3. Swimming lessons help children develop life skills A study by Griffith University found that those who participate in swimming at an early age achieve personal milestones much sooner than the average population, regardless of social background or gender. Swimming lessons have been proven to help children develop essential academic, social, and personal skills plus improve hand-eye coordination. Like any sport, it’s a great opportunity for social interaction no matter the age. Therefore, children who continue lessons throughout winter are also at an advantage in other aspects of their development compared to those who take a break.
As the nation’s peak industry body for swim schools, ASSA serves to enhance the learn to swim and water safety industry, advocating for swim school business 365 days a year. According to the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia, Queensland recorded the second largest number of drowning deaths last year with 66 in total during 2021. Almost a quarter of these drowning deaths occurred during winter.
‘Just Keep Swimming’ ASSA’s key message for winter Emily McNeill > General Manager of Australian Swim Schools Association
While Australia is a country for all seasons, Queensland is considered home to an endless summer with warm, sunny days all year round. Surrounded by the great blue and an abundance of inviting waterways, including bustling beaches, world-heritage reefs, rivers, and creeks stretching as far as the eye can see, our tropical climate make it difficult to stay out of the water. That’s why it’s crucial that every Australian learns to swim from a young age and parents, teachers and carers must remain diligent in teaching swim safety to the next generation all year long. Despite our ongoing sunshine, recreational swimming and swimming lessons are still considered a seasonal activity. Throughout winter, there is a significant drop in swimming lessons as many families take a break or opt for
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dry activities as it gets cooler. This break places children at higher risk of drowning once summer rolls around, especially following two years of ongoing disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic which saw millions of swimming lessons lost and resulted in a national skills regression. Swimmers may be less confident than a year ago and to combat this the Australian Swim School Association (ASSA) is urging families to enrol in swimming lessons this winter.
In a bid to reduce the number of fatal and non-fatal drownings this year, ASSA has shared the following reasons why families should enrol in winter swimming lessons. 1. Winter lessons could be the key to overcoming the national skills regressions which resulted from the Covid-19 pandemic The skills and behaviours that are taught in lessons need constant reinforcement throughout the year. The risks posed by drowning don’t go away in the cooler parts of the year, so neither should the lessons – they are one of the most proactive things a parent or carer can do for a child. Continued swimming lessons help families keep swim safety and each of the vital layers of protection front of mind. If a child missed out on lessons last year or in the beginning of this year, the months during winter provide a great opportunity to make up for lost time and ensure early swimmers are progressing their development. There was a six per cent increase in drowning deaths across the state in 2021 compared to the previous year. Furthermore, there was a 9 percent increase in the 0-4 years age group compared with the 10-year average, indicating the time for change is now.
To help swim businesses lead the charge to ensure children keep swimming safer, all year round, ASSA has developed the Safer Water Warriors. Built on ASSA’s SAFERswimming Layers of Protection message, the SAFERwater Warriors are a team of friendly mascots aimed at under 5 year olds. Every layer of protection is necessary to keep children SAFER: • Swimming Skills • Adult Supervision • Fences & Gates • Emergency Action Plan • Reduce the risk for safer swimming With a commitment to providing all-inclusive education around swim safety, ASSA continues to develop and promote international leading guidelines, professional development programs, growth opportunities and business support for its members. While swim schools create their own curriculum, ASSA assists them to ensure water safety skills are incorporated into each lesson and helps them be the best running businesses they can be. Created by swim schools for swim schools, ASSA is the only body in Australia with a Constitution where Swim Schools are the voting members. For more information: www.australianswimschools.org.au
2. It’s a great way to keep children active As the great outdoors become less inviting throughout the colder months, swimming lessons are a great way of staying active. With most swim schools offering indoor heated pools, the days of suffering in ice-cold water are long gone. Being indoors, weather can’t get in the way and it’s considerably more inviting than stepping outside. Adding to this, swimming throughout the colder months will not only improve fitness, it can also help children build up their immune system.
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