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.
If more frequent but shorter lessons are better, then why don’t you teach 7 days/week?
Everyone needs a little break from learning to process the information and in this case to give muscles a
chance to recover. In addition, you need to be able to spend time with your family, as does your
instructor. Weekends are family time. Periodically, if weather or other issues have cause lessons to be
canceled for numerous days, your instructor may choose to offer make-up lessons on a weekend. This is
strictly up to the instructor and based on the availability of parents.
How do the kids react during the first few lessons?
Children often fuss during the first few lessons because they are in a new environment and around new
people. As your child becomes more confident in his/her ability in the water, the fussing will decrease.
It is not unlike the first time you tried a new exercise class or were asked to perform a task at work that
you’d never done before: the first time you try a new task it is always challenging, until you get the hang
of it. It is the same for your young child. Your child is learning to perform a skill that he/she’s never done
before.
How is it that babies can learn to respond to the danger of water when they fall in?
A baby does not need to perceive danger or be afraid to respond appropriately to being underwater. If a
baby has learned to roll over and float when he needs air, he doesn't need to perceive danger in order to
respond in this manner. He needs skill, practice and confidence to calmly deal with the situation.