Learning to swim goes beyond just water safety—it can also enhance your child's cognitive development! Swim lessons offer your child a great mix of exercise and brain-boosting activities that can contribute significantly to their overall growth. Research shows that swimming can enhance cognitive, language, and math skills, making them smarter and better prepared for school. Read on to discover the benefits of swimming lessons on your child's cognitive growth:
Research by Griffith University shows that children who swim reach developmental milestones earlier than their peers. Parents from the study reported that their young swimmers could count to 10 much earlier than expected. “The children were anywhere from six to 15 months ahead of the normal population when it came to cognitive skills, problem solving in mathematics, counting, language and following instructions,” said lead researcher Professor Robyn Jorgensen. Swim lessons promote these early achievements by integrating activities that encourage cognitive development, such as games that involve counting and following complex instructions.
The Griffith University study also found that kids who start swimming early do much better in math reasoning than their peers. On average, children in the study were 6.5 months ahead in math skills. Using math terms during swim lessons—like counting breaths or strokes—helps reinforce numbers in practical ways. Swim lesson activities that involve measuring, following sequences, and solving problems in the water build a strong math base that helps kids in school.
In another study, researchers Madison Pruitt and Giovanna Morini researched how physical activity affects children trying to learn new words. Children aged 6-12 were taught the names of unfamiliar objects and then tested on their memory retention after engaging in three different activities: coloring (a resting activity), swimming (an aerobic activity), and a CrossFit-like exercise (an anaerobic activity).
The findings were remarkable. Children recalled the words significantly better after swimming compared to coloring and CrossFit, suggesting that even brief swimming sessions can greatly benefit young, developing brains. The aerobic nature of swimming seems to play a key role in enhancing memory and language skills.
The benefits of swim lessons go beyond exercise and staying safe in the water. It can significantly boost your child’s cognitive, language, and math skills. At Miller Swim School, our expert instructors use a comprehensive curriculum designed to support your child's overall development, ensuring they gain not only swimming proficiency but also important life skills. By giving your child the chance to swim early on, you’re supporting their overall development and setting them up for success in school and beyond.