While Children Should Learn How to Swim When They are Young

Aquaphobia: Children should learn to swim when they are young

Aquaphobia is a morbid fear of water or of swimming. (1)

When an infant emerges from its mother's womb, he or she is able to swim. Normally, those who teach infants to swim will begin to train them, at about three months of age, when there is improved head and neck control. The umbilical cord will have dried and fallen off, so there is less danger of infection.

For the first 200 days of life, babies have an innate swimmer's reflex and they will instinctively hold their breath when submerged in water, because it is like being in the womb. They are not afraid of water.

It is felt that the children who do learn to swim early, are stronger physically and mentally, because the brain has been exposed to higher levels of oxygen.

As a child becomes older, he or she may tend to have more anxieties and emotional issues to overcome. A child can learn to swim at any age, as can any teenager or an adult. But, as one gets older, there are increasing mental hurdles that must be overcome. (2)

These can include aquaphobia or the fear of water. This has to do with fear of deep water rather than the actual substance that we refer to as water.

There are many other reasons why children should be taught to swim, when they are young.

These include the following:

Swimming is a healthy form of exercise that gives young children a sense of well being. They are healthier and happier, eat and sleep better and have improved balance and co-ordination.

Swimming improves heart health in young children, as the heart muscles are strengthened and circulation improves. This affects the entire body in a positive way.

Young children who swim outdoors, are exposed to more sunlight (vitamin D). This results in better calcium absorption. As a result, the children's bones become stronger.

25% of children are obese. Swimming burns excess calories and learning to swim early in life is important for weight management.

Learning how to swim as young children, helps them to learn about competitive sports. This can lead to other competitions, as they grow older or to participation in Olympic events, later in life.

Learning how to swim as young children is a good leisure activity that can help to bond the entire family. 

Learning how to dive or float, when you are young is fun. It is even more fun when it is with mom and dad!

When swimming safety is learned early, young children can protect themselves and others from drowning or from hypothermia. Even young children are able to learn and practice mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Who knows when someone might need that?

Swimming is a basic survival skill for young children. They can be taught safety in various kinds of scenarios like wading pools, swimming pools, lakes, rivers, or oceans. They can learn the correct usage of flotation devices like water wings, water mattresses and inner tubes. They can be taught where to swim and where not to swim, as well as what to do or what not to do in an emergency situation.

Swimming is an important skill for children to learn early in life, with respect to other water activities like boating or sailing, canoeing or kayaking. Knowing how to swim is just as important as understanding why or how one must wear a life jacket.

Swimming can help young children interact and develop trust for others, particularly the adults or parents who have taught them how to swim. The lifeguard at a beach can play an important role.

Swimming reveals an exciting world of underwater exploration for young children. There is always the possibility of being able to do scuba diving or surfing, later in life.

The increased activity involved in swimming helps control blood sugars in young children who are diabetic.

Swimming helps young children to learn a life style that they will adhere to for the rest of their lives.

Even young disabled children can learn how to swim and it is excellent therapy or rehabilitation for them.

Young children who learn to swim will never develop a fear of water.

It is important for children to learn to swim while they are young for these reasons, as well as others that you may be able to add to this list.

(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrophobia

(2) http://www.murraycallanswimschools.com/faq