Swimming is about the beach, and the long, lazy days of summertime, right?
Right… and wrong. Swimming is a life-long skill that needs to be practised all year round – particularly when children are starting out on their learning journey. Regular lessons
will help them to develop the skills and confidence they need to be capable swimmers.
To make sure our pools are inviting, we keep the water temperature at Bondi and Coogee to a nice warm 32 degrees so little ones can comfortably focus on their lessons.
Despite that, there are still a few misconceptions about cold weather swimming so, with winter now fully upon us, it’s time to blow some myths about seasonal swimming out of the water.
Myth 1: Swimming in cold weather makes it more likely my child will get sick
False. Viruses cause colds, not temperature, even if swimming in icy water. In fact, swimming is likely to keep a child healthier because being physically active during the winter months helps build up their immune system and maintain their fitness.
Some children will feel the cold more if they have low body fat. As a parent you can help with that by ensuring they arrive in warm clothes to keep their core temperature up and getting them to jump or run around before they change into swimmers to get their blood circulating. A few sips of a warm drink after a swim isn’t a bad idea, either.
Myth 2: Going outside with wet hair will give my child a cold
False: My mum used to tell me not to go out with wet hair – along with plenty of other mums, I suspect. But the truth is, there is no harm in it. Wet hair in a cold environment might make your child feel chilly and uncomfortable but it won’t cause a cold.
Myth 3: Winter is for other sports: my child will pick up swimming skills again in the summer
If a child takes a break from the pool, they aren’t just playing catch-up with their skills, they are also delaying learning about water safety. And safety doesn’t have a season.
It’s sad to say that drownings aren’t confined to summertime on the beach; they can happen in the backyard pool, falling into a river or lake, even in the bathtub. Water safety is about understanding those risks and making sure your child is prepared by consistently practising survival skills at an early age.
Myth 4: Outdoor swimming is only for hard cases
False: The ocean temperature is cooling off at this time of year but with a wetsuit, it’s not out of bounds. A short dip can be energising and fun for kids and has tremendous benefits for cardio-vascular health for both children and adults.
Follow a few tips to stay safe. Don’t jump or dive straight into cold water as the shock creates a gasp reflex and you don’t want to submerge your head if your mouth is open. It is best to walk into the water and start swimming straight away so that the body warms up and gradually gets used to the temperature.
If the ocean really isn’t appealing in winter, there are plenty of heated indoor and outdoor swimming pools and water parks in Sydney from Des Renford in Maroubra to the Olympic Park pool in Homebush, we are spoilt for choice.
Myth 5: A hot shower will warm you up after swimming
False: A hot shower after swimming may sound like a good idea for a shivering child but it can warm them up too fast and cause the blood vessels in hands, feet and near the surface of the skin to open too fast. This can cause chilblains (inflamed, swollen patches on the skin). In some cases, a hot shower after coming out of cold water can lead some people to faint. Far better to lower the temperature and have a warm shower.
And finally, swimming is a great activity for using up all that pent-up energy when the weather keeps us inside, or an alternative to sitting in front of a computer screen. Regular swimming activity will also make it more likely your child will sleep well at night, which is good news for everyone!
