Swimming Facts for Kids

It’s almost time for summer, so it’s a good idea to open up those pools and get ready to swim! Swimming is a great way to exercise and cool off on those hot summer days. We will cover all the swimming facts for kids plus the benefits of swimming, water safety tips, and world records in this blog post. If any of that interests you, sit back, relax, and get ready to read!

Swimming Strokes

From the butterfly stroke, to the front crawl, flutter kick, and dolphin kick there are several different swimming strokes. Strokes are different ways you can swim. Do you swim on your front, side, or back? All those are different strokes. The main stroke in many swimming events and races is the freestyle stroke, or front crawl.

The first stroke or oldest stroke is the breaststroke. The oldest swim stroke was earliest described the 17th Century. Shortly thereafter, the sidestroke was described. But, it’s not like the side stroke we know today. Previously, the sidestroke was performed with both arms underwater. Now, side stroking swimmers pull one arm out of the water at a time. Can you side stroke?

Swimming Facts for Kids – Swimming as a Sport

Swimming is a very popular recreational sport and competitive sport. The goal of competitive swimming is to beat competitors across the pool. Some famous competitive swimmers and professional swimmers include Michael Phelps, Kathleen Ledecky, and Australian swimmer, Fanny Durack.

Did you know swimming is an Olympic sport? The world championships take place every four years at the Summer Olympic Games. To date, there have been 29 Summer Olympic Games with the first modern Olympic games occurring in 1896. However, the Olympic games date back a long time, all the way to Ancient Greece!

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Swimming Records

Michael Phelps currently has 28 Olympic medals and 39 world records. He won his first gold medal in Athens in 2004 and currently holds the most world records out of any individual.

The first woman to swim across the English Channel was Gertrude Ederle of the United States. She swam the 21 miles in 14 and a half hours, which was a faster time than any man who had completed the feat before her. Go Gertrude!

Swimming Pool Records

The largest swimming pool in the World is located in Egypt with an area of nearly 100,000 square meters. Do you have any idea how many gallons of water it would take to fill that?

Dubai recently opened a deep dive attraction, which includes the world’s deepest pool. The pool is 196 feet deep from the surface of the water to the bottom of the pool! Would you want to swim in that?

Swimming Facts for Kids – Benefits of Swimming

There are many benefits of swimming that can help your upper body, lower body, or even just your mind. Here is a list of 20 benefits of swimming:

1. Swimming is a great way to get exercise.

2. Swimming in a pool, ocean, or lake can help you cool off on a hot day.

3. Swimming is a great way to relax and rejuvenate.

4. Swimming can be therapeutic, improve your mood, and can actually help you sleep better at night.

5. Swimming can give you more energy during the day.

6. Swimming can help you lose weight.

7. Swimming can help tone your muscles.

8. Swimming can help improve your cardiovascular health.

9. Swimming can help reduce stress levels and anxiety.

10. Swimming can help to lower blood pressure.

11. Swimming can help young children develop coordination and balance as well as teaching patience and perseverance.

12. Swimming can be a great social activity and can help you bond with family and friends.

13. Swimming can help build self-confidence.

14. Swimming can be a great outlet for those suffering from depression or other mental health conditions.

15. Swimming can improve joint flexibility and increase bone density.

16. Swimming is a low-impact form of exercise, making it ideal for people with injuries or chronic pain conditions.

17. Swimming can help improve cognitive function and delay the onset of dementia in older generations.

18. Swimming can improve a person’s immune system.

19.Swimming long-term can increase life expectancy.

20. Swimming is a great way to have fun!

Staying Safe While Swimming

Now that you know all the benefits of swimming, are you ready to start swimming this summer? Before you jump in, make sure there is a lifeguard or trusted adult watching you. It can be easy to run in to trouble while swimming, especially if you are out in the open ocean. Make sure you are given proper training either through formal swimming lessons or a quick swim lesson in a backyard pool. Wear goggles to avoid getting water in your eyes and make sure you keep your mouth closed and your nose plugged when jumping in. And finally, make sure to have fun!