by The Fish

The third major benefit of helping children love the water is it equips them with a lifetime of healthy activity. There are no other sports that you can enjoy from the “womb to the tomb” as we like to say. Children can swim before they can walk, and, because it’s so low-impact, you can keep practicing your strokes long after age takes its toll on mobility. 

With endless TV and videogame cycles offered children today, they have been conditioned to be most comfortable with sedentary, couch-potato lives. It’s no wonder that childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions, even warranting mention in the most recent State of the Union Address. 

Swimming is tremendously good for the heart and lungs. It calls on and strengthens every major muscle group. Also, it has been shown to burn more calories than activity on dry land. On top of all this, it’s fun! Unlike other sports, swimming can be enjoyed by everyone together regardless of their skill level.  

Doesn’t every parent want their children to be most at ease when they are enjoying healthy and engaging activity? The first step is helping them enjoy it when they are young, and they’ll be hooked for life. While other children are hunkered down indoors in front of Saturday morning cartoons, yours will be chomping at the bit to get outside and get active.  

The main point to take away from this is that the patterns for future behavior are being established now. Many studies have shown that inactivity and obesity in children are linked more to cultural and environmental factors than they are to genetics. This means you can shape your child’s health for a lifetime by helping them love moving in the weightlessness and freedom of water.