The Benefits of Water-Based Exercises for Children
Obviously, the last thing on children’s minds when they go into a pool or beach is learning. However, this activity develops the body physically, physiologically, and mentally, which is something most people are unaware of. The same goes for children who do water-based exercises.
No matter how old a child is, you can ask them what they know about water. Although their answers will surely be very creative and imaginative, they won’t be related to its benefits and scientific data.
However, water adds a touch of fun that both children and adults need. You must take that very important aspect into account in order to get as many benefits as possible.
Water-based exercises for children
Play is one of the best tools to guide and educate a child. In fact, it can help achieve amazing things. Despite this, children don’t have a very long attention span, and not all games motivate them.
However, water-based exercises can offer an extra boost of motivation, because the surface and the environment change, and children consider this innovative. This is one of the main advantages of exercising in places such as a swimming pool, for example.
In this vein, you can focus on designing different water-based exercises for children, as long as they have a playful component. This way, they’ll be entertained and have fun while they learn.
The benefits of water-based exercises for children
As a 2016 study published by the journal Nutrición Hospitalaria (In English: Hospital Nutrition) states, besides being considered an extra motivation boost, the aquatic environment is an excellent therapeutic and physical development tool. Below, we’re going to explain the main benefits of water-based exercises for children.
Development of physical abilities
Basic physical abilities develop during childhood. This doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be worked during other stages of life, but rather that psychomotor foundations are sown here. This is why it’s very important to work them constantly.
Inside the water, children’s bodies need to reanalyze and recondition abilities such as coordination, balance, and strength. This makes them improve on a continuous basis.
To get a good boost, water-based exercises must be selected according to each child’s needs. Take this into account before signing up your child for any water-based physical activity. An exercise professional will know how to best select the activities.
Water-based exercises and meaningful learning
New experiences, such as exercising in a swimming pool, impact most people. This is also the case for children, who always want to experience different adventures and challenges.
As we mentioned above, a child will learn movements and new experiences without even knowing it. In addition, they’ll want to continue this process and will be motivated to do other water-based exercises without even realizing it.
Social relationships
Another of the great benefits of water-based exercises in children is that they can help boost social relationships. Children of different ages and places tend to come together in this environment and interact while they do different activities.
On the other hand, many of these exercises can be done in groups, an aspect that boosts interpersonal performance, from communication and speech to the way they treat other people. In fact, building solid social relationships from childhood will allow them to grow into psychologically healthy adults.
Water-based exercises increase creativity
Although many of the water-based exercises in children must be programmed in advance, not all of them must be done by the book. The idea is to give children free rein to do activities as they think they should be done.
This way, they can improve their imagination and creativity. Remember that inhibiting a child can lead to frustration. Thus, as a parent or guardian, you need to make sure that the opposite happens. Take advantage of the water!
No safety, no benefits
Before starting water-based exercises with children, you must take their safety into account. First of all, you have to know if they can’t go into the water for some reason.
In addition to this, you have to have the necessary safety elements and, if you need help or accompaniment, don’t hesitate to ask for it. As we mentioned above, professional guidance and supervision can make the experience that much better.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Latorre García, J., Sánchez-López, A. M., Baena García, L., Noack Segovia, J. P., & Aguilar-Cordero, M. J. (2016). Influencia de la actividad física acuática sobre el neurodesarrollo de los bebés: revisión sistemática. Nutrición Hospitalaria. https://doi.org/10.20960/nh.515
- Badawy, W. M., & Ibrahem, M. B. (2016). La comparación de los efectos de la acuática y ejercicios de equilibrio y caminar Terrestre en espástica dipléjicos parálisis cerebral infantil. In Medicina. J. Cairo Univ.
