Why do the kids need to learn to swim?
Reasons to learn swimming for the kids are many. The most important among them is that swimming is the only sport that can save the life of your child from the risk of drowning. Drowning is still a major cause of accidental death to children in the land of rivers or small islands (locked by the ocean all around) or the low-lying areas where flood is a regular visitor.
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| Swimming Tips For kids |
Drowning is the 2nd leading cause of accidental death to children aged 1- 14 (according to the estimate by the National Safe Kids Campaign)
According to another study, globally 10 people die from drowning every day. Of them, 20% belong to the Children (below 14 years) /1 out of 3 Children ( are aged 2-18 years who are obese)
Conclusively, swimming keeps the Children active (now) and prevents obesity (in the future).
Swimming is great fun for the kids (which can be hardly restrained when they see others swimming). Many parents/ guardians are found to make swimming restrictive for their Children. This may make the kids more desperate to join their friends swimming in the pool (without learning to swim) which may invite the risk of drowning.
As swimming is the only physical workout (which develops the muscles and the joints of both the upper and the lower parts of the body), it is, therefore, essential to learn swimming at the early stage of life (the sooner, the better).
As a guardian or parent, it may not always be possible to stay beside the kids. So, it is wise to train and teach them the swimming tips and skills well in time.
Swimming tips for the kids
General tips
Swimming injuries are rare for the Children (as compared to injuries occurring inland sports and workouts)
The 1st dip in the water (just as the 1st ride while cycling) may be a little frightening to your kid. This is natural. So, don’t force your child for the 2nd dip (right after the 1st dip). Wait for a few days. You will find your kid playing with water and enjoying the dips one after another. It takes time to be a swimming expert.
Behaviour patterns vary from kid to kid. Some are born mild-tempered. Some are desperate. Some get afraid when the 1st dip is experienced. While some (without learning swimming skill) gets pleasure in jumping into the pool without knowing its depth. So depending on the behaviour pattern, they should be trained and tamed accordingly.
Since you can easily train and teach your kid about the swimming tips and techniques at the age of 6 months, so never wait to say ‘tomorrow’, ‘next week’, ‘month’ etc. ‘Wait and see approach will simply invite the inevitable risk of drowning or your child.
Safety tips
Never allow your child in the pool while he is alone /sick /tired.- The first deep should be at the knee level (slowly raise it to chest level and not beyond that until and unless he is elevated to the height of swimming expert
- While using an inflatable or portable pool (for the kids), empty it (immediately after use). Kip, it is upside down and outside the reach of the kids
- Actively supervise your child with watchful eyes (while he is in and around water)
- Whenever a child is placed in water, an adult guardian/ parent must remain present within his arm’s length so as to extend necessary and instantaneous help in time of need. Remember, the smaller the child is, the greater is the risk of drowning
- In fact, swimming may be anywhere (in the swimming pool /pond/river/ocean, etc.) It is essential to ensure that only designated areas for the Children are used. The Children need to be well informed and aware about the pool drain/ uneven surface/ strong river currents/ocean underflow/changing weather etc.
- Never allow your child to run (along the edge of the pool) or use (foam toys or floats as safety devices while in water) or jump (into the water to save his drowning friend. It is the sole responsibility of the adult guardians/ parents to stay beside their Children to come to their rescue)
- Caution your child to avoid the test (as to how long he can hold the breath underwater. Because this can invite hypoxic blackout)
- install a door alarm /window alarm (or both), to alert you if your child is desperate enough to go to the pool (beyond your notice)
Concluding remarks
It is never too early for the kids to learn and practice important swimming tips. It is therefore essential to impart swimming tips and techniques to the Children without loss of time. It needs to be mentioned that you can easily make your child experience the 1st dip right after 6 months of age.
There is water all around us. Remember, even a small bathtub is not safe for a small baby (who has just learned crawling). Immediately, after a baby is born, ensure water safety first.
Author: Ibnul Sidiquee CEO swimmingbd.com
Enjoy
Richard
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