Soaking up summer with swim team

     We love summer at our house! We seriously love it!

     The mama in this family could spend all day sitting by the pool. That's one huge reason swim team has become the cornerstone of our summer schedule. 

Grace racing freestyle

     With four morning and three evening practices a week, pep rallies, Saturday meets, and other events, we’re never at a loss for swimming activity. While this may seem like an excessive amount of structured swimming, I’ve watched the children grow through it tremendously.

     Many sports for young children are completely non-competitive. (Seriously, what’s the point of playing a sport if you’re not keeping score? The kids always end up trying to keep it themselves and then arguing about who won!)

     Swim team has introduced healthy, balanced competition and a hearty dose of team spirit. I love hearing swim team cheers mixed in with Christmas carols in the middle of December because they convey the kids’ excitement about swimming and their commitment to the team.

     It’s developed my children athletically. While we don’t compete year-round due to the intensely competitive nature of many teams (the other unhealthy extreme of the completely non-competitive), we usually participate in a developmental swimming program to stay on top of our skills. Our team gives best time ribbons whenever the children beat their own personal records. I love the way this encourages them to develop themselves as swimmers regardless of how they do versus the competition.

      Swim team has taught my children to be gracious winners and losers and to root for each other. It was hard for my daughter when her brother’s name was called over the loud speaker at the All-City Championship last year for winning a bronze medal. All she got was a ninth-place ribbon in the lowest competition division. Sometimes, the odds are turned in her favor, leaving him frustrated. I’m delighted to say they are finally learning to cheer and be happy for each other. This is a critical family-life value that needs to be constantly cultivated.

     Swimming builds self-discipline. Sometimes, early in the season, the water is so cold I find myself grateful I’m not the one jumping in. They’ve learned to overcome their preferences and do what needs to be done to succeed.

     Finally, swim team is fun! Kids work hard all year in school. I love that they can take a break in the summer doing something they enjoy. (Getting to lounge by the pool is not not a bad bonus for me either!)

Archie competing in backstroke

     What do your children enjoy during the summer? How has it built their character?

I'm linking up this post at Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers Weekly Wrap-Up.