Frequently Asked Questions
Can ISR lessons make my child drown-proof?
No program, including ISR, can make a child “drown-proof”. ISR is not a substitute for supervision. However, it equips your child with skills to increase their chances of survival in case other safety measures (fences, locks, supervision) fail, enabling them to be an aquatic problem solver and self-rescue if they are alone in the water.
How often are lessons?
Each ISR lesson is 10 minutes long and 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) for 6 consecutive weeks. Daily attendance is crucial for efficient learning. These are not conventional swim lessons; we focus on teaching highly specialized skills. It’s essential to attend class every day. If you cannot commit to this schedule, consider registering when you are certain you can.
Why are lessons only 10 minutes long?
Although 10 minutes may seem like a very short swimming lesson, each ISR Self-Rescue® Survival Swimming lesson is a private one-on-one lesson, and your child is getting the undivided attention of their Certified ISR Instructor. Each lesson, though short, is very intense. Young children are sensorimotor learners and mastery of a sensorimotor skill is most effectively achieved by short, frequent exposure. The 10-minute lesson also honors the child’s attention span and avoids the risk of temperature and physical fatigue. Studies show that children learn faster and retain skills best when taught in short increments frequently.
What happens if my child has to miss a lesson?
You will have purchased and reserved a weekly time slot for your child. Students are expected to attend every scheduled lesson. Missed lessons will not be made up unless they are canceled by me. If lessons are missed due to injury or illness, allowable make-up dates will be available the week immediately following your session. If you are unable to make it to a lesson, the normal tuition rate still applies. If there are school cancellations due to weather, lessons will not be held but a makeup lesson will be offered at the end of the session.
Do you offer weekend lessons?
Unfortunately, I do not offer weekend classes. ISR has determined through extensive research that students learn skills best when broken down into smaller tasks and practiced consistently daily until fully proficient.
What happens if my child is afraid and cries?
It’s normal for some children to cry in the initial lessons due to anxiety about their new environment and being with a new instructor. Accidents can happen to anyone, and it’s important to weigh the discomfort of crying against the potential consequences of not learning life-saving water safety skills.
Can children with special needs learn self-rescue skills?
ISR has successfully conducted thousands of lessons for students with a variety of special needs. While some disabilities may pose challenges for ISR lessons, each student’s online registration undergoes a thorough review by our Registration Evaluation Team (RET) of medical professionals. Lessons commence only upon clearance from the RET team, ensuring the utmost safety for every student. This process may involve additional safety protocols, a pediatrician’s note, or an extended wait period before approval.
Is ISR more expensive than regular swim lessons?
ISR, with over 57 years of research and development, is nationally recognized as the safest swim program for infants and children. Consider the following points regarding the cost of ISR lessons:
- Comprehensive Skills Training: ISR teaches your child to swim with their face in the water, roll onto their back to rest and breathe, and continue swimming—all with the highest level of training and safety protocols.
- Long-Term Value: With ISR, you don’t need to enroll your children in swim lessons every summer. Once they learn these skills, they have them for life. Maintenance and Refresher Lessons are available to skilled ISR students to help retain their skills indefinitely.
- Expert Training: Every ISR instructor undergoes 6 weeks of intense training, combining hands-on experience in the pool with an ISR Master Instructor and academic training in anatomy, physiology, child psychology, and more. Continuous certification, including CPR and First Aid, ensures ISR instructors maintain their skills at the highest standards.
If you calculate the expenses of traditional swim programs, ISR proves to be not only more cost-effective but also provides invaluable life-saving skills. If initial cost is a concern, consider that traditional swim programs may focus on socialization and play, while ISR prioritizes safety and survival.
What are the fees?
There are two separate fees, a lesson fee and a mandatory ISR registration fee.
