What is ISR?
ISR is the safest and most effective provider of survival swimming lessons for infants and young children worldwide. ISR’s Self-Rescue program teaches children six months to six years of age how to survive if they were to reach the water alone.
In more than 50 years, ISR has successfully delivered over 15 million safe and effective ISR lessons to infants and young children.
What are lessons like and where are they?
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Lessons for each new student are 4/5 days a week, for 6-7 weeks.
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Each individual lesson is a maximum of 10 minutes in duration.
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The session is completed once the student can complete the entire self-rescue sequence unassisted and in clothes, typically at 6 weeks.
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It is important that your child doesn't practice swimming or floating outside of lessons during their session. This will delay their learning.
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Lesson location changes with seasons to indoor and outdoor pools. Summer will be at my home in Markleville. Indoor location is LivRite Fitness in Anderson.
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The beginning of each lesson I will ask general questions to check in and make sure we have a safe productive lesson. (Example of questions here.)
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Babies and toddlers who are not potty trained are required to wear *TWO* reusable swim diapers to prevent blowouts from shutting down lessons for everyone. Here's an example of a great swim diaper.
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Before the session begins, I will make sure you have a guideline document like this that also gives more details.
Pricing
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A non-refundable deposit and payment plan of $110/weekly is required to secure your child’s lesson time/session. Or if you choose to pay in full upfront, the deposit is $600 (to save $60).
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If you pay weekly payments, the deposit will be applied to your child’s first week of lessons, and weekly payments will be required the Friday before the next week of lessons.
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If your child requires additional lessons past 7 weeks, the lesson fee will be due at that time.
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There is no refund for unattended lessons. Only lessons canceled by the instructor are made up.
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ISR requires all families complete their national registration for each child to ensure that lessons will be safe for your child. ISR National Registration is $105 per child that *does not go* to Water Bug, and is not applicable to lesson fees.
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Registrations with ISR must be updated at minimum every 6 months, one registration fee per calendar year. The initial registration fee of $105 is paid the first year only. The annual update fee is $40 per child, charged the second year, and once per calendar year thereafter. This is for students who continue refresher/maintenance lessons past their intial session.
What will my child learn?
6 MONTHS OLD and able to sit unassisted - WALKING
YOUR CHILD WILL LEARN:
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To hold their breath underwater **we will not move forward in lessons until your child is effectively holding their breath.**
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To float unassisted, resting and breathing until help arrives - adjusting float as necessary.
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To right themselves into a stable back float from any angle of entry into the water.
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To perform these ISR Self-Rescue skills first in a swimsuit, then while fully clothed including a diaper.
WALKING to 6 YEARS: Swim/float/swim sequence
YOUR CHILD WILL LEARN:
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To hold their breath underwater **lessons will not move forward until your child is effectively holding their breath. **
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Swim with their face down in the water
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Roll onto their back to float, rest, and breathe
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Flip over to resume swimming position. S/he will be able repeat this swim-float-swim sequence until s/he reaches the side of the pool.
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To perform these ISR Self-Rescue skills first in a swimsuit, then while fully clothed (including a diaper if child is not yet toilet knowledgeable).
What happens after the session ends?
Swimming is a sensori-motor skill, just like learning how to crawl, walk or ride a bike. Once your child's body has learned the ISR self-rescue sequence, they will not forget it! However, just like any other sensori-motor skill, the less it is practiced the rustier it gets. As your child grows, their center of gravity while in the water will change. Continuing to practice their newly learned skills as their body grows is essential to maintaining their self-rescue skills. Practice makes perfect! There are two options for continuing lessons with your child: maintenance or refresher lessons.
MAINTENANCE LESSONS - ONE LESSON/WEEK OR EVERY OTHER WEEK
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One lesson per week or every other week
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Allows your child to practice their skills more frequently to prevent developing bad habits
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Allows your child to grow their skills with their ever growing bodies!
REFRESHER LESSONS - SEMI-ANNUALLY TO ANNUALLY
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Attend daily lessons semi-annually at a minimum
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Usually scheduled for two to three weeks, depending on the child’s age and abilities
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Necessary because as children grow, their center of gravity changes and skills need polished