If you learned to swim at a young age, you're one of the lucky ones.
Not every kid gets the same encouragement and opportunity that you've had – and those essential skills you learned in the pool will last you a lifetime.
We didn't get many chances to swim when we were young. But that doesn't mean we can't encourage other young swimmers and parents to get involved!
Here are three huge reasons why you should start thinking seriously about getting your kids into the water:
1. Learning early can reduce their risk
Every good parent worries about safety. And it's natural to be cautious about putting an infant or a toddler into the pool.
In fact, some official organisations used to warn against it. Before 2010, The American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) said that children weren't ready for swimming lessons until the age of four.
But when new research showed an 88% reduction in the risk of drowning for young kids who had taken swimming lessons, the AAP changed their position – and they now say it's safe for children to start swimming as early as the age of one.
So what does that mean?
It means that children who learn to swim at a younger age could have a much lower risk of getting into danger when they're swimming.
But there's a caveat here:
Just like any other activity with a young child, you need the right supervision, the right teachers, a safe environment, and a sensible outlook.
No matter how strong a swimmer you or your kid might be, there's always a risk of danger in the water – so don't let your family develop a false sense of security.
2. Young swimmers can develop faster
Everyone knows that an active lifestyle is great for keeping young bodies fit and healthy.
But the real surprise?
Learning to swim at a young age can actually help to develop the mind – not just the body.
According to a four-year study of more than 7,000 children, children who swim display greater cognitive ability when compared to children who don't swim.
And bizarrely, many of these advanced skills were in areas that seem to have nothing at all to do with athletics – things like language skills and mathematics.
"The results in literacy and numeracy really shocked us," said Professor Robyn Jorgensen, lead researcher on the project. "The children were anywhere from six to 15 months ahead of the normal population when it came to cognitive skills, problem-solving in mathematics, counting, language and following instructions."
So if you want your kids to keep a healthy body and a sharp mind, getting them into swimming at an early age could be one of the best ways to help them develop into a well-rounded adult.
3. They'll become more confident
We all know that sports are a great way to build self-esteem and confidence in your kids.
But you might never have guessed that these positive effects can start with kids as young as infants and toddlers.
According to a scientific study, kids who were exposed to swimming from a young age were shown to be better-adapted, more self-secure, and more independent than other non-swimming children – and they even showed better performance and ability when they were put into new situations.
Ready to set your kids on the right path?
We've always believed that swimming is for everyone. And that inclusivity begins with the attitudes we teach our kids.
So if you're interested in getting your kids into the water, there's no time like the present – and we've got the perfect children's swim cap.
