What is ISR?

ISR, or Infant Swimming Resource, is a program designed to teach infants and young children self-rescue skills in the water. The lessons focus on helping children as young as six months old learn to float, roll onto their backs, and hold their breath, all of which are crucial for water safety. ISR is the global leader in survival swimming lessons for infants and young children. With proven methods, customized 1:1 instructions, and safety at the essence of every lesson, ISR gives parents peace of mind while empowering children to become aquatic problem solvers.

At what age can my child start ISR lessons?

ISR lessons can begin as early as six months old, provided your child is developmentally ready. The program is tailored to each child's abilities and needs, so every lesson is adjusted to ensure a comfortable and supportive learning experience.

How are ISR lessons structured?

ISR lessons are one-on-one, personalized sessions with a certified ISR instructor. Each lesson is typically short, around 10 minutes, and occurs five days a week for a duration of 6 weeks. Just like everything, all kids are different - majority of children will need 6 weeks, but occasionally a child might need more than 6 weeks.

It seems like a lot to do 10 minutes a day for 5 days/week, but it’s been a proven method for teaching littles swim for almost 60 years. Kids thrive with sensorimotor learning - repetition is super important when developing a new skill - just like with learning how to walk.

Why do the lessons seem so expensive compared to traditional swim lessons?

ISR focuses on teaching life-saving survival skills, as well as teaching your child how to swim (if age appropriate). We start as early as 6 months, and will help your child build confidence so they can have fun AND stay safe in the water.

Though ISR lessons are more expensive upfront, they provide faster, more effective results, making it a more cost-effective option in the long run.

What skills will my child learn in ISR?

Children in ISR learn essential self-rescue skills, including how to hold their breath underwater, roll onto their back to float, and maintain a floating position until help arrives. Typically around walking age, they’ll also be able to swim - float - swim so that they can safely get out of the pool on their own.

How does ISR differ from traditional swim lessons?

Unlike traditional swim lessons, which often focus on swim strokes and recreational swimming, ISR is specifically designed to teach self-rescue skills. The primary goal of ISR is to equip children with the ability to survive an accidental fall into the water, but if they’re walking age, they’ll also learn swimming skills!. Additionally, ISR lessons are set up every day so that the child learns quicker and it stays with them for longer. Smilar to riding a bike, the more you practice, the better you’ll be!

Will my child need to complete the program more than once?

ISR recommends refresher courses to reinforce the skills as your child grows and their body changes. Many parents choose to enroll their children in refresher courses every six to twelve months to maintain their self-rescue abilities. If you start your child before 1, they’ll complete the float course. When they get a little older, they can come back and learn the swim-float-swim sequence!