Three Reasons to Let Kids Play in the Water

Most kids love going outside and getting wet whether it is swimming in a pool, playing at the beach, or jumping off a diving board. Relaxing pool side or playing with their kids in the water are also favorite activities for many parents; however, what parents may not realize is that their kids are receiving numerous health and cognitive benefits while they frolic in the water. There is a lot more going on than just childhood fun. Use the reasons below as ideas and inspiration to get the kids out of the house and in the water more often.

1. Active Kids Are Healthy Kids

Active kids are not only more likely to be healthy but also are more likely to develop into healthy adults, and the best kind of activity for kids is an activity they find fun, something they will want to do often. Playing in water provides an addictive way for kids to get outdoors and moving. Swimming pools, water parks, and beaches are perhaps the most common places kids learn to love the water by swimming, diving, and splashing to their heart's content, yet families need not travel away from home to enjoy water activities. A pool set with ball and ring  set up on a front lawn provides hours of entertainment as kids run and jump through the shooting water. No matter the specific water activity, kids will be expending energy, strengthening and exercising their bodies, and most importantly, having fun.

2. Playing in the Water Promotes Water Safety

Water play can provide kids life-saving instruction about water safety. Pools, beaches, and other bodies of water present a clear danger to young children and inexperienced swimmers; however, proper supervision and education can go a long way in preventing tragedies and close calls. Exposing children early and often to the water, teaching them to swim or enrolling them in swim lessons, and keeping a safe watch on them when they become comfortable in the water by themselves will ensure they learn how to be safe in and near water. Exposing a child at an early age to water helps prevent them from developing a fear of water, a fear that can last into adulthood. Parents often put their children in floats or armband specifically designed for children or give them water wings since they may not be strong enough yet to hold themselves up at this age. As their comfort and ability in the water increases, kids usually love to test out their new skills by diving for rings and other sinking toys. Swim instructors also make frequent use of these toys as they provide a fun and natural way of teaching kids how to hold their breath and move efficiently underwater. Eventually, with repeated exposure and activities in the water, kids will learn to master the medium. 

3. Playing in the Water Develops Social Skills

Playing in the water often fosters contact with other people whether it is a child's own parents or his or her peers, and this contact will help to build social acumen. Parents enjoy the bonding experience as they help their young ones discover and become comfortable in this new medium, and kids often love playing water games with other kids. Whether it's in a backyard, at a pool, or along a lakefront, water provides an ideal medium for social interaction for children of all ages.

Conclusion

Playing in the water does not have to be complicated. A few toys or a trip to the local pool will get kids having fun and becoming healthier in the process. Fun in the sun and water can start healthy habits that will last a lifetime.

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