- \r\nSwimming improves strength and flexibility.

- \r\nLearning to swim is not only a fun and health activity, but a safety measure as \r\nwell. In the United States, drowning is the 2nd greatest cause of accidental \r\ndeath in children. More than 1,700 children drown each year. All children should \r\nlearn how to swim to reduce their chances of drowning and to free them of any \r\nfear of the water.

- \r\nSwimming uses almost all the major muscle groups.

- \r\nThe buoyancy factor of swimming makes it the most injury-free sport there is. \r\n

- \r\nWater helps improve coordination and balance by forcing swimmers to move \r\nbilaterally to maintain equilibrium.

- \r\nWarm water, combined with gentle exercise, relaxes and stimulates a child\'s \r\nappetite. Children often sleep and eat better on swimming days.

- \r\nDoctors often recommend swimming as an exercise for asthmatics. For many \r\nasthmatics, exercise produces bronchial hyperactivity. Swimming stimulates less \r\nwheezing then other forms of exercise, possibly because of the warm, moist air \r\naround the pool is less irritating to the lungs.

- \r\nSwimming builds confidence. As students practice and improve skills, they will \r\nbe gaining not only confidence in their swimming abilities, but confidence in \r\nthemselves. By trying something new and experiencing success, they will have \r\nmore confidence in trying other new activities.

- \r\nStudents with disabilities are able to move in water with more freedom and \r\nability than they normally experience on land.

- \r\nSwimming is a great low intensity exercise that is easy on the joints due to the \r\nwarm water.

- \r\nSwimming provides most of the aerobic benefits that running does but does not \r\nput the strain on the connective tissues that running does.