Date: January 12 2013 CHILDREN under five who have swimming
lessons develop better language, literacy and numeracy skills
and are likely to be more prepared for the transition to school,
according to a Griffith University study. The four-year study
surveyed almost 7000 parents of children from Australia, New
Zealand and the United States and independently assessed 177
children aged three, four and five. Unsurprisingly, it found
children who had early-years swimming lessons performed better
in tests of some physical skills, although not ball-handling.
However, lead author Professor Robyn Jorgensen said what was
surprising and of interest to parents, educators and
policymakers, was that these children also scored significantly
better in literacy, numeracy, mathematical reasoning, visual
motor skills (cutting paper, drawing lines, colouring in) and
oral expression. ''It does appear that children who participate
in swimming are achieving a range of milestones earlier than
normal populations,'' Professor Jorgensen