Swimming is not only a fun activity but also a great way to keep your child healthy and active. It’s an exercise that can be easily incorporated into their weekly routine, whether it’s after school, on weekends, or during their free time.
However, you may find yourself wondering, “Is it safe for my child to swim every day?” Read on for the answer to this question and explore the potential benefits of children swimming every day.
Can Children Swim Every Day?
Whether children can swim daily depends on factors such as their swimming goals and health. For instance, beginners who swim for their health are advised to do so for three non-consecutive days weekly.
It’s also important to remember that your child needs rest between swimming sessions or classes. Adequate rest keeps them from overexerting the body, encountering accidents, and feeling tired.
What are the Benefits of Swimming Every Day?
Children who swim daily see the following benefits.
Swimming Works the Whole Body
With water being much more resistant than air, your child’s muscles work much harder, and their body’s energy systems are used while swimming. Young swimmers also have a faster heartbeat that sends blood to the muscles, and their stomachs work slowly since no digestion occurs.
Swimming allows the body to increase the amount of oxygen flowing within it, reduce metabolic waste, and eject heat. Your child’s body needs adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for these functions—it’s the molecule that helps the body move. ATP puts the body into one of three states.
- Phosphagen system: The cells store enough ATP to last five to 15 seconds. The muscles must produce substantial power for brief, intense activities, increasing the demand for ATP.
- Glycogen system: Glycolysis occurs during longer periods of physical activity (including swimming), usually lasting 30 seconds to about two minutes.
- Aerobic respiration system: Swimming for longer puts your child’s body into aerobic respiration and produces oxygen throughout the activity.
Kids Become More Flexible
The body stretches when doing swimming strokes, letting it bend more than usual. Hence, your child can perform different techniques as many times as they want. A flip turn in freestyle could be done over a hundred times in 2,000 meters.
A Strong Cardiovascular System
Swimming is mostly aerobic, meaning it uses and strengthens your child’s cardiovascular system. Unlike other cardiovascular exercises, kids can spend hours in the pool and do it daily as the water places little pressure on their muscles, joints, and ligaments.
Let’s revisit the body’s aerobic respiration phase. During this process, the body requires oxygen. Your child’s heartbeat quickens to transport oxygen to their muscles efficiently, ensuring their body gets enough of it.
Low Impact on the Joints
The advantages of swimming daily also include its minimal impact on your child’s body. Although swimming works the whole body, it eases stress on the joints and makes performing more repetitions possible. This can even encourage your child to swim for longer periods.
Better Sleep Quality
Swimming tires your child and their body, potentially helping them sleep better and become more productive. A daily swim also allows the body to follow the new routine and makes your little one feel refreshed when waking up every morning.
A Boost in Personality
Besides maintaining your child’s physical health, swimming helps them build character.
During swimming lessons, kids learn the fundamental characteristics of water and how the body is connected to those qualities, proper breathing, and the benefits of practice. Practicing basic swimming skills supports your child’s cognitive development and can mold them into smarter, more motivated individuals.
Additionally, swim lessons help kids improve their social skills. Group lessons teach them how to socialize with other children, be polite, encourage fellow learners, and accept their encouragement, among other benefits.
A Break from Busy Schedules & Distractions
Similar to meditation, swimming frees children from distractions. It eases their stress and anxiety while helping them find a positive and supportive environment.
More importantly, swimming keeps kids from using electronic devices, including cell phones and tablets. When they swim, your child spends less time on social media, phone calls with friends, or distracting videos.
Swimming Improves Mood
Finally, the extra blood and oxygen your child gets during swimming makes them more alert, awake, and focused. In turn, their body releases mood-boosting hormones called endorphins. One recent study found that even just staying in cold water helps people feel better, further emphasizing swimming’s positive effect on mood.
How Long Should Children Swim?
The time your little one spends in the pool varies depending on their health and goals.
As a general rule, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that six to 17-year-old children do 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise daily. However, this basic guideline can change according to your child’s specific goals.
60 minutes is already enough if you want your little one to stay healthy, enjoy swimming, socialize, and learn essential concepts and techniques. But if your child swims to meet and make new friends, they may need 90 minutes in the water.
Skill levels also determine how long your child should swim daily. Beginners need some time to learn the basics, so it’s important to encourage gradual progress. This way, your child’s love for swimming grows, and they become determined to succeed.
Add Swimming to Your Child’s Daily Routine
While it’s generally safe for children to swim daily, it’s important to consider their goals, health, and other factors when planning their swimming schedule. The key is to find what works best for your child and ensure they’re making significant progress at their own pace.
For more expert tips, swimming advice, and the latest updates on lessons, visit the Bear Paddle blog today.