SWIMMING: BEYOND A SURVIVAL SKILL

Swimming, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica is the propulsion of one’s body through water by combined arm and leg motions and natural flotation of the body. It is useful as a sport, exercise or a survival tactic. In recent times, there have been calls for parents to encourage swimming among children.

This comes against the backdrop of several school children dying in a flood last Monday. The National Disaster Mangement Organisation (NADMO)  believes that encouraging children to take up swimming lessons could be a life-saving skill when they encounter such problems.

According to the disaster organization, teaching your child swimming could help save your child from drowning during flooding. The organisation is also advocating for swimming to become part of the extracurricular activities in schools.

But as parents do we have to wait for NADMO to tell us to teach swimming as a skill to our children? It is good to teach swimming as a survival skill but one’s ability to swim goes beyond being able to save one’s neck in the events of flooding. It could be a good career choice for a child. Most great swimmers discovered their talent for the sport by starting out as beginners who worked hard at getting better at the sport

 It is a great way to find out if your child is a potential ‘mini olympian’ in the making. Encouraging your child to take up swimming as an extracurricular activity could help you unearth hidden talents in your child.

Swimming is also a healthy exercise for the body. It keeps your child’s lungs and heart healthy, increases strength, flexibility, stamina and improves posture and balance.

It is also a stepping stone to learn other sports such as canoeing, scuba diving, surfing, yachting and triathlon.

It also helps your child build confidence in their abilities and themselves. There is a sense of pride that comes with being good at skill that increases confidence in one’s self. It builds a competitive spirit in your child, enhancing their sense of purpose to be great at a skill.

Swimming also helps to build great friendships among children. Taking your child to the pool to learn swimming is a great way for your child to meet other child who are equally passionate about swimming forming life long bond and friendship.

There is no appropriate age to start teaching your children how to swim. They can start learning as early as one year old.  Parents must, however, prioritize the safety of the children above everything else. Precautions and all safety measures must be adhered to at all times once you sign your child up for swimming lessons

It is also important that parents acquire all appropriate swimming gears or equipment before the child joins any pool for lessons. Furthermore, it is also important to hire a professional to teach your child swimming.