The impact of swimming lessons on the development of soft skills in preschool children

Background and Study Aim. Modern preschool education focuses on developing not only cognitive skills but also social and emotional competence – key factors determining a child's readiness for successful adaptation and social interaction. Swimming lessons are considered a promising means of developing soft skills, as they combine physical activity, emotional release, and interpersonal interaction. Previous studies demonstrate the positive impact of aquatic environments on communication, emotional regulation, and children's psychoemotional state. However, empirical studies aimed at comprehensively studying the relationship between swimming skills and the development of soft skills in preschoolers are lacking. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of systematic swimming lessons on the development of soft skills in preschool children and to quantify the relationship between the level of development of swimming skills and the components of soft skills. Material and methods. The study involved 40