Thank you Goldfish Swim School for hosting our visits and
giving us food for thought with all things swimming
Every summer I plan on putting my love for swimming to good use. Since swimming is the only workout, I enjoy I make a plan to swim laps as my exercise routine. However, when it comes to it I only do it a couple of times over the course of summer and even these trips make me very sore – my body tries to protest again this new regiment (and usually wins).
However, when it comes to my children, they are ready to spend hours jumping in and out of the pool – this is my favorite time to observe as my children love swimming. That is partially the reason why I take them to the swim school – rain or shine.
It’s Spring and the swim school schedule books up a lot faster than usual. That is the time when I get a bit worried about the availability of classes for my kids if I need to change our schedule at the Goldfish Swim School. I always wondered though why so often people run to sign kids up for swim classes in the spring – is March through May the best time to get kids ready for fun summer water activities?
From my conversations with other moms, I discovered three reasons for this phenomena:
- It’s conscious planning with other winter activities wrapping up in March
- The realization that summer is close and the child hasn’t mastered swimming over the winter
- Kids get sick when they go to a swim school in winter
As I can’t argue with planning efforts by other parents, I would have to pick on the other two statements.
Couch Surfer
Unless you consider your child a professional couch surfer and under blanket diver, I would assume his actual swimming skills didn’t improve over winter unless he spends a significant amount of time in the water deeper than a bathtub.
Do kids get sick more if they take swim classes in winter?
I used to pull my children out of the swim classes right before winter as I was afraid of never-ending sickies. My son also had several ear infection every winter, and I didn’t want to make things worse. However, later I found out that swim lessons help your child’s body fight infection. The cold winter air can dry out your child’s nasal passages, making it a lot easier for viruses to make their way in your little one’s body, making them sick. Because most swim lesson facilities keep their building very warm and with more humid air, this helps prevent that. Would you be surprised to know that my son didn’t have a single ear infection after he started going to the swim school all year around?
A few more reasons for kids to attend swim classes all year around
Shape O
While running and shooting on a tablet is quite entertaining it is much more beneficial to move physically. Not only physical activities like swimming will help your child stay in excellent physical shape and increase endurance, but weekly swimming class will also prepare him or her for a fun summer.
Energizer Bunny
It is not a secret that most kids don’t spend nearly enough time outdoors. Even if the weather outside is OK, the kids prefer to stay home. My wiggly children get themselves into all kinds of troubles by just having fun. However, on the swim days, I know my children will be tired and happy – regardless of the moody weather!
Know-It-All
Swimming is not something you “get” one day. Like other sports, swimming requires a learning curve and a lot of practice. As I observe my children going through the swimming levels, they learn new skills, increase swimming speed, and sharpen their technique. It is also a lot of fun to see kids compete in the swimming pool – this is one place where you won’t feel guilty for comparing your son or daughter to other kids!
The Legend
Maybe the boy chowing down cereal in your kitchen will grow up to be the next swimming legend. But even if not, there is something to say about swimming competitions and lifelong skill set that is important in school, college, and life overall. My daughter is already planning on getting a job here at the Goldfish Swim school once she turns 15 – can you think of a better starter job?
All-Arounder
If nothing else, swimming is an equally fun activity – while ski season comes and goes and many other activities are not available to us here in Midwest during the winter months, swimming is one of those things my kids can do non-stop. And to be perfectly honest, I don’t know how to say no to a swim in 80-degree water at the Goldfish Swim School while it’s raining and snowing outside?
