Swimming Toward Better Health
By Donna Stark
Given the increased sedentary lifestyle for kids, parents across the country often wonder how to best encourage their children to stay as physically active as possible, and for good reason. Sedentary lifestyles can lead to poor posture, academic and behavior issues, and a variety of serious health issues. Fortunately, though, there is one form of exercise that may be the perfect solution, a type of exercise that most children love to engage in! What is it? Why, it's swimming, of course!
Encourage Physical Activity With Swimming
Swimming is a great way to establish healthier behaviors because most children consider it to be fun! In fact, many kids will exercise for longer periods of time while swimming simply because they enjoy it so much. And you, as a parent, will enjoy it for all the benefits it provides. Check out a few of them below.
- Joint-friendly - Swimming is less strenuous on the body's joints compared to other sports
- Calming - The motions and sounds the water makes while swimming are calming to the body and mind
- Challenging - Swimming is an all-over body workout that enhances strength, endurance, and overall fitness
- Healthy - Swimming can help boost cardiovascular health, aid in weight loss, and restore joint function
- Engaging - Swimming is a great way for your children to connect and engage with others their age
Safety First!
Before you decide to incorporate swimming into your children's lives, you need to first make sure they have been introduced to the basic safety guidelines! If your children are new to the water, they will need to learn the proper swim strokes and how to float before they can add this exercise to their general fitness routine, so sign them up for lessons immediately! You may need to buy them goggles, swim caps, and other swimming accessories for these lessons too, so be sure to ask before their first lesson.
After they build the skills they need, all bets are off! You will find that your children can't wait to jump in the pool and that their confidence levels soar through the roof! They may become more competitive with each other and may even challenge you to a race! If they do, take them up on it! Swimming is a great way for everyone to bond!
Swimming Toward Better Health
Encouraging your children to swim at a young age is a great way to instill lifelong healthy habits. It's also a great way for you to join in on their fun, so grab your suits and jump in! The water couldn't be more perfect!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Citrus Heights, Calif.