Frequently Asked Questions

I hear you say your priority is survival skills. Will my child learn to actually swim?

Yes. At ISR, we believe that part of survival for a child who can walk, is swimming. Children learn the swim-float-swim sequence so that they could get themselves to safety. The difference in our program is that they will learn swimming AND survival skills and how to be an aquatic problem solver.

Why are lessons 10 minutes a day and 5 days a week?

Our number one reason is always safety. Lessons are mentally and physically demanding for little ones and we never want to fatigue or exhaust them. For their little bodies this can be quite the workout, so we make sure to limit that time as we want to be sure to see them the next day. No one goes back to the gym after a brutal leg day, am i right?

The second reason is for retention of skills. It is shown that children in this age range attain skills best within the first 10 minutes. We are sure you know this all too well that attention spans for little ones can be quite short.

We know 5 days a week might seem daunting, but we promise it’s worth it. Like we said before, ISR Self-Rescue® Skills are developed just like any other sensorimotor skill. When learning to walk, crawl, or even ride a bike it’s the practice and repetition that makes for success. Imagine if you only had worked on those skills once a week?

Practicing ISR Self-Rescue® Skills on a consistent basis allows for muscle memory to form. Muscle memory is what allows your child to Self-Rescue as soon as they hit the water.

Will my child need additional lessons?

Based on our research, we know that refresher lessons are important because children change so much both cognitively and physically during the first 4 – 5 years of life. It is important that their water survival skills grow with their bodies. Frequency depends on the child’s age, growth rate, skill level and confidence level. The goal of refresher lessons is to help your child adjust his/her new body size and weight to his/her existing skill level. Your instructor will work with your child to help fine-tune his or her aquatic experience to assist with building efficiency, which will result in self-confidence. This is especially important if your child has not been able to practice any appropriate aquatic skill between seasons.

 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 sensations of being in the water in clothing prior to an emergency situation, he/she is less likely to experience panic and be able to focus on the task at hand. If you have ever jumped in the water with clothes on, then you know that there is a significant difference in the weight and feel with clothes as opposed to a bathing suit.

Is ISR Safe fir infants and young children?

Yes! ISR is dedicated to safety, and maintaining numerous safety protocols to promote safe lessons. Your child’s health and well-being 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 program that far exceeds any other training program of this kind. Each ISR Instructor is also required to attend yearly conferences, and undergo an extensive re-certification process. Your education in the area of aquatic safety for your entire family is an integral part of your child’s lessons, as well.

Consider these additional points:

• No child is ever thrown into the pool.
• A child is never submerged for more than seven (7) seconds.
• ISR Instructors monitor your child for temperature and muscular fatigue, as well as physical and psychological well-being.
• Your child’s daily routines outside of ISR lessons hold valuable data for your instructor. You will receive instruction on how to communicate this information to your instructor.

Do you teach children with disabilities?

Absolutely! Drowning isn’t specific with its victims and can take the life of any child who doesn’t know how to save themselves. Our mission of ‘Not One More Child Drowns” means we believe ISR lessons are for EVERY child.

Our team of medical professionals evaluates every student’s medical history and communicates with Instructors on the precautions needed to make each lesson as safe as possible. Since all lessons are one-on-one we are able to tailor lessons to each and every child.

How is ISR different from traditional swim lessons?

ISR is the product of over 50+ years of ongoing research. Rather than blow bubbles and sing songs, our primary focus is to make sure each student can SURVIVE in the water and be an aquatic problem solver. We give them real life situations, like using their skills in full clothing, to make sure they are prepared for a real life drowning scenario. Our goal is to always do what is safest for each child and what is best for their survival.

Are these group lessons?

Every lesson with ISR is one-on-one and individualized for each student. This means we never have more than one student in the water at a time and keep a 1:1 student to Instructor ratio.

Do parents get in the water?

Parents do not get in the pool for lessons however we encourage parents to sit poolside and cheer on their little ones, as you’re their support team.

Our research shows that parents often find it too difficult to be objective and effective teachers in the water. Which is exactly why we are here to help your little one master their ISR Self-Rescue® Skills.

Parents are invited into the pool during the last week of lessons (this will be discussed with your Instructor beforehand). During this time, we teach you how to maintain your child’s new skills while in the water and how to properly promote their ISR Self-Rescue® Skills

Will my child hate the water?

There is a big difference between being fearful and being apprehensive in an unfamiliar environment. If you were to take your child to the pool, even after they’ve been in lessons with us, they most likely won’t cry. But if you were to take them to the exact same pool and they were to see us in it, now that’s a different story. They know we make them work hard and who voluntarily wants to do that?

ISR is not like traditional swim lessons; it is a drowning prevention program that teaches survival swimming. Your child may not happily skip to his or her ISR lessons each day at first, but that’s okay. Sometimes as a parent you make sure your child does things for his or her SAFETY because you know they are important. The same can be said for ISR.

Will my child cry during lessons?

For most children crying is developmentally appropriate and their only way of communicating. Typically, once your child gains the confidence in their new skills the crying diminishes. Instructors are used to this behavior so don’t be concerned about tears interfering with lessons.

Learning new skills, with a new person, in a new environment; honestly who wouldn’t be upset at first? The cry we hear oftentimes in the water is the same cry you get when you take away a toy, don’t let them eat dirt, or even put them in their car seat. It’s a protest and their way of saying they aren’t happy to be here. Remember this is their way of communicating with us since most children are not yet verbal.

We like to tell parents/guardians that if you can make if through the first couple of weeks, it gets easier. Remember every day at lessons is another day of building in-water confidence and another day closer to your child being fully skilled. You got this!

Will my child forget these skills?

It’s important to remember that ISR Self-Rescue® Skills are a sensorimotor skill, just like crawling, walking, or riding a bike. The less you use these skills the rustier they get, but that doesn’t mean you’ve forgotten them. Therefore Refresher and Maintenance lessons are important and encouraged, as they help keep their skills in shape and active. Remember, the more your child uses their skills the less likely they are to get “wonky”.

ISR has shown a retention rate of 94-100% up to one year following lessons