1.
Infants are well adapted to swimming. They make
instinctive swimming movements until they are approximately
three months old; however, early swimming instruction
is vital to reinforce and maintain this natural
advantage in newborns. |
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2.
In water, babies are less restricted by gravity.
For example, infants do not need to be able to sit
or stand in order to exercise. Water provides wonderful
support and buoyancy. Babies increase their strength
because of the exercise provided by swimming instruction,
and often acquire physical dexterity earlier, such
as walking. |
3. Swimming improves the cardiovascular fitness of
the child, a benefit that lasts a lifetime. |
| 4. Infants who
receive early swim instruction get a vital head
start. Due to the muscles they build while in swimming
lessons when they are tiny, they are able to move
on to actual stroke work as early as two and a half
years of age. This means that tiny babies who begin
lessons become toddlers who are better equipped
to save their lives in the event of a water accident. |
5.
Swimming instruction
helps improve coordination and balance as babies
learn to maintain their equilibrium in the water.
Swimming provides the best bilateral exercise of
any sport, developing all muscle evenly. |
6.
Swimming instruction
combined with warm water and gentle exercise relaxes
and stimulates a baby's appetite. Also, you'll find
that your child will usually sleep and eat better
on swimming days. |
7.
Doctors often recommend swimming as an exercise
for asthmatics. Exercise can improve bronchial activity.
Swimming is preferable to other forms of exercise
because the warm moist air can be less irritating
to the lungs. |
8.
Babies flourish
due to the focused attention their parents and swimming
instructors lavish on them during lessons. "Baby
and Me" parents often confess that lesson time
is the only opportunity they have to spend thirty
pleasurable, uninterrupted minutes with their child.
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9.
As infants learn how
to maneuver in the water on their own, their independence
blossoms. Researchers believe that this newly acquired
independence increases their interest in learning
which lasts throughout their lifetime. |
10.
Swimming provides
babies with lots of skin-to-skin contact with their
parents. That, psychologists say, deepens the bond
between parent and child. |
11.
Achievements acquired
through the process of learning to swim help children
develop lifelong self-confidence, which promotes
success in all future challenges both in and out
of the water. |
12.
Learning to swim is not only a fun-filled and health
activity, but it can save a life. All children should
learn how to swim to greatly reduce their chances
of drowning! |
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