Parents want what’s best for their children and are always searching for suitable activities and sports to enrol their young ones.
Swimming lessons are fun and also a very good choice of exercise for the whole family. In Zurich children can have swimming lessons in a number of places you can easily find on Momizen.
Swimming is very often characterized by many doctors and educators as an ideal sport that greatly affects the state of both physical and mental health as well as the physical development of children and young people. At the same time, it can cause minimal to no injuries, and does not burden the musculoskeletal system during child development, while it exercising the whole body and the cardiovascular system.
Children are born with a natural predisposition to water. The sooner they come in contact with it the easier it will be for them to learn how to swim, and to feel comfortable inside the water. Experts believe that the ideal age for a child to start learning to swim is 3.5 to 4 years, so that they are able to understand the instructions given to them by their teacher. There are of course baby and mother swimming lessons for children from 3 months or older under the guidance of experienced and trained swimming coaches.
Top 10 swimming pools in Zurich
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Hürlimann Thermal Bath & Spa Area - Swimming lessons for babies and toddlers
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Fohrbach swimming pool - Zollikon Indoor and Outdoor Swimming Pool
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Amden indoor swimming pool - A fun and relaxing destination for all ages
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Kilchberg indoor swimming pool - A swimming pull for the whole family
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Aqua Planet Effretikon - A water fitness centre for the young and the old
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Alpamare - For adults, children, beginners and professionals
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Water World Wallisellen - Indoor & Outdoor pool, sports facilities
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Uster indoor pool - The family friendly indoor pool of Uster
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Birthlight - Your studio for pre- and postnatal yoga in Zurich
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Indoor swimming pool Oerlikon - Zurich's biggest indoor swimming baths
Important benefits children can gain through swimming
Physical Benefits
Improves the cardiorespiratory system
Swimming mostly affects the function of the heart, the circulatory and respiratory system of the body not only of children but also of adults. Water pressure and resistance during swimming have a special effect on the heart, lungs and circulatory system.
Swimming has also been shown to have beneficial effects on the development of children with bronchial asthma by helping gain better control of the disease. The inhaled air is saturated with water vapor and warmth and thus bronchospasms are mitigated, while at the same time the strengthening of the lungs and respiratory muscles result in a reduction of asthma symptoms.
Strengthens the spine
Swimming movements put the body in an almost horizontal and stretched position in water. We have movement throughout the body and especially in the arms performed in rhythmic alterations, which ideally strengthens our arms and has a positive effect on the mobility of the spine. For this reason, swimming is also recommended by pediatricians and orthopedists as a preventive and therapeutic tool against posture problems or weaknesses.
Strengthens the muscles
Swimming requires the muscles of the whole body to be coordinated while water creates more resistance so we have to work harder and our muscles become stronger.
Prevents drowning
Drowning is one of the leading causes of death in children! The most effective way to avoid the risk of drowning is to learn to swim. Not just the knowledge of swimming movements but also the feeling of being comfortable and having the correct behavior in the water.
Elasticity
Swimming and exercising in water, when accompanied by good stretching, can significantly improve a person's flexibility.
Immunity
The defense of the children's body increases. Children who swim regularly do not get sick easily, especially in winter. The chances of catching a flu or a virus are greatly reduced.
Children acquire healthy habits
Swimming like all sports, offers them a new way of life. Through swimming children learn to live with healthy habits, and to be more positive minded when confronted with challenges. Throughout the years, from adolescence to adulthood, regular swimming will prove to be a complete exercise that guarantees an active, healthy lifestyle and prevents from the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle.
Mental Benefits
Stress relief
Contact with water is very beneficial and helps to relax the body and mind. Immersion in water and concentration at the technique of swimming, both create a relaxing meditation state in the liquid element. This is why swimming is often used as a therapeutic tool for children with Sensory Disorder or Autism.
Goal setting
Children learn techniques and by repetition they practice patience, perseverance and imagination on how they will achieve their goal.
Learning about preparation
The child athlete learns the difference between effort and skill. Self-discipline and awareness of the importance of good preparation develop as children observe improvements in their performance. They learn from their mistakes and learn to accept more easily constructive criticism as a tool for progress. They develop a sense of justice and self-confidence that is not based on selfishness.
Sense of Identity
Being part of the whole is very important for children. Saying "I am a swimmer" has more weight on our identity and self-image than just saying "I swim".
Time management
Young swimmers know that they need to complete their lessons, sleep well and have fun. So they learn how to be organized and plan ahead. Children also learn the importance of making sacrifices in order to gain something. Training teaches them that they have to fight to get what they want, a result of hard training.
Confidence and independence
It strengthens their self-confidence and self-esteem, and promotes independence.
Overcome the fear of water
Many children develop a fear of water. This fear must be eliminated at a young age, otherwise it can develop into a phobia later on. Swimming should be part of a child's life at an early age, to boost the child's confidence in water.
Cognitive abilities
It increases intelligence and generally improves the mental abilities and cognitive functions of children such as perception, concentration and attention. It promotes noble rivalry and cultivates an athletic spirit.
Social Benefits
Swimming gives the child the opportunity to belong to a new and special group. In a second family that will protect and guide him to safe paths, away from the dangers of society (drugs, alcohol, "bad company").
New friendships
The friendships created in swimming classes like in all kinds of sports last a lifetime and are based on solid foundations. Friendships made in the swimming pool remain because they are based on the common hard effort and especially on the love for the sport. They also learn to be part of a team and have a team spirit.
Diversity
The child comes in contact with children from different social backgrounds, but also from different nationalities, cultures and ideas.
Swimming is a great form of exercise for children of all ages, even toddlers, as it strengthens their immune system and contributes to their physical development. Of course, if done in an organized pool, where the conditions of hygiene and water purification are applied, it is safe even for babies. The pool is suitable for all children and there is no barrier. The only case where the child should not start or continue swimming is when there is some skin disease. Once he is healed he can return to his normal water sports activities, according to recommendations by a doctor.
About the author
Maria grew up traveling extensively around the world, with a significant part of her childhood spent in Dubai during the late 80’s. She continues to travel as often as possible around the globe, with her family. She moved to Switzerland 7 years ago, shifting from a 10-year career in banking in Athens to a full-time mom of 3 children.
After the birth of her 1st child, she realized that various needs of parents traveling in Switzerland and many countries that she visited were not fully covered by the existing internet platforms. Focusing in particular on the need for families looking for educational things to do with small children while having fun, Maria took an entrepreneurial turn and partnered up with a talented team of developers to design Momizen.com, a technologically advanced web application for finding fun and educational things to do with kids on-the-go.
In her free time, she reads (mainly at-loud to an audience of 3), practices yoga, loves movies, sailing, surfing, skiing and most often can be seen cycling around her neighbourhood with her children in Canton Schwyz. Maria holds a degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Kent, in Canterbury. She is also a certified yoga teacher for adults and kids!
She can be reached by email at maria@momizen.com.
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