Summer’s here! And so is the silly season. At Fulton Swim School, we know that this time of year can be particularly stressful. Not only is the lead-up to the end of the school year, and Christmas, always jam-packed with events and activities, expenses can start to stack up too.
Many Kiwi families are feeling the financial pressure even more than usual this year, and it can become a juggling act to budget for everything. With so many other expenses to think about, the price of swim lessons might be the last thing on your mind. However, with the summer holidays, long days and warm weather ready to greet us, there are a number of reasons why you should consider investing in swim lessons!
Why Swim Lessons are Worth the Investment
No matter what your plans are for the summer, there’s a good chance you’ll end up near the water. As a country that loves to spend time at beaches, rivers, lakes and pools over the Christmas break, here are some reasons why the price of swim lessons is truly an investment in you and your loved ones:
Safety
Whether you’re out on the family boat, camping by the river, or going to a BBQ at your neighbour’s with the pool, wherever there is water, unfortunately, there is a risk. Drowning is one of the leading causes of mortality among children, but starting young Kiwis in swim lessons early gives them the skills to keep themselves safe in the water, and can significantly reduce the likelihood of fatalities.
As of December 2nd 2022, our country has had 76 preventable drowning fatalities. With the summer months typically being when drownings reach their highest, this number is expected to climb before the year is up. People of all ages, genders and backgrounds are at risk, so the price of swimming lessons is an investment in your family’s safety and future.
Confidence
Babies, children, adults and seniors can all gain confidence through swimming lessons! Whether the goal is to learn to swim, gain more skills in the water, or as a form of low-impact exercise, swimmers that attend lessons feel more sure of themselves, less averse to spending time in, and around water, and more confident around their peers. Swimming lessons for children can help your kids overcome challenges, gain a sense of achievement and feel more comfortable in social situations.
You can’t put a price on confidence, but swimming lessons are certainly a small investment to give yourself, and your loved ones, confidence for the summer! Don’t just take our word for it, check out what our swimmers have to say.
Health
Comprehensive research conducted by Swim England in 2017 has shown that regular swimmers are 28% less likely to die early than those that don’t swim, and people that swim frequently also have a 41% lower risk of death due to heart disease and stroke. The research shows that swimming has a positive impact on both physical and mental health, with swimmers reporting a wide range of benefits, including lower stress levels, and better sleep.
Since swimming is low-impact, it’s an excellent choice for exercise for those recovering from surgery, or suffering from chronic pain or illness. Exercising in a heated pool is also proven to reduce injuries in people of all ages, by relieving muscle tension, improving strength and joint mobility, and increasing circulation.
Swimming lessons may have an upfront cost, but, when considering the cost of the doctor’s visits, physical therapy, and the missed opportunities to spend quality time with your friends and family that can come with illness and injury, what is the price of not investing in swimming lessons?
Community
We like to think of swimming as a social activity! So it’s important to us to maintain low class ratios. This means, everyone in our lessons gets the attention and assistance they need, but it also means our students can get to know each other and build lasting friendships.
Not only have we built a community around our swimming lessons, by becoming more confident swimmers, our students feel empowered to participate in events around the water with confidence, and feel more connected to their local community.
Fun!
One final factor to consider when weighing up the price of swimming lessons is the fun! Kids and babies have so much fun being in the water! Once children gain their confidence in the pool, they love to try new things, learn new tricks, and play with their friends.
At Fulton Swim School, we see it as vital to reward and encourage achievements. We make swim lessons even more fun for kids by awarding ribbons and certificates to our young swimmers when they progress through levels, and reach milestones. Children are also invited to ring the Achievement Bell when they achieve something special and we award a swimmer of the week to the child that makes the most outstanding personal accomplishment. Most importantly, our teachers make sure to give their time and encouragement during classes so that your kids continue to enjoy their lessons.
Swimming is fun for adults too! It’s a chance to forget about the stresses of our everyday lives, focus on the present and enjoy being weightless in the pool. A lot of our swimmers find being in the water fun because it reminds them of happy times during their childhood.
No matter where your holiday plans take you this year, it’s likely you’ll be near the water. Kiwis love to spend the warmer months gathered around the beach, river, or pool, so the price you invest in swim lessons will keep you and your family safe this summer, give you more confidence, and set you up for a longer, healthier life. If you’d like to know more about how Fulton Swim School can help your family to enjoy more fun around the water, you can contact our support office, or your local swim school, and, if the price of swimming lessons is a barrier for you and your family, ask us about our involvement in Swim-It-Forward.
Ready to dive right in? You can book yourself, or your kids, in for swimming lessons here.
