When Planning Kid Activities This Fall, Don’t Discount Swimming. Here’s Why.

We get it. Planning your kids’ activities for this fall is going to be challenging due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, maintaining a sense of normalcy is what you and your kids are craving right now, so why not go ahead and get a plan in place?

Any activity that is fun and consistent can lift spirits, provide much-needed exercise, and is definitely a good outlet for stress. This is especially true for younger children who don’t have the words yet to express their feelings of stress and frustration. When considering your options, don’t discount swimming lessons.

Swimming is a Low-Risk Pandemic Activity

The CDC has found no evidence that the novel coronavirus can be spread in pool water if properly maintained. Facilities such as Emler Swim School already have high-quality UV water purifications and air filtration systems, so your child is safer in the water than in the grocery store. Emler is also disinfecting surfaces regularly and limiting the number of people in the facility while following social distancing between families. For more information on Emler Swim School’s safety protocols during the pandemic, read our Health & Safety Protocols page.

While some sports present challenges with physical contact and difficulties maintaining social distancing, swimming stands apart. Parents have several options to choose from depending on their comfort level. Learning to swim typically requires some contact with an instructor, but there are options that can minimize or eliminate contact. In addition, all our pool facilities draw in completely fresh air eight times an hour with our cutting-edge air filtration systems, expelling stale air. Just another way that Emler Swim School is all about safety.

Other Benefits of Swimming

Here are some other important reasons why you should sign your child up for swimming lessons this fall:

• Swimming can save a life. No doubt about it, strong swimming skills are one layer of drowning prevention for your child. Drowning is one of the leading causes of unintentional death in kids ages 1 to 4. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting swimming lessons around the age of 1, depending on your child’s emotional and physical maturity.
• Swimming lessons provide consistency. Young kids learn from repetition, and swimming year-round helps maintain the muscle memory and keeps safety lessons top of mind. This consistency is also good because it helps maintain a routine, something that we’ve all missed during the pandemic!
• Swimming helps both physical and cognitive development. With schools in flux (and nonexistent during the summer months) many parents are understandably concerned about their child’s cognitive development this year. A study from an Australian university shows a groundbreaking connection between swimming and better cognitive development. Pro Vice Chancellor Paul Mazerolle of Griffith University said that this study demonstrated the direct and indirect benefits of early years swimming: “The connection to education, to improved learning, is extremely exciting and significant.”
• Swimming is FUN! Emler’s hope is that all kids might be having so much fun learning to swim that they don’t even realize they are learning such a valuable life skill.

Find an Option That Suits You

Emler Swim School is now offering several different options for you to choose from. We have in-person lessons with an instructor on the deck or in the water, both in small groups or private sessions, which are one on one.

If you are not comfortable with this model, we also offer DIY lessons through our new interactive EmlerSWIM@Home™ curriculum. Each level of EmlerSWIM@Home™ includes 12 easy-to-use instructional video lessons, private one-on-one training, and weekly video calls with a superstar Expert Teacher. Adults taking part will also be able to join a private Facebook group so they can connect, share tips and enjoy the benefits of an online community that is usually found in person at the pool. You can get a free trial to EmlerSWIM@Home™ right now, which includes two free lessons so you can try it before you buy it.

Also included in the EmlerSWIM@Home™ program is the opportunity to use our Swim Station if you don’t have a pool or access to a community pool year-round. These Swim Stations at select Emler Swim Schools (in the Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, or Kansas City areas) allow you to reserve time in our pool for 30 minutes, so your child can practice and learn if you don’t have a pool at home. Just remember that Emler gives you options!