Lesson Structure
ISR Self-Rescue skills unique results are achieved through fully customized, safe and effective, one-on-one lessons with only your child and the instructor in the water. The way your child will learn self-rescue skills is what makes ISR different from traditional swimming lessons. Always putting safety first, at ISR we emphasize competence, which leads to confidence, and provides the foundation for a lifetime of enjoyment in and around the water.
What your child will learn depends on their age and developmental readiness. In all cases, at a minimum, your child will learn to roll onto their back to float, rest and breathe, and to maintain this position until help arrives.
Lessons are 5 days per week, Monday - Friday, for up to 10 minutes each day.
It generally takes 6 weeks for your child to master their skills.
Infants
Infants 6-18 months learn the ISR self-rescue skill of rolling onto their back to float, rest and breathe, and to maintain this position until help arrives. Typically this skill takes 6 weeks to master.
Toddlers and children
Toddlers and children 1-6 years learn the full ISR self-rescue sequence of swim-float-swim. ISR students are taught to repeat this sequence until they reach the safety of the steps, side of the pool or shoreline. Typically these skills take 6-8 weeks to master.
Refresher Lessons
ISR's official recommendation is every six months swimmers and floaters should do a 4-6 week refresher course. Because children grow rapidly, physically and mentally, during the course of a year and are continually developing new skills, these lessons assist the child to adjust their previously mastered skills to their new bodies. It is not unusual for children to not swim or float at the same skill level that they did during the previous season’s lessons. This does not mean that they have "forgotten" to swim or float, it means that they need to practice their skills in their new larger, stronger body. The length of refresher lessons will vary based on the child’s water experience and any interference that may have occurred since the last lesson.
Maintenance Lessons
Maintenance lessons are designed to fine tune the student’s skills, or to prevent problems with the child’s technique. As a child’s confidence in the water grows, they may try to experiment with new behaviors or try to emulate siblings or adults. This may negatively affect his or her ability to swim or float. These lessons are conducted periodically, once a week to once a month, based on the Instructor’s assessment of need and the parent’s scheduling preferences.
