Why every child should learn to swim

Jumping into a cool blue pool and splashing around in your swimming costume isn’t just fun – it could save your life. Swimming is an important skill that can help children survive in dangerous situations and it can keep them fit too.  Yet shockingly one in three children aged 11 or under cannot swim one length of the pool, and four out of 10 children have never been taught swimming at school.

How to get your child swimming: Find a local swimming club
If your child is not offered swimming lessons at school, or if your child is struggling to swim despite being taught at school, find a local club where they can develop their skills further. Find a local swim school that follows the British Gas ASA Learn to Swim Pathway. This course ensures your child is taught effectively whilst having fun. At the end of the seven-stage framework your child will have learnt basic swim skills plus some more advanced techniques. They’ll be confident swimmers in no time.

How to get your child swimming: Find a swimming hero  
In life it’s fair to say that lessons become a lot more fun when we want to learn them. If you want to get your child swimming, a great way to help them is to find a swimming hero. You should start a little project together and read about some great swimming stars. Mark Spitz, Michael Phelps, Kristin Otto and Rebecca Adlington are always popular with children. Then if your child’s attention is captured by one of these athletes, create a little fact file about that swimmer. The more they find out about them the more their interest in swimming should increase.

How to get your child swimming: Have an awards ceremony
Every child loves to feel special and if you want to encourage your son or daughter to swim then there is no better way to make them feel like a star than throwing then an awards ceremony. To begin, sit down with your child and come up with some goals (if they are following the British Gas ASA Learn to Swim Pathway you can set seven goals to match the seven stages of the course). Once they meet their goal it’s time for the awards ceremony. You can ask your child to dress up for the occasion and then lay some red card down, pretending it’s a red carpet. A friend or family member can then take snaps as you present your child with a certificate or medal you have made for them. 

How to get your child swimming: Dry land exercises  
For a child who can’t swim, being in the water can be pretty terrifying. To help them feel a little more confident, you can try to teach them some swimming skills when they are out of the water. Sit your son or daughter on a chair and sit beside them. Take off your shoes and socks and show your child how to point their feet when they are in the water. Then begin to kick. Make this kick training a game and see how many kicks you can do within a minute. To help them with their strokes you could both lie on a cushion on the floor and practice moving your arms and legs at the same time. To make sure your child is hitting the right spots, when they bring their hands and feet down place pieces of coloured paper on the floor and ask them to aim for these areas.

How to get your child swimming: Conquering the fear
Swimming can be a scary business. If your child is scared of swimming there are several ways you can help them conquer their fear. Firstly, you need to allow your child to become accustomed to the water. To do this, visit the pool regularly. When at the pool make sure you stick to the shallows so that your child can stand. Don’t try to give them swimming lessons; simply make these early visits fun and play lots of games. Make sure you offer your child swimming aids, goggles and floats to help boost their confidence further. If your son or daughter is still uncertain about the water, ask them why they don’t enjoy swimming. You may find that they have an unusual fear or that they dislike a certain aspect of being in the water that you can help them with.

How to get your child swimming: Attend a swimming event 
Attending sporting events are exciting and can help even the most unenthusiastic child get involved in swimming. If you want to encourage your son or daughter to swim, take them to a local swimming gala. You could watch professional swimmers, amateurs or even attend a child’s swimming gala. Whichever event you opt for does not really matter; simply attending should inspire your child to swim more – especially when they see the impressive trophies at the end of the competition.

How to get your child swimming: Go swimming together 
As with most things in life, the best way to get your child swimming is to lead by example. If they watch you swim they will be more tempted to get involved themselves. Make swimming a regular activity that you can share. Remember not to make swimming dull when you go to the pool together. Have fun and enjoy your time as a family. You could make the activity even more fun by giving your child a little treat after their swimming session.