This January, we put our older two kids in swimming classes. We were looking for something that would give them a way to exercise on the weekends while the weather was bad in NYC. What we didn’t expect was for my oldest child to really gain strength and muscle from it. B has low muscle tone, so we were delighted that swimming is strengthening his core muscles. Plus, both my son and my daughter now love it and look forward to their weekly lessons. Recently I attended Swim Today‘s event with 5 time Olympian, Dara Torres, hosted by Mom Trends.
Photo courtesy of Mom Trends
Dara Torres, who is a SwimToday ambassador, along with SwimToday and 13 industry partners are banding together to show non-swimmers and their parents why swimming is the #FunnestSport and encourage them to join in.
Photo courtesy of Mom Trends
Dara spoke about her times participating in the Olympics. She talked about her first comeback (at age 25), and swimming all through her pregnancy, getting back in the water right after her baby’s birth, training for the Olympics in her late 30’s and being a mom to a daughter that now loves to swim.
Check out my video of Dara Torres:
When I met Dara, I told her about my son and how swimming was really helping his low muscle tone. She was so sweet and I enjoyed the brief chat we had.
Photo courtesy of Mom Trends
Looking for a great activity for your kids? Consider swimming. Through SwimToday, teams nationwide are inviting new swimmers and their families to experience the swimming with incentives such as free swim team trial periods, customized swim caps and promotional materials from kits sent to 1,500 swim teams to use locally. Parents can learn more about participating teams and find those nearest them by searching their zip code at www.SwimToday.org.
Photo courtesy of Mom Trends
Top Benefits of Swimming
- Easy to find a nearby pool – 62 percent of families live within 10 minutes of a pool; 52 percent of households with combined income of $50,000 or less report they have access to a pool nearby
- Everyone participates – Swimming is inclusive, there are no benchwarmers (nor benches)
- Swimming is a team sport – Only 16 percent of non-swimming parents view swimming as a team sport but parents of swimmers associate the sport with teamwork more than any other sport
- Minimal gear – Only a swimsuit, cap and goggles are necessary to get started
- Life skills – Swimming increases self-confidence, self-esteem, time management, goal- setting and social development
- Easy to learn – 76 percent of parents said the ease of learning to swim was high
- Low risk of injury – No contact makes for a safer environment
- Swimming = total body fitness – Burn 650 calories in an hour – more than walking, biking or team sports
- Sport for life – Once you learn to swim, you can enjoy no matter your age
- Swimming is FUN – Parents confirm that swimming is the #FunnestSport[v]
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