Lesson Fee: Please remember that you are reserving and purchasing a weekly time slot for your child. The cost for the six-week session is $600 ($100 per week). The first half of your session fee ($300) will be due once I confirm your preferred session and time slot. The second half of your payment ($300) will be due once your child has been registered and approved with the National ISR Office. Payments can be made by cash, check, Venmo or Zelle. Please remember that lesson fees are non-refundable.
ISR Registration Fee: There is a registration fee of $105 per student paid directly to the national ISR office. I will email you a unique URL address for the ISR national online registration once I receive confirmation you have selected your session dates and time slot.
All students must be cleared through the national ISR office prior to starting their first in-water lesson. Registration forms must be filled out and paid online. You will be asked specific questions regarding your child’s medical history to ensure your child’s safety during lessons. All registrations are kept confidential. ISR registration fees are non-refundable except for students not cleared by the national ISR office.
Registration & Renewal Fees
The initial registration fee of $105.00 is paid the first year only. Registration must be updated every 6 months if your child plans to return for maintenance and/or refresher lessons. The annual update fee after the first year is $35 per child and once per calendar year thereafter.
Maintenance Lessons: 1-2 Lessons per Month
The cost for these lessons are $20.00 per session. This allows your child to practice their skills more frequently to prevent developing bad swim habits. The lessons are necessary because as children grow their center of gravity changes and skills need to be polished.
Refresher Lessons: Every 6 Months to 1 Year
ISR recommends bringing your child back for Refresher Lessons every 6 months to 1 year if they are not participating in Maintenance Lessons. The cost is $100 per week. Allow for 1-2 full week sessions. Refresher Lessons are extremely important in continuing and maintaining your child’s ISR Self-Rescue skill development.
Why do I have to register my child online with the ISR National Office?
Your child’s registration is reviewed by a team of doctors and nurses that review each registration to ensure your child is medically able to participate and to ensure these are the safest swimming lessons held for your child. The information we receive from your child’s registration helps us to individually tailor lessons to each student. The registration fee is paid to the ISR National Office.
Do I have to pay a registration fee every season?
An ISR registration fee paid by a parent is good through the end of the calendar year (Jan.1-Dec.31) in which they registered.
Example: A parent registers their child on Feb. 3, 2024. They may complete update registrations at no cost through Dec.31, 2024.
ISR registrations completed in the second half of the calendar year are good for a maximum of 6 months into the following calendar year.
The initial registration fee of $105 is a one-time fee. If when the child comes back for lessons it has been over one calendar year since the child’s registration has been updated, there is a $35 update fee.
What if I can’t afford ISR Lessons?
I never want cost to be a deciding factor. Please reach out to me for available solutions.
ISR believes that every child is entitled to self-rescue skills. We try our best to ensure access to families with a serious interest in self-rescue lessons. There are several non-profit organizations (most founded out of the profound loss of a child to drowning) that offer scholarships for ISR lessons. Those in need of financial aid can apply for help with lesson tuition. These organizations helps minimize the cost of self rescue lessons for those in need by granting scholarships in varying amounts for families. Scholarships do not cover the initial non-refundable registration fee.
These non-profit organizations are separate from ISR but does work closely with ISR Instructors. Each organization has their own application process. Contacting them directly is the best route for information on applying for and receiving scholarships. Please inquire with one organization prior to submitting an application. Only one organization/scholarship per student is available.
Organizations that offer ISR Scholarships programs:
Live Like Jake
livelikejake.com
Running With Wings
https://www.runningwithwings.org
Judah Brown Project
https://judahbrownproject.org
Parents Preventing Childhood Drowning
https://www.parentspreventingchildhooddrowning.com
Swim Safe Forever
https://www.swimsafeforever.org
Because of Logan
http://becauseoflogan.com
The Sylas Project
https://www.thesylasproject.org
CAST Water Safety Foundation
https://castwatersafety.org
Hand In Hand Water Safety Foundation
https://www.bewatersafe.org
Because Of Zane
https://becauseofzane.org
Swim for CJ
https://swimforcj.org