4 Benefits of Year-Round Swim Lessons

This post is sponsored by Aqua-Tots Swim School. All opinions are 100% our own!

It’s finally cooling off in Collin County. The temperatures are slowly lowering and the leaves are falling, but my toddler is still splish-splashing away once a week at the {indoor} swimming pool. It’s a special part of our week that we both look forward to, and I plan to keep up year-round swim lessons from infancy through the elementary years for each of my children.

Here are four important benefits I’ve seen my toddler experience first-hand thanks to year-round swim lessons at the indoor pool:

1. No Regression – This a huge one! It’s essential to keep swimming year round so that my toddler doesn’t regress or completely lose new swimming skills. Muscle memory and building his mental confidence in the water ensure that he is actually learning something, making gains each week, and will ultimately be a skilled swimmer sooner rather than later. We’re also very budget-conscious at our house, and the idea of spending money on seasonal swim lessons only to have my kiddo forget that skill by the time summer rolls around again just doesn’t make sense. Year-round swim lessons mean my money is well spent towards my goal! 

2. Safety – Speaking of goals, why is swimming such a valued skill for our family in the first place? Safety, safety, safety. I was surprised to learn that drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 1-4. No wonder my “mama anxiety” skyrockets any time we are near a pool or body of water. This a very real and present danger, so before we jump into the fun of soccer or baseball lessons, I want to make sure this life-saving skill is put front and center. Swimming year round puts him on the fast track to mastering basic water safety skills so we can all enjoy the water without panic.

3. Immune System – As a mom I would do just about anything to increase the chances of my toddler staying healthy. Stay away, viruses! Can I get an amen?! So when I heard that the full body exercise and breath control practice during swim lessons actually boosts the immune system, I was sold. What a huge benefit! And I can attest that my son has seemed to have less “sick days” than his preschool peers. Have year-round swim lessons been my secret weapon all along? Maybe! The indoor pool is also kept at a very warm 90-degrees, so if you’re concerned about your little one getting cold during winter months, there are no worries there! 

4. Fun – There’s not much like that special feeling of seeing your child’s confidence build. After a few months of swimming, as my son began to make gains and learn new skills, my heart would melt when he looked up from the pool with a giant, proud grin on his face. The fun started in the Mommy and Me class, where we bonded over baby’s brand new experience in the water. And now, as he’s moved into the independent toddler class, I’ve really seen his personality come alive and I’ve loved watching him connect with his teacher and learn new things! It’s really fun for both of us. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of year-round swim lessons or hearing about swim class options for your child, Aqua-Tots Swim Schools offers classes for ages four months and up. They encourage you to visit their website to find your local swim school today. 

 

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Lisbeth Van Daalen
Lisbeth is an east Texas native who was drawn to the big city lights (or more accurately the sprawling suburbia of North DFW) after attending the University of North Texas. Her past several years have been spent inside the chaotic walls of a public school classroom, but now she turns her sights to the adventures of being a SAHM to son Levi (February 2015). She’s a compulsive iPhone photographer obsessed with documenting her ordinary days on Instagram. Many of those days involving the balance of story time at the local library, throwing a thrifty meal into the crock pot during nap time and keeping up with her mommy girlfriends. Because let’s be real, we need someone to talk to that can use more than three words in a sentence! She shares this messy, fun journey with her husband, Kevin. Most weekends, you can find them exploring the McKinney square with baby in tow in search of the best summer pie or a plate of BBQ.