Can your child swim?

A new YouGov study carried out for the Danish Swimming Association, the Trygfonden and the Danish Sports Confederation shows that every second child in Denmark cannot swim. In fact, many adults can't swim either. That is why they are now launching the project "Everyone must learn to swim with Lifeguard training near me.

As recently as yesterday I heard a father say "there are an awful lot of things that I had to learn as a child that I never used - like swimming"... Maybe it's like that to him, but I can don't even imagine that you don't need swimming. We live in a country surrounded by water. There are beaches, open-air swimming pools, swimming pools, and I think it is important that we can swim and teach our children to swim. Today my article is therefore about why we should teach our children to swim.

5 good reasons why your child should learn to swim

1. Security. 

 When your child can swim, the risk of drowning accidents and near-drowning is reduced. It is important to learn to swim to avoid dangerous situations.

2. Exercise.

 Swimming is a really good form of exercise. Swimming trains all the body's muscles and is gentle on the body's joints at the same time, and everyone can swim regardless of age. At the same time, you won't get sweaty and overheated by swimming, as if you were to do exercises on land. Many therefore think that swimming is a nice form of exercise with  American Lifeguard USA. 

3. Stimulation of the senses.

 When the small child swims, all the senses are stimulated - the sense of sight, the sense of smell, the sense of hearing, the sense of touch, maybe the sense of taste, if the child happens to swallow some chlorinated water:) And in addition, the child's balance and co-ordination are stimulated. The child gets increased body awareness and strengthens his muscles.

4. Proximity and togetherness. 

When the small child is in the water with mother and father, it gives rise to physical closeness. Skin against skin in the water gives a strong sense of togetherness. The older child, who is beginning to be able to swim on his own, will love playing in water, splashing, making jumps, cold buckets, etc. and playing in water with mom or dad - or his swimming buddies - is really nice.

5. Security.

 You must feel comfortable letting your child participate in a children's birthday party held in the swimming pool. You need to feel comfortable saying "yes, it's okay" the day your child asks "is it okay for us to ride our bikes to the beach?". You must be reassured that the institution takes the children on a trip to the swimming pool, the outdoor pool or the beach, because it is summer and the sun is shining. You need to be comfortable going on holiday knowing that your child can swim in the pool. 

This does not mean that your child should swim without being under ...

.. supervision - but it will be nice for you to know that your child has learned the basic skills that will significantly reduce accidents in water.

When larger groups of children swim together, it requires extra vigilance from the adults and believing that you or others see all situations can have fatal consequences.

Read Also: How does my child learn to swim?

Safety for the little swimmer

Teach your child that even if your child has learned to swim, a good swimmer can also drown. Therefore, your child must not swim alone, but must always be supervised. A moment of inattention is enough for it to go wrong.

Teach your child that you should only go into the water with someone else - never alone. And make agreements with your child about who this other person is. That the child e.g. can go in the water with an adult such as mother, father, grandmother, grandfather etc. but not with older brother, because he is also still a child.

Teach your child that it is only allowed to jump in from the edge if an adult says it is okay. It is important that the water is deep enough and that it is permitted - and only adults can assess this.

Teach your child that you must not make competitions about who, for example, can hold their breath for the longest time underwater.

Teach your child that you should never hold others underwater by force. It's not a fun game. When you're in the water, everyone should think it's fun and nice.

Teach your child that there is a difference between swimming in a swimming pool and swimming by the water. You must pay particular attention when you go to the beach - even if your child is good at swimming in the hall.

Teach your child the rules of swimming at sea. That you e.g. only go out to the navel, and that you always swim towards land and never swim outwards and away from the beach.

Teach your child that even if you can swim, you must always use a life jacket when sailing.

Swimming lessons

Swimming lessons are available everywhere in Denmark. The teaching can take place in a swimming pool, at schools that are private and public. The possibilities are many. 

Investigate the possibilities where you live. If you yourself are afraid of water and find it difficult to swim and get into the water - and therefore find it difficult to help your child, many swimming schools also offer lessons for adults who want to overcome their fear of water. It may also be that you can get someone else in the family to go swimming with your child. Regardless, swimming is really important and worth knowing - even if you might think that you don't get to use it...