There are many milestones to look forward to (and sometimes fear) as your child grows. One of them being their first swimming lesson, then earning their first badge, and before you know it they’re taking part in the school swimming gala. Swimming is a life skill not only for the summer holidays but is essential to a child’s perspective on exercise and health, discipline, and taking instruction.

Engaging in regular swimming sessions encourages children to develop their coordination, balance, and flexibility, all while they think they’re there to have a great time splashing around.

We really hate to dampen the mood, but did you know that drowning remains a leading cause of accidental death among children in the UK? Alarmingly, research from Swim England reports that only 52% of children leave primary school as confident swimmers, capable of fulfilling the national requirement of swimming 25m unaided. Something as simple as weekly 30-minute lessons (that become second nature to your little one) can massively reduce the risk of drowning if ever presented with danger while in water.

Not only do swimming lessons provide lifesaving skills for the future, but they also have a huge impact on your child’s social and emotional development. Another study by Swim England found that 84% of parents saw improvements in their child’s confidence and self-esteem after engaging in swimming lessons. This weekly activity allows them to connect with other children away from a school environment and can be a great way to unwind for many.

And in case you’re still looking for a reason to get your child onto swimming lessons, it’s also a great way to foster a positive attitude towards health and fitness. They will begin to learn the connection between swimming and that happy feeling of endorphins being released afterwards. Swimming lessons can become a core memory for most kids, reminiscing on even the simple things like the chocolate bar from the vending machine after their lesson – who doesn’t love that feeling?

Pendle Leisure Trust offers swimming lessons for a range of age groups across our 3 swimming pools; Pendle Wavelengths in Nelson, Pendle Leisure Centre in Colne, and West Craven Sports Centre in Barnoldswick. And it just got a whole lot easier as we removed our waiting lists and parents can now book a lesson online! Let’s encourage our kids to get moving, have fun, and learn a skill for life.