Swim Lessons Help Build Speech Skills

Did you know that 8 percent of children in the U.S. have a communication disorder (speech delay, stuttering, swallowing disorders, cluttering, etc.)?

Did you know that speech and hearing have a huge impact on a child’s ability to learn and communicate socially and emotionally?

Did you know that swimming can help children with speech disorders practice therapeutic everyday skills?

Having a speech impairment can be frustrating for a child who feels that their disorder is prohibiting them from making friends, properly communicating their wants and needs, and articulating their thoughts; which can lead to a lack of focus in the home and classroom. For many parents, discouragement settles in when having to accommodate for their child whose disorder is getting in the way of everyday activities.

At Houston Swim Club, we are great at teaching lifesaving skills, but did you know we can also provide the accommodations and environment for a child to incorporate what they have learned in speech therapy in a fun, social setting?

Here are some simple ways that swim lessons can help build speech skills:

• Blowing bubbles (breath control)
  The rounded mouth movements necessary to perform this swim skill can also help to strengthen a child’s lip muscles. Bubble blowing can also help them make mouth shapes needed to form certain sounds.
• Asking LOTS of questions
  At HSC, we ask our students lots of fun questions in order to get to know them better! Answering questions promotes responses and, ultimately, helps children with speech delays to practice answering questions appropriately.
• Singing songs
  This is an essential part of our curriculum, especially for younger students. Singing helps to engage and soothe students. It provides a calming, positive distraction that enhances their learning. Science tells us that music has a positive effect on the development of the brain, language learning as well as reading skills in children. 
• Social play
  For children who have anxiety about their speech disorder, swim lessons can be a healthy way to build self-confidence while developing emotional and social stability through a stress-free activity. A fun environment where social play and interaction is encouraged can alleviate some social anxiety that children may experience. Each 30-minute lesson is filled with peer conversations, which also help students with social language skills and speech development.

At HSC, we value meeting each student’s unique and individual needs. Whether we are teaching your child their big arms or encouraging them to go down the slide, we provide a loving environment that builds confidence and promotes growth in swimming, as well as other areas of their development.

We love your kids. We teach them lifesaving skills and so much more!

Written by Avery Sauer – Instructor at Houston Swim Club Sharpstown & current University of Houston student completing her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders