Why Should Your Child Learn to Swim?

Safety

• Swimming is a valuable survival skill. Your child's safety is a major reason to enroll her in swim lessons, or teach her how to swim yourself if you are capable of doing so. There are various situations in which knowing how to swim could potentially save her life. For example, if your child were to fall into an unattended pool or out of a boat, being able to swim could help her to keep her head above water.

  This isn't to say that children should be left unattended or allowed to swim in a pool without lifeguards, even if they know how to swim. Providing supervision is still extremely important, but it does at least help if the child knows what she is doing in the water.

Confidence

• One of the best ways to improve a child's confidence is to allow him the opportunity to learn and develop new skills. Swimming is a skill that can instill a sense of confidence in children. Once a child starts seeing improvement in his swimming abilities, it will enable him to feel good about his accomplishments, even if he does not consciously realize the boost in self-esteem. The improvement of confidence is a solid reason for your child to learn to swim.

Social Purposes

• When a child knows how to swim, it will open social opportunities, which are an important part of development, for her. When a daughter's friends want to go to the pool or lake, the parent(s) can find security in knowing that she will be capable in the water. This gives her more time and chances to socialize with other children and develop important social skills.

  Pool parties and hanging out at the public pool in the summer are practically a rite of passage for many of America's youth. By having your child learn how to swim, you will prevent her from feeling like an outcast who is afraid to get into the water. She will feel comfortable being in the water and splashing around with the other kids, as well.

Competition

• An opportunity that is presented to a child who knows to swim, versus one who doesn't, is the chance to join a swim team. By joining a swim team, a child will be able to maintain a healthy body with the exercise he will receive as part of the team. Additionally, being a part of a swim team can lead to the forging of friendships and further development of social skills. These opportunities will be opened if the child has already learned the basic fundamentals of swimming and illustrates a desire to try being a part of a youth swim team.

New Experiences

• A child who has developed the ability to swim can become exposed to new experiences without the need for parental concern. As an example, if a child is presented with the opportunity to go on a boat ride with a friend's family, a parent will feel more comfortable giving permission if the child is a capable swimmer and can handle himself in the water. Giving your child the ability to have new experiences, especially those with friends, makes the swim lessons well worth it.