Swimming Lessons = School Readiness – Academy Swim Club

School readiness is more than ABC’s and 123’s.  It’s a child’s ability to learn from someone other than mom or dad in a group setting.  Some children adapt well to the massive changes school brings; for others, it’s a bumpy road with many stops for parent-teacher meetings.  What can a parent do to help their child prepare for the leap to the classroom?  Turns out, swimming lessons might be the answer. 

Researchers at Griffith University studied the effect of year-round swimming lessons on children under 5 years and found that early swimmers appeared to make the transition to school more easily.  They were:

11 months ahead in Oral Expression

6 months ahead in Mathematics Reasoning

2 months ahead in Brief Reading

17 months ahead in Story Recall

20 months ahead in Understanding Directions

These developmental leaps put swimming children anywhere from 6 to 20 months ahead of the normal population for these school-readiness skills—representing a significant percentage increase over peers not enrolled in swimming. The effect was more pronounced on children who began lessons earlier and participated for longer.  Who would have know; swimming lessons teach more than a lifesaving skill!

A child practices active listening by hearing a skill described, watching a demonstration and performing the skill him- or herself.  Rules are obeyed because they are clear cut and consistently enforced to maintain safety.  Goals are set, and by following directions and putting forth the best effort, success is achieved and celebrated.  All the tools your child needs to thrive and learn in school are present in a swim lesson. 

The Griffith researchers noted that the quality of swim schools varies.  Parents should carefully examine where their child takes lessons to ensure the most benefit is received.

To read the study go to www.griffith.edu.au and search for Early Years Swimming.  For more information on swimming lessons and water safety, contact Academy Swim Club at 661-702-8585, or visit www.swim4life.com to register & enroll.