The first-ever National Baby Swimming Week runs from Monday 31 October, urging mums and dads to take their little ones to their nearest swimming class for some fun family time, as well as gaining a host of health benefits along the way.
Research has shown why many families are heading to the pool, with some babies as young as one-day old attending classes. They teach babies and toddlers a potentially life-saving skill, help with bonding, build physical strength, as well as their mental and social development. Plus, it’s great fun!
A recent survey conducted for National Baby Swimming Week by Water Babies, shows that those who start learning swimming from an early age get smitten by the health bug.
It was found that 93% of children under the age of five who attend swimming lessons are physically active for at least 3 hours per day; 91% of their slightly older counterparts, (aged between seven and eight) easily meet the Chief Medical Officer guidelines of sixty minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity per day. This is way above the UK average, where only around a half of seven to eight year olds achieve this recommendation.
In addition, 92% of seven to eleven year olds surveyed could easily swim twenty-five metres unaided. However, the national picture is bleaker – only 45% of this age group are able to swim the same distance on their own.
Bryony Johnstone from Water Babies explained, “Over the years we have seen countless babies and parents reap huge benefits from taking swimming classes with our highly qualified teachers. Sadly, far too many young children are missing out on all the positive benefits that come with swimming simply because they never learned this potentially life-saving skill.”
To find out more about National Baby Swimming Week go to www.nationalbabyswimmingweek.org.uk. You’ll also have the chance to win a week’s holiday with Eurocamp or one of 5 beautiful goodie bags from Piccolo.
