With the onset of winter some children say goodbye to their swim instructors with their parents enrolling them in other activities over the colder months.
And it’s these same parents who are surprised, when re-enrolling their children into swim lessons later in the year, to find their son or daughter in the same swimming class or slow to improve.
The key to learning or fine tuning any new skill is retention and consistency.
In order for a child’s swimming skills to be retained, and not just memorised for the short-term, students must continue to swim beyond the summer months with the longer a child is away from swimming, the longer it takes him or her to work back to their initial skill level.
Leopold Swim School director Rebecca Andrewartha says “Parents are also frustrated financially when they find themselves paying for their child to relearn skills lost during terms away from lessons.”
“Year-round swimming lessons allow children to build on the foundations learned during the summer and build on their skills – it also means that they retain the skills they need to respond in a water emergency, Mrs Andrewartha said.
“Children aren’t only around water during the summer months. Lakes, dams, spas, swollen waterways, uncovered backyard pools and even baths pose a danger to children – regardless of the time of the year.
“Consistency is important for children to learn to swim and for parents, it allows their swimmer to retain their skills on a more permanent basis.
“Swimmers who have lessons year-round have a more robust education and higher success for knowing how to react in an emergency. Remember – drowning is the largest cause of child deaths in Australia.”
And what about the myth that winter swimming lessons expose children to colds and viruses? Exercise is especially beneficial for strengthening immune systems and keeping adults and children safe from illness.
“And our pool at Leopold Swim Centre is heated to 34 deg. C. Plenty warm enough to keep little bodies safe and comfortable during the winter months,” Mrs Andrewartha said.
Don’t compromise your child’s safety or health by removing them from lessons during the winter months. For more information talk to Rebecca Andrewartha from Leopold Swim School on 5250 1457.