Think back to your teen and pre-teen years. Many of us can recall long, hot summer days. No school. No responsibilities. Just chatting and laughing poolside with friends and family.
Fast-forward to today and summers look a little different. Screen time in American adolescents is on the rise, with research showing that children aged 8 to 12 spend an average of 4 to 6 hours per day in front of a smartphone, TV, gaming system, or other type of screen. For teenagers, that number is even higher, clocking in at up to 9 hours per day. Unfortunately, research has also linked excessive screen time to a variety of negative outcomes in children and teens, including social withdrawal, sleep problems, poorer academic performance, and even increased risk for depression and anxiety.
Swimming offers a fun, healthy alternative to scrolling this summer — especially for kids and teens. In fact, numerous studies have proven the benefits of swimming for children, like a study by Griffith University which revealed that kids who swam were roughly 10 months ahead in cognitive development and 15 months ahead in social development.
To discover why more families across America are swapping out screen time for swim time, Latham led an intimate discussion with a dozen pool owner parents, who shared insights into the positive impacts swimming has had on their kids.
Where Does Their Time Go? Comparing Swimming to Screen Usage
In the United States, the average child spends between 4 and 6 hours per day in front of a screen — but only 4 to 7 minutes engaged in unstructured (free) play outdoors. That’s significantly less than 3 hours, which is how much daily outdoor playtime the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia recommends for the “physical and emotional health” of “school-aged children.”
At Latham, we wanted to investigate how home swimming pools impacted children’s screen time, outdoor activity, and social development. We invited mothers and families to participate in a discussion about why they decided to get swimming pools, how often they used their pools, and – most significantly – how getting a pool impacted their children’s lives. The survey focused on months of the year when participants’ pools were open for swim season.
Why Families Choose Pools: More Than Just a Swim
A backyard pool is more than just a place to cool down in hot weather — it’s an exciting way to bring your whole family together. In fact, “family fun and bonding” is the number one reason why families decide to install swimming pools, with 100% of our survey respondents mentioning this as a factor. In addition to creating more opportunities for family bonding, other top reasons why families get swimming pools include:
- Entertaining friends, neighbors, and other guests (about 75% of respondents)
- Encouraging kids to play outdoors (about 55%)
- Exercising and improving health (about 35%)
While the survey’s participants pointed to different reasons for getting a pool, all reported using their pools either daily or multiple times per week. Approximately 35% said they used the pool every day, while over 65% said they used it a few times per week during the local swim season.
Making a Splash Outdoors: Pools and Increased Activity
Without exception, 100% of the survey’s participants said that their children became more interested in spending time outside after getting a backyard swimming pool. Over half of those respondents — around 55% — reported that the increase in interest was “significant.”
Not only do pools encourage kids to spend more time outdoors, they also help children stay physically fit, building the foundation for a healthier future. Around 90% of the pool owners surveyed said their children became more physically active after the pool was installed, with over 20% agreeing that their kids became “a lot more active.” Whether they like to do cannonball dives, play creative pool games, or just splash around freestyle, swimming pools make exercise fun for kids (and adults) of all ages.
Unplug and Dive In: The Pool’s Impact on Screen Time
When it comes to cutting down on teens’ and children’s screen time, swimming can be a powerful substitute for swiping — and the data proves it. Nearly half of our survey respondents said that they noticed a definite decrease in kids’ screen time after getting a swimming pool. And approximately 65% said that having access to a pool at home makes it “easier to get kids to disconnect from screens” without conflict. In fact, more than 20% agreed that after getting a pool, their families experienced fewer arguments over screen time.
The bottom line? Whether you get your own swimming pool, or make a routine of visiting the public pools in your city, exposing your kids to more time in the water can help them unplug and spend more time outside.
The Added Value of Pools: Family, Social, and Emotional Gains
A swimming pool does more than boost kids’ physical and mental health — it can also help them build richer, fuller social lives. Nearly 80% of mothers we surveyed said their children became “more social,” spending more time with friends and neighbors, after getting a pool at home. And 68% of participants observed an uptick in spending “more family time together” after their pool was constructed.
Other swimming pool benefits that were called out by the survey’s participants included:
- “Less complaining about boredom” (almost 35% of respondents)
- “Fewer arguments about screen time” (about 22%)
With a new pool, kids aren’t just swapping swimming for swiping. They’re putting down their smartphones in favor of face-to-face conversations and building stronger bonds with family and friends.
What Families Are Saying
Owning a pool gives families a chance to step away from the “reel life” of endless amounts of smartphone scrolling and more time to splash in real life, spending more time together.
Respondents noted that, “It is definitely worth the investment, and I absolutely recommend a pool if you have children. During the warm months we spend part of almost every day outside in the backyard.”
A pool isn’t just a great place for your kids, it’s also turns your backyard into the place to be for your children’s friends in the neighborhood. One participant observed, “Put the pool in! You can forever be the house where the kids hang out. You’ll get to know their friends and be able to supervise them. You’ll never regret the family time it creates, and the memories made.” Another mom echoed a similar sentiment, saying “It’s a great way to make your house the hub of activity for your kids and their friends.”
Beyond making memories when your children are young, a pool can also become a welcoming watering hole as they get older – and a spot for parents to congregate, too: “It’s fun having all the kids’ friends come to hang out at our house. As the kids have gotten older, they use it less but still enjoy having their friends over to swim. The moms enjoy the time together, too!”
Dive into a Healthier Lifestyle: The Pool’s Positive Impact
From inspiring your kids to spend more time outdoors, to helping them build stronger social skills, and even cutting down on their screen time, swimming pools offer a huge range of benefits for children and teenagers. By swapping swiping for swimming this summer, you can simultaneously enrich your kids’ lives and create fun memories that bring the whole family together, whether it’s at local public pools or in your own backyard.
To learn more about the benefits of swimming for kids and explore affordable custom pool options, contact us online and connect with Latham’s network of trusted independent builders.
