We focus on teaching survival swimming skills first, emphasizing Self-Rescue™ techniques. Traditional lessons often focus more on playing and slowly getting used to the water and may not prioritize water safety in the same way. We do want your child to have a monstrously good time, but we see competence and safety as the path towards a life long respect and love for the water.

ISR lessons are designed for infants as young as 6 months old to kids as old as 6 years old. Starting early helps build foundational water safety skills and instills confidence in the water. For older children, our lessons teach them how to safely and confidently swim and play in the water.

It depends on your child’s age and the program they’re enrolled in. Younger children focus first on learning to float. Older kids will learn to float and to swim independently, with a focus on being able to safely get themselves to the edge of the pool with a swim-float-swim sequence. Here are two great examples: Rollback to Float: Vimeo video (click here) Swim-Float-Swim: Vimeo video (click here)

Each child is unique and progresses at their own rate, but we aim for students to achieve self-rescue skills in about 6 weeks of consistent lessons. Some students may complete their lessons in a shorter amount of time while others may need extra practice. No child will not be checked-out of their session until they are fully skilled and have tested their skills in pajamas and winter clothing.

Yes! Once a child learns how to float and swim, their body remembers the skills. However, we recommend swimmers continue their lessons beyond their first session as they grow and change. Young swimmers who start with a Rollback-to-Float program are encouraged to continue lessons until they’ve completed the Swim-Float-Swim program. In addition, regular maintenance lessons or refresher sessions are recommended to keep your child’s skills fresh.

Lessons are 5 days per week for about 10 minutes per lesson. Ten minutes may seem like a short amount of time, but they are working hard during those ten minutes! Research shows that short, frequent lessons result in higher retention than longer, less frequent lessons. Five days a week can also seem daunting, but just like learning to walk or ride a bike, kids need consistent practice.

As you know, crying is a young child’s way of communicating their discomfort when faced with new or challenging situations. Your child may need time to build confidence in the water and trust with their instructor. Kids use that same cry to let us know when they don’t want to leave the playground or try their green beans. It’s hard to hear your baby crying, but with each lesson, they build confidence, and with confidence comes less crying and more fun in the water!

No, we will never throw your child into the water! We provide gentle and encouraging lessons to help your child learn. While we do simulate falls to teach and prepare your child for a potential fall into the water, these are done gently by your instructor, supporting your child’s body until they are in the water.

86% of children who fall into the water do so while fully clothed. Wet clothing, especially wet diapers, can add up to 10 lbs! We practice in clothes once kids are fully skilled, allowing them to feel what it’s like and adjust to the extra weight so that they’re prepared in an emergency.