Swimming, Development and Academic Excellence

Summer is coming, and many parents begin to look for summer activities for their children.  Swim lessons are one of the most popular options.  Swim lessons are valuable in general, but is there more value in swim lessons for young children than one might initially realize? 

According to a study by Griffith University's Institute for Educational Research, there is definitely a developmental bonus for kids who take swimming lessons early in their development, regardless of socio-economic background and gender.  The study's findings included:

• Kids who learned to swim early tended to reach physical milestones earlier than non-swimmers
• Significant differences were found in visual-motor development
• Academic advantages were found in mathematics, reading and numerical literacy
• Children who began swimming early also seemed to express themselves better than non-swimmers

The Griffith University study results are not unique.  According to the Institute for the Achievement of Human Potential, swimming has these developmental benefits:

• Swimming improves speech
• Reduces stress
• Increases blood flow to the brain
• Enhances large or gross motor skills
• Increases coordination

This blog post is brought to you by JumpStart Toys, a woman-owned, internet educational toy business focused on learning toys and games that may enhance child development and academic performance.


*Sources:   redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports - Your Universe Online
and Super Swimmers Foundation