Normally break for winter? Read this first.

Writer – Ben Douglas

There are many reasons why parents enrol their children into swimming lessons including; safety, lifestyle, good health, self-esteem, personal growth. All of these benefits will come as a child is getting better – or as we call it ‘progressing’.

For the past 40 years we have watched with intrigue, assessing the factors which are contributing to children’s swimming skills progressing quicker than others. One goal in particular for us, is to create an environment that can help educate parents about these variables which can help speed up this progress.

One variable has stood out over the years, and it is one of the simplest. It is year-round swimming. We feel that it is important for parents to know that continuing with lessons year-round has a big effect on a child’s journey towards the 1km goal.

Children who swim all year round really are ‘ready for summer’ once the warmer months hit, in comparison to those taking a break. This consistency around lesson routine appears to maintain a positive direction for learning outcomes, and in turn, better enjoyment for our swimmers.

Having a break during cooler months can cause a child to regress, losing valuable skills and confidence they have learnt prior. We understand that children will take a break from an activity for a variety of reasons, however, we urge parents to be conscious that especially in cooler months, kids are doing fewer swimming activities such as enjoying beaches or backyard pools. This seasonal change naturally offers less ability to practice what they have learnt outside of weekly lessons.

We began recognising this trend over 20 years ago when December school swimming carnivals would begin. It became clear that children who swam year-round were performing better, as their parents would be eager to share their stories of success with us. After years of educating parents and seeing these results, it is great to see more and more children swimming year-round.

Your child’s progress is important. Not just the technical skills, but also the confidence associated with mastering new things, which fuels the desire to keep learning. If you are thinking of taking a break at any time, speak to our Progress Advisors about ways to keep your child ready to return.