TECHNIQUE & LESSONS

For the last 40 years, ISR’s hands-on instruction technique has been researched and developed to offer a proven system for safely teaching your child to enjoy the fun of swimming, while at the same time teaching life saving survival swimming skills. Unlike other programs, lessons are:

Customized and taught one-on-one by a certified ISR instructor
Lessons are scheduled 5 days a week (Monday - Friday), 10 minutes a day, for 4 - 6 weeks
Emphasize health, ongoing program evaluations and parent education
Provide your child with the competence and confidence to safely enjoy the water

6-12 MONTHS OLD (ROLL-BACK-TO-FLOAT)

Your child is gently introduced to the water by your instructor. As each child reacts differently, your instructor will work with your child to guide him through the lesson process and to build a level of trust and comfort in the water. Once this is established, your child will begin to learn how to Self-Rescue.

Think of how your child learned to roll from stomach to back as a young baby. A child 6-12 months will learn:

To hold their breath underwater
To roll onto their back
To float unassisted, rest and breathe until help arrives
To perform these Self-Rescue skills first in a swim diaper, then while fully clothed

Once a stable back float has been established, I will place your child face down in the water and help him or her learn to roll to to his or her back and float. Your child never remains face down for more than a few seconds, and I am always right beside your child.

1-6 YEARS OLD (SWIM-FLOAT-SWIM)

You've seen it before, your toddler walks right to the edge of the pool, ready to jump in, whether or not you are there to catch him. His confidence is beyond his skills. ISR training for children between 1 and 6 years of age uses their confidence to help them build competence and the skills to Self-Rescue.

I will work with your child's initial skills to help him or her gain both competence and confidence around the water. ISR is passionate about water safety and will not make your child over-confident or fearless, but will educate your child and teach them a healthy respect for the water.

Children 1 - 6 years learn the following sequence during ISR's Self-Rescue swimming lessons:

To hold their breath underwater
Swim with their head down
Roll onto their back to float, rest, and breathe
Roll back over to resume swimming until they reach the side of the pool to crawl out or wait to be rescued by an adult
To perform these Self-Rescue skills first in a swim diaper, then while fully clothed

With these skills your child will be able to swim independently and learn to move at his or her own pace toward the safety of the side of the pool or the shores of a pond or lake.