With Winter just around the corner, it is very tempting to cancel all activities and hibernate from all forms of life only to pop out again when the warm weather returns. ​ However, even if you decide to forego all outdoor activities through the Winter, thankfully, swimming lessons is indoors, involves warm water, physical activity and fun all in one! Unfortunately, swimming is often perceived to be a warm weather activity which results in any progress being ‘put on hold’ until re-entering the water during the summer months. However, it is well known that those who swim year round progress quicker than those who don’t. ​So as we consider a “will we, wont we” return in the cooler months of term 2 & 3, lets check out the benefits of continuing and making swim lessons a year round activity! 1. Swimming skills need constant reinforcement or they can easily regress, particularly in the under 7 age groups. These children are just learning to develop muscle memory needed to carry out essential skills and need constant re-enforcement to develop long term skill retention 2. In a sense, Winter swim lessons are more important than Summer lessons as they prepare children for the beach/pool days when the warm weather arrives and does not involve playing “catch up”. You may liken this to frantically trying to lose weight and become fit again when the spring weather arrives! How much easier would it have been to achieve this over the Winter months by staying active and avoiding an overload of comfort foods!