Swimming and social skills: How swimming helps children develop
There’s something magical about group learning for young children. Being part of a group can help your toddler or preschool-aged child in many ways, from making friends to mastering skills faster.
Beyond being a fun way to give your small child opportunities for socialization, swim lessons help children develop physically, socially, and cognitively faster. Even language skills are boosted with swim lessons, as our breathing techniques can strengthen your child’s lips and mouth muscles to help them properly form words and make sounds correctly.
The small-group dynamic at Watermelon Swim encourages your child to build strong bonds with their peers and try harder to learn swim techniques.
| According to a Griffith Institute for Educational Research study, children under five who participate in formal swim lessons are up to 20 months ahead of their peers in several crucial metrics. These benefits are enhanced in a group setting. |
How children learn from other children
Group lessons, like those at Watermelon Swim, foster a sense of belonging for your child. We keep classes small so your child receives plenty of individual attention. We also incorporate play and friendly competition, especially for our littlest swimmers in Parent-Tot 1 & 2.
We keep kids focused on safety and swimming skills, but we also have a lot of fun. Children learn best when taught in a game, so we have plenty of races and team competitions for all our swimmers in the Learn to Swim classes.
Swimming lessons foster superior social skills
Starting in infancy, your child begins to learn valuable social skills that will serve them into adulthood. Participating in a group class helps young children develop and interpret body language, communicate with their peers, and develop positive friendships.
At Watermelon Swim, your child isn’t just learning water safety abilities and basic swimming techniques (although this is the core of what we do). They also learn how to participate in a social or group setting.
So, how can your child benefit from socialization with swimming lessons? Let’s explore the many ways.
Learning teamwork
Some of the activities we do in ourLearn to Swim program involve individualized coaching, but many more are team-oriented.
Children work together to achieve a common goal for water safety or encourage their teammates to win a friendly competition. We also teach our young swimmers to take turns and respect everyone’s personal boundaries in the water. This sets a foundation for water safer interactions and helps build water safety awareness.
Encouraging others
Your child or their classmates may struggle with a skill. We teach children to cheer with their peers when they achieve victories and empathize with them when frustrated at not mastering a skill.
Making responsible decisions
Our motto is “Water Safer,” and it’s part of everything we do. We teach your child how to make safer, responsible decisions in the water and out. This helps build a foundation of safety and awareness in the bay, pool, or lake.
Interacting with their fellow swimmers
Swimming with other children gives your child an opportunity to form relationships with their peers. We foster an environment of trust and safety. Your child may enjoy a sense of belonging to a group and the social interactions that come with it.
Welcoming differences
Our swimmers come from a wide range of backgrounds, so your child will get to know children from all walks of life. Interacting with children who look different or who have different customs or cultures than they do helps your child learn empathy and socialize more confidently around others.
Swimming lessons at Watermelon Swim
We offer several indoor swimming lessons year-round, starting with babies as young as six months. Each class is structured for certain developmental stages:
- Water Babies is for babies six months to one year old. Children are introduced to the water in a small group setting, with a parent or caregiver in the water with them.
- Parent-Tot 1 & 2 is for children up to 2 years. Parents are in the water with their children, and the children are taught foundational swimming skills.
- Learn to Swim is for children ages 2 to 6. We build swimming skills in four levels, advancing your child to the next level once they master the skills at their current level without floatation devices.
Are swim lessons right for your small child?
Yes! In a world that’s 70% water, your child is 100% curious about it. Early childhood swim lessons can lessen your child’s risk of drowning by up to 88% and instill in them a love of water to last a lifetime.
We invite you to call us at (813) 229-7946 for more information about our classes and schedule a facility tour at one of our five Tampa-area Watermelon Swim facilities.