You say your priority is survival skills. Will my child learn to actually swim?

Yes! We believe that part of survival for a child who can walk, is swimming. ISR lessons teach the swim-float-swim sequence to ensure that children are able to get themselves to safety. The difference in our program is that children will learn swimming AND survival skills, making them an adept aquatic problem solver.

Why are the lessons 5 days per week?

We know 5 days a week might seem daunting, but we promise it’s worth it. ISR self-rescue skills are developed just like any other sensorimotor skill. When learning to walk, crawl, or ride a bike, it’s the practice and repetition that makes for success. Imagine a toddler learning to walk but only getting to practice once a week for 30 minutes! Practicing these skills on a consistent basis allows for muscle memory to form. Muscle memory is what allows your child to find air as soon as they reach the water.

Why are lessons only 10 minutes long?

Our priority is always safety. ISR lessons are quite a workout and are mentally and physically demanding for young children. We never want to over-fatigue or exhaust them. The second reason is to ensure the retention of skills. Children acquire skills best within the first 10 minutes of an activity. As parents, we all know how short a child’s attention span can be.

Do you have children that can't learn the skills?

Nope. Every child can learn. It is my job to find the best way to communicate the information to your child so that it makes sense. My goal is to set your child up to succeed and tailor each lesson to where they are.

How is ISR different from other swimming programs, and why does it seem so expensive?

ISR is the product of nearly 60 years of ongoing research. Rather than blowing bubbles and singing songs, our primary focus is ensuring that each student becomes an aquatic problem solver able to survive an aquatic emergency. We provide realistic situations, such as using their skills while fully clothed, to ensure they are prepared for a real-life drowning scenario.

ISR offers one-on-one lessons to babies as young as six months, whereas traditional swim lessons typically start at age three. You’ll likely have to enroll in a parent/child class if you have a child under three years old.

We can compare the cost this way: Traditional lessons average $100 for four lessons per month. After one year, you will have spent $1200 and 24 hours of in-water time. It is unlikely that a young child will be independent in the water after one year. ISR lessons are condensed into six weeks - $800 for five hours of in-water time to develop independent skills. If you add a refresher course, the cost is actually less than traditional swim lessons when you consider the outcome.

What is the AAP’s position on swimming lessons for young children?

In May of 2010, the AAP changed it's policy regarding the age at which children may start swimming lessons. This change was based on research that found that swim lessons provided reduction in drowning risk of children ages 1- to 4-years-old. That study, "Association Between Swimming Lessons and Childhood Drowning," published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, March, 2009, by Brenner et. al. was the first study to probe the relationship between drowning reduction and swimming skills. The study concluded that "participation in formal swimming lessons was associated with an 88% reduction in the risk of drowning in 1- to 4-year-old children..."

The AAP encourages parents to consider that starting water-survival skills training at an early age must be individualized, based on the child's frequency of exposure to water, emotional maturity, physical limitations and health concerns related to swimming pools.

Why does it take 6 weeks for my child to learn this?

Six weeks is the average time in which it takes most children to learn the ISR survival skills. Every child is unique and ISR's Self-Rescue program is specifically designed based on your child's individual strengths and needs. It is important to realize that this is an average, which means that some children will actually finish more quickly while others will need more practice. ISR is first and foremost dedicated to safety. Therefore, we want to provide your child with the best opportunity to become proficient in their survival skills, honoring your child's individual needs.

Why do you have the children swim in clothes?

Because most children who fall in the water do so fully clothed, we want our students to have experience with such a situation. If a child has experienced the sensation of being in the water in clothing prior to an emergency situation, they are less likely to experience panic and be able to focus on the task at hand. They only swim in clothes toward the end of the lessons, not every day.

Are swimming lessons for infants and young children safe?

Absolutely. ISR is dedicated maintaining numerous safety protocols to promote safe lessons. Your child's health and well-being are our highest priority and are closely monitored on a daily basis. In addition, your child's medical and developmental history is a mandatory part of the ISR national registration process, all of which is held strictly confidential. All ISR Instructors undergo an intensive and rigorous training that far exceeds any other training program of this kind. Each ISR Instructor is also required to attend a yearly re-certification symposium that includes quality control as well as continuing education. Your education in the area of aquatic safety for your entire family is an integral part of your child's lessons. You will receive access to the "Parent Resource Guide," written by Dr. Harvey Barnett and JoAnn Barnett, which will inform you of every aspect of swimming for infants and children.

With a bit of research, you will find that ISR is the safest survival swimming program and also the most effective for teaching infants and young children.