Frequently Asked Questions

---

 ISR Self-Rescue™ lessons can begin as early as 6 months old. Lessons are individualized based on each child’s age, developmental stage, physical abilities, and prior experience in the water.

Infants who are not yet walking independently learn to roll onto their backs, float independently, and maintain a position where they can rest and breathe. Children who are walking independently learn the swim-float-swim sequence.

Older children may also benefit from individualized instruction. If you’re unsure whether ISR is appropriate for your child, please reach out so we can discuss their individual needs.

 ISR lessons are held Monday through Friday at the same scheduled time each day. Each lesson is one-on-one and lasts no more than 10 minutes.

Short, frequent lessons allow children to build skills through consistency and repetition while helping minimize fatigue. Daily attendance is very important to your child’s progress.

 ISR lessons are individualized based on your child’s age and developmental abilities.

Infants who are not yet walking independently learn to roll onto their backs, float independently, and maintain a stable position where they can rest and breathe until help arrives.

Children who are walking independently learn the swim-float-swim sequence: swimming for a short distance, rolling onto their backs to float, rest, and breathe, then returning to swimming toward an exit or point of safety.

The goal is to give each child developmentally appropriate skills they can use if they unexpectedly find themselves in the water.

  The commonly referenced 6–8 week timeframe is a national average, but every child progresses at their own pace. I recommend families plan for a minimum of 8 weeks to allow their child the time needed to develop consistent, independent skills.

Factors such as age, development, previous water experience, attendance, and individual readiness can all affect how quickly a child progresses.

Lessons continue until your child demonstrates their skills consistently and independently.

 Safety is the highest priority throughout ISR instruction. Every lesson is individualized based on your child’s age, development, abilities, health history, and readiness.

Children complete ISR’s registration process before beginning lessons, and instructors monitor each child throughout lessons for factors such as fatigue and body temperature.

Lessons are short, one-on-one, and structured to gradually build skills while allowing the instructor to respond to your child’s individual needs.

 Crying, fussing, or apprehension can be normal, particularly during the first few lessons. Your child is adjusting to a new instructor, environment, routine, and skills.

As children become more familiar with their instructor, the lesson routine, and the environment, this often begins to settle. Lessons are individualized, and skills are introduced based on your child’s abilities and readiness.

Calm, positive encouragement from parents can also help children adjust and build confidence throughout the process.

 Parents typically watch and encourage their child from poolside while the instructor works one-on-one with the child.

After your child completes their initial ISR skills, a parent lesson is offered so you can get into the water and learn how to safely support and practice your child’s skills.

This helps families continue reinforcing appropriate skills while maintaining safe habits around the water.

 Children grow and change quickly, and their swimming skills need continued attention as their bodies, coordination, and abilities develop.

Maintenance Lessons are individual lessons used to maintain skills, monitor growth, and reinforce proper technique. A child’s first maintenance lesson is typically recommended about 2–4 weeks after completing their initial skills session. After that, ISR generally recommends maintenance approximately 1–2 times per month, depending on the individual child.

Refresher Sessions are a condensed return to the Monday–Friday lesson schedule and are often approximately 2–3 weeks, although some children may need additional time. Refreshers are generally recommended approximately every six months and may also be helpful following significant growth or development, an extended break from lessons, or before increased water exposure.

 ISR lessons teach children to use their own skills and body positioning to swim, float, and breathe independently rather than relying on a flotation device.

Flotation devices can place children in body positions that are different from the positions used for independent swimming and floating. During lessons, children practice the skills and body positions they would need if they entered the water without flotation.

Properly fitted, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets should still be used when appropriate, including in open water and while boating. ISR skills do not replace appropriate safety equipment or active adult supervision.

 No. ISR Self-Rescue™ skills are one layer of a multilayered approach to water safety and never replace active adult supervision.

Additional layers include appropriate barriers around pools and other bodies of water, alarms and locks where appropriate, CPR knowledge, properly fitted life jackets when needed, and having a designated, distraction-free Water Watcher.

When children are swimming recreationally, an adult should be in the water with them. No child should ever be considered “drown-proof,” regardless of their swimming ability.