The reason why "swimming" is the most popular extracurricular activity for children: There are various benefits beyond just "improving swimming skills"

There are probably many parents who are troubled when it comes to choosing an extracurricular activity for their children. Recently, a survey was conducted by a research company, and it became clear that swimming was the most popular, far ahead of other sports and athletic activities. What is the reason for its popularity? We will introduce the various benefits of "children learning swimming" that became apparent from the survey results.

Sports lessons: No. 1 is "swimming"

Q. What sports is your child currently learning? (Multiple answers allowed)

The survey was conducted on 105 parents who have their children take sports or athletic lessons. First, when asked about the sports their children are taking lessons in, swimming came in first with 50.0% of the respondents. In second place was soccer with 1%, so we can see that swimming is overwhelmingly popular.

The physical benefits of learning to swim

Q. What physical benefits have you seen from having your child take swimming lessons? (Multiple answers)

Next, we will answer the question about the physical benefits of attending swimming school.

Basic physical strength improved: 63.5%
The most common response was that it improved basic physical strength. Exercising in water uses all the muscles of the body in a balanced way, improving muscle strength and endurance. In addition, because it is low-impact exercise, it improves cardiopulmonary function, improving overall physical strength.

Improved athletic ability: 44.2%
Swimming is a full-body exercise, so it contributes to the overall improvement of athletic ability. When swimming, not only the muscles of the arms and legs are trained, but also the sense of balance and flexibility. As a result, you can expect a positive effect on other sports and daily activities.

Improved posture: 32.7%
One of the benefits of swimming is improved posture. In the water, you need to keep your back straight and be conscious of the correct form while swimming, which naturally aligns the spine and muscles and improves posture. Many parents seem to realize that swimming helps develop good posture habits.

Less susceptible to illness: 36.5%
Asthma improved or prevented: 26.9%
Another noteworthy point is that swimming improves immunity. Exercise in water can be expected to boost immunity by strengthening the cardiopulmonary function and improving blood circulation throughout the body. In addition, breathing naturally becomes more regular in water and lung capacity increases, which promotes respiratory health. Many parents report that their children's asthma symptoms have improved, which may be a unique benefit of swimming among sports.

Obesity improved: 28.8%
Swimming is a full-body exercise that burns a lot of calories, so it is thought to be effective in preventing obesity. The responses of parents also show that swimming plays an important role in maintaining a healthy weight and preventing obesity.

The benefits aren't just physical

Q. What psychological benefits have you seen from having your child take swimming lessons? (Multiple answers)

But it's not just the physical fitness that swimming fosters: responses also revealed a range of psychological benefits swimming has for children.

Gaining confidence and self-esteem: 53.8%
Throughout the progression system, there are many opportunities for children to experience a sense of accomplishment, which is expected to have the effect of boosting their confidence and self-esteem. For example, when children master a new swimming style, such as backstroke or breaststroke, or when they increase the distance they can swim, they gain confidence that "I can do it too." Many parents seem to feel that the accumulation of such successful experiences is directly linked to improved self-esteem.

Increased motivation and enthusiasm: 50.0%
Swimming motivates and inspires children by repeatedly experiencing challenges and achievements. In particular, a progression program that allows children to gradually improve their skills makes it easier for them to feel motivated to move on to the next step.

Improved concentration: 38.5%
Swimming is a sport that requires you to concentrate on one movement. By concentrating on your swimming form and breathing rhythm, you will naturally develop concentration. This is likely to have a positive effect on other activities, such as schoolwork.

I learned to take on new challenges without fear of failure: 32.7%
Even if things don't go well at first, by continuing to try without giving up, children will eventually gain experience and succeed. This process, as 32.7% of parents felt, helps develop in their children a "spirit of taking on challenges without fear of failure."

Summary

The feedback from parents made it clear that learning to swim has a variety of physical and psychological benefits beyond just improving swimming skills.
First, in terms of the physical aspect, it is effective in improving basic physical strength as a full-body exercise, improving posture, and preventing obesity. It also contributes to the improvement and prevention of asthma by strengthening respiratory function, and is expected to have the effect of boosting immunity and making it less likely to get sick.

On the other hand, from a psychological perspective, swimming has the power to develop children's confidence and self-esteem, and to bring out their motivation and spirit of challenge. Furthermore, it is expected to have a positive effect on mental health, such as improving concentration and the ability to achieve goals, and reducing stress.

These effects are achieved by children continuing to swim regularly, which is a very important factor in their development. Attending swimming lessons not only promotes physical health, but is also a great opportunity for children to gain self-confidence and develop the ability to take on challenges in a positive way.

Start your child's swimming life in a fun way that will develop their mind and body at Central Sports Swimming School!

Please consider Central Sports Swimming School as an excellent option to strongly support your child's healthy growth.