Infant Swimming Resource - ISR Swim Kids
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ISR, and how is it different from other swimming programs?
HOW DO YOU TEACH A BABY 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 sensorimotor 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. WHY SHOULD PARENTS ENROLL THEIR CHILD IN ISR LESSONS? ISR parents enroll their children because they understand their children's abilities and want to give them every opportunity to learn. They also feel it is important to teach their children how to survive by resting and breathing should they ever find themselves alone in the water. Research shows that there are better times to learn certain skills, and swimming is best learned early in life. WHY DOES ISR NOT USE PARENTS IN THE WATER DURING THE LESSONS? We do not want the baby to initially associate the water with the love, attention and affection of the parent while in the water. Also, it takes incredible concentration and objectivity to teach the baby how to respond to an aquatic emergency and our research shows that parents often find it too difficult to be objective to be effective teachers with their own children in the water. This is even true with ISR instructors and their own children! WILL MY CHILD LEARN TO FEAR THE WATER? There is an important difference between being fearful and being apprehensive because you are not yet skilled in a dangerous environment. ISR is not like traditional swim lessons; it is a drowning prevention program that teaches survival swimming. Your child may not happily skip to his or her ISR lesson each day at first, but that's okay. Sometimes as a parent, you make sure your child does things for his or her safety, like receiving vaccinations and wearing a seat belt, because you know they are important. The same can be said for ISR. FUN can be defined as when SKILL meets CHALLENGE. Once competent in their skills, many children cannot be dragged away from the pool. They are having entirely too much FUN. When you learn about ISR, you know this is the most important level of protection you can give your child to prevent drowning. If fences, supervision, and alarms fail, your child's skill is an additional measure of protection. WHY IS ISR NOT BETTER KNOWN? ISR prefers to grow slowly with a high standard of quality control. Parents who take the time to investigate the programs that are available for their children find ISR; hence, the program continues to grow by word of mouth by thousands of educated, satisfied parents. HOW ARE ISR INSTRUCTORS TRAINED? Each of the 422 ISR instructors trained (figure as of September 2007) have spent a minimum of 5 weeks in the water working beside a Master Instructor and/or Senior Master Instructor, gradually taking more and more responsibility for each child's lesson. In addition to the in-water time, academic sessions are conducted in the areas of child development and learning theory; the behavioral sciences; and anatomy, physiology and physics as they relate to infants and young children in the aquatic environment. Each instructor is also required to obtain and maintain both First Aid and CPR for Healthcare Providers certifications. In addition, each instructor is required to attend the ISR National Recertification each year for continuing education about every facet of ISR as well as quality assurance. HAS ISR BEEN APPROVED BY A STATE AGENCY OR CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES? ISR has presented its program as required by law to the review committee for the State of Florida Health and Rehabilitative Services. ISR earned the unanimous approval from that committee in 1992 and is certified by HRS to conduct lessons in Florida. WHY CAN'T ISR TEACH INFANTS UNDER 6 MONTHS OLD? Children under the age of 6 months are not neurologically mature enough to benefit from ISR instruction. WHAT OTHER BENEFITS DOES THE ISR LESSON EXPERIENCE PROVIDE THE CHILD WHO HAS BEEN THROUGH LESSONS? Every child is different; however, many parents report that once their young children have mastered learning to swim, the resulting confidence in the abilities engenders a positive self-concept that is often demonstrated in other aspects of their personalities. HOW DO CHILDREN KNOW TO HOLD THEIR BREATH? Breath holding skills are taught in the first lesson. We shape breath control using highly effective positive reinforcement techniques. WHAT ABOUT THE USE OF FLOTATION DEVICES AND LIFE JACKETS? Flotation devices give children a false sense of security and hold them in postures that are not compatible with swimming skills. If a child learns that he can jump in the water and go into a vertical posture and he will be able to breathe, he is getting the wrong idea about that environment. Children who cannot swim should not be allowed to learn that it is safe to play in the water while relying on a crutch. Life jackets must be worn in a boat or around the water when there is the potential for accidental submersion; but they are not a substitute for the ability to swim or for adult supervision. HOW IS IT THAT BABIES CAN LEARN TO RESPOND TO THE DANGER THAT WATER PRESENTS WHEN THEY FALL IN? A baby does not need to perceive danger or be afraid to respond appropriately to being underwater. If a baby has learned to roll over and float when he needs air, he doesn't need to perceive danger in order to respond in this manner. He needs skill, practice and confidence to calmly deal with the situation. WHAT FURTHER LESSONS WILL MY CHILD NEED? ISR recommends that you bring your child back for refresher lessons. Frequency depends on the child's age, growth rate, skill level and confidence level. The goal of refreshers is to help your child adjust his/her new body size and weight to his existing skill level. Your instructor will work with your child to help fine-tune his or her aquatic experience to assist with building efficiency, which will result in self-confidence. This is especially important if your child has not been able to practice any appropriate aquatic skill between seasons. While NO program can "drown proof" your child, ISR lessons typically have a 94-100% retention rate up to one year later. Refresher lessons are important because children change so much both cognitively and physically during the first 4-5 years of life. It is important that their aquatic skill and abilities grow with their bodies. |
