Because 86% of children who fall in the water do so fully clothed, we want our students to have
experience with such a situation. If a child has experienced the sensations of being in the water in
clothing prior to an emergency situation, he/she is less likely to experience panic and be able to focus on
the task at hand. If you have ever jumped in the water with clothes on, then you know that there is a
significant difference in weight and feel with clothes as opposed to a bathing suit.
Do you have children that just can’t learn the skills?
No. Every child can learn. It is my job to find the best way to communicate the information so that it
makes sense to the child. I set your child up to be successful every time you bring them to me. I start
where they are and through consistent lessons, we see progress.
Can you really teach a child who is not verbal how to swim?
Yes. Consider that children learn to sit, crawl and walk before they learn to speak. Because we teach
through sensori-motor learning, verbal skills are not required for a child to acquire Self-Rescue skills. We
are able to communicate with our students through touch and positive reinforcement while striving to
set our students up for success every step of the way.
How can you teach babies and young children to swim?
ISR instructors teach infants to swim by honoring each child's individual strengths and experiences. They
understand the fundamentals of the behavioral sciences, child development and of sensori-motor
learning as it relates to the acquisition of aquatic survival skills; they use this education to guide each
child through the sequence of learning to swim and float.