ISR

Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) is the safest and most effective provider of survival swimming lessons worldwide, teaching ISR Self-Rescue skills to children ages 6 months to 6 years old. With more than 55 years of research and experience, and the highest safety standards in the industry, ISR is able to deliver the best survival swimming instruction in the world today. The result? Over 19 million safe and effective lessons delivered, providing children with a foundation for safety and a lifetime of fun in and around the water.

Today, our mission, “Not One More Child Drowns,” is the foundation of everything we do. ISR believes in multiple layers of protection against aquatic accidents, which include pool fences, alarms, and active adult supervision. However, traditional lines of defense break down, and the over 4,000 drowning deaths per year bear a grim testament to the fact that traditional approaches are missing a key component: the child. ISR’s core conviction is that the child is essential to a drowning prevention strategy. Our over 450,000 ISR graduates and hundreds of documented survival stories prove that children can and do save themselves. Children are curious, capable, and have an uncanny ability to overcome obstacles like pool fences; at ISR, we take that ability and teach them skills to potentially save themselves if they find themselves in the water alone.

ISR (Infant Swimming Resource) is uniquely focused on survival swimming skills, designed specifically for infants and young children. Unlike traditional swim lessons, ISR is evidence-based and tailored to teach children how to problem solve and self-rescue in real-life aquatic emergencies.

With over 50 years of research and development, ISR’s methods have been proven to effectively reduce the risk of drowning, the leading cause of accidental death in children under five. Each lesson is customized to the child’s developmental stage, ensuring they gain critical survival skills with confidence and competence.

ISR lessons are kept to 10 minutes or less to match the developmental needs and attention spans of young children. Short, focused lessons prevent fatigue and ensure each child remains alert and receptive, maximizing their learning and retention of these critical survival skills. This approach is designed to be effective while prioritizing the child’s comfort and safety in the water.

When comparing ISR to other swim programs in the greater Tucson area, it’s important to consider the long-term value. Traditional swim lessons often require years of weekly sessions, leading to a significant financial commitment over time. ISR, on the other hand, is a highly efficient program designed to teach essential survival skills in just a few weeks. This focused approach means that, while the initial investment may seem comparable, ISR ultimately saves time and money by equipping your child with life-saving skills quickly, reducing the need for ongoing lessons.

ISR lessons are scheduled 5 days a week to ensure consistency and reinforce learning. Daily practice helps children retain the critical survival skills they’re learning, allowing them to build muscle memory and confidence in the water. This frequent, short exposure is key to mastering these skills quickly and effectively, making ISR one of the most efficient swim programs available.

It’s possible that your child might cry during ISR lessons, especially as they adjust to new experiences in the water. The goal is to maintain a calm and supportive environment throughout each session. My focus is on building a trusting relationship with your child, which helps them develop confidence and navigate different water situations. I am dedicated to creating a nurturing atmosphere that respects their emotions while guiding them in becoming strong swimmers. We emphasize bravery and courage, celebrating each child’s progress and encouraging them to take pride in their own achievements.

To best support your child in ISR lessons, use positive and encouraging language when discussing their swim lessons. The way you talk about the experience can greatly influence how they feel about swim lessons. Emphasize the excitement and importance of learning these new skills, and express pride in their efforts and progress. Your supportive words will help foster a positive mindset and contribute to a culture of confidence and achievement in their lessons.

For the majority of ISR lessons, parents will sit on the poolside, serving as their child’s cheerleader and providing encouragement. This allows your child to focus on their lessons while you observe and support from the sidelines. Occasionally, you may be invited to participate in the lessons to learn how to best support and reinforce your child’s swim skills. Your involvement helps enhance the learning experience and ensures you’re well-equipped to continue supporting their progress outside of lessons.

Once your child has completed their initial ISR lessons, we offer two key options to ensure they continue to thrive in the water:

Refresher Courses: These are recommended every 3 to 6 months and typically last for 2 to 3 weeks. Refresher courses help adjust your child’s skills to their growth and maintain their confidence in various water situations.

Maintenance Lessons: These single-day sessions are designed to keep your child’s skills sharp and their confidence high throughout the year. The frequency of these lessons can be tailored to your family’s needs, with many choosing to schedule them monthly or as recommended by the instructor.

In addition to maintaining their survival skills, we can also help prepare your child for traditional swim strokes when they’re ready. We’ll work on integrating their skills into play activities, such as diving for toys, jumping into the water, and swimming longer distances, to make sure they’re not only safe but also enjoying their time in the pool.

We’re here to support your child’s continued growth and help them build on their foundational skills with confidence and fun!

Flotation devices can create several challenges when it comes to teaching children how to swim safely. They often provide a false sense of security for both children and parents. Children may become overly reliant on floaties, assuming they are safe in the water without them, while parents might be tempted to look away, thinking their child is protected.

Moreover, devices like Puddle Jumpers encourage a vertical position that can resemble a drowning posture. This position can be confusing, tiring, and counterproductive to learning proper swimming techniques.

Instead, we focus on teaching children how to swim safely and confidently without reliance on flotation devices. For safety in boats and open water, properly fitted life jackets are recommended.