Top 5 Benefits of getting your child into swimming for their mental health
“From birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders. He is bolted to earth. But man has only to sink beneath the surface and he is free.” - Jacques Cousteau
Can you remember the feeling of your first swim? There is nothing like the feeling of relaxation and stress relief after a swim to start or end your day. From the first stroke, you feel the stress of the day washing off your body as the water flows over your skin. You feel weightless but powerful as you glide onwards.
We all know that swimming is great exercise. But sometimes we forget that swimming is as good for your mind as it is for your body. In observance of Mental Health Awareness Month in Canada, SEAL Swimming is providing the top 5 mental health benefits that swimming provides for children and younger adolescents.
Swimming is undoubtedly a valuable addition to your self-care routine. Swimming reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression. Even for those who do not suffer from specific mental health concerns, getting in the water will still improve your mood, reduce your stress and help you unwind.
1. Swimming acts as a stress relief for children
Swimming has long been advocated and prescribed by multiple health boards around the world as a tool to combat mental health and anxiety in children. This is because endorphins, released during exercise, combat the stress hormones released by the body.
Swimming enacts several response in children such as lowering of the heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate, which can are all responses to stress and anxiety. But the rhythmic actions of swimming and the learn-to-swim environment all have a positive counter effect on your child’s anxiety and behaviour.
2. Swimming stimulates brain development in children
A scientific study carried out by the Griffith Institute for Educational Research found that children who learn to swim earlier reach major cognitive developmental milestones including speech, literacy, numeracy and visual motor skills, much earlier than their peers and non-swimmers.
A boost in blood flow helps improve memory, mood, clarity and focus and helps children to sleep better, which every parent knows can help with daily stress and improve behaviour!
3. Swimming increases physical development in children
The physical nature and effects of swimming, being a low impact, full body exercise means that swimming does some amazing things for a child’s physical development. In babies and toddlers, swimming helps in the early development of fine and gross motor skills.
This is prevalent with babies and children, it improves cardiovascular function, builds strong muscles, increases lung capacity, improves weight management and overall fitness. The list for these benefits are numerous and plenty for both children and infants.
4. Swimming helps with your child’s breathing regulation, which lowers stress and anxiety
The ability to regulate your breathing is an integral aspect of swimming. When you’re stressed or panicked, you tend to take in shallower and more rapid breaths. This can lead to hyperventilation and possibly morph into a panic attack.
However, rhythmic breathing patterns in swimming ensure that you take in enough air that can prevent the possibility of such attacks. It is a great workout for your lungs, as it forces you to inhale and exhale evenly and in a controlled manor. This in turn helps in lowering blood pressure, eliminating toxins from the body, and assisting in relaxation.
5. Swimming leads to the release of Endorphins and Serotonin in your child’s body
Any form of exercise, including swimming, causes the release of endorphins. Endorphins are hormones produced in the pituitary gland in response to stress or pain.
These endorphins interact with receptors in our brain that reduce our perception of pain. Along with serotonin, endorphins bring about a sense of happiness, positivity and well-being. Research has also proven that regularly getting those feel-good hormones flowing (a.k.a. exercising) has deep mental health benefits and helps your body respond better to stress in general.
Looking to sign up yourself or your child for lessons, Visit SEAL Swimming for more information or contact one of our swimming experts for more information.
