anytime soon., and we just want to stay on the couch in our pajamas- there is no need for swim lessons right now. Wrong!!
This is a common thought of people in Maine. Many people put their children through intensive swim lessons in the summer and they make a ton of progress, but despite their best intentions to keep practicing, they stop swimming for the winter. Then when outdoor pools open back up , they find out they had lost all of their previous swim season skills. That is $$$ right down the drain. That’s why we at Little Waves Swim Academy feel winter swimming is beneficial and so important! Like any other activity, swimming requires regular and ongoing practice and coaching. Stop swimming and kids literally begin to lose the muscle memory they gained while in lessons. Students who swim through the winter months are better prepared with water safety and physical skills come summer time. Plus, water doesn’t cease to exist just because winter approaches. Lakes, retention ponds, bathtubs, vacation pools, beaches, rivers and streams are present year-round. As much as we can be lulled into the sense that water safety is a “summer month concern” we really should be vigilant even as the temperatures drop.
Swim lessons are also a great way to get your child out of the house and access to some physical activity. It is recommended that toddlers get 60+ minutes of physical activity a day, and preschool age kids should be getting 120+ minutes. In the winter months there are fewer options and if your children are anything like mine they get that physical activity by running around the house, jumping off furniture and climbing up…everything. This is the perfect time to get them into our indoor pool so they can get exercise to burn that energy.
Winter swim lessons can help improve a child’s health by giving them regular physical activity, which can improve sleep and strengthen the immune system. It may seem counter-intuitive but winter swim lessons may be one of the best things you can do for your child’s health, safety and of course FUN! Call us today to start your child’s aquatic journey 207-239-0546
