What Will They Learn?

Rollback to Float

All students, even those as young as 6 months old, learn the fundamental ISR skill of rolling onto their backs to float, rest, and breathe. Infants and toddlers who are not yet walking well will learn to maintain this position until help can reach them, and it's just as important for our older students as they incorporate more swimming skills.

  • The primary goal is to equip children with a survival skill that can prevent drowning by enabling them to find a safe, resting position in the water. 

  • ISR instructors teach children to roll from a face-down position to a back float, even while clothed and wearing a diaper. This involves learning breath control, proper floating posture, and the ability to maintain the back float until help arrives.

  • This skill is taught to children as young as 6 months old, with the initial focus on the rollback-to-float until they begin walking. Once they can walk, the rollback-to-float becomes integrated into the Swim-Float-Swim sequence.

  • The Rollback-to-Float is a foundational element of the program, which aims to equip children with the skills to survive aquatic emergencies.

  • After mastering the rollback-to-float, older, more mobile children learn the full Swim-Float-Swim sequence, which involves swimming face down, rolling to a back float, and then rolling back over to continue swimming.

  • ISR emphasizes the importance of maintenance lessons to help children retain their skills and confidence as they grow and their center of buoyancy and gravity shifts. Refresher lessons are also recommended every six months.

As toddlers and young children gain more physical skills on land, they are ready to learn more skills in the water as well. ISR teaches children to swim a short distance, rotate onto their back to a floating position, and then turn over to continue the sequence of swimming and floating until they can reach safety at the steps, side of the pool, or shoreline.

Swim Float Swim

  • The core technique involves swimming with a head-down posture, rolling onto the back to float and breathe, and then rolling back to continue swimming.

  • The primary goal is to equip children with the skills to get themselves to safety if they end up in the water alone.

  • ISR lessons can begin as early as six months old, with older children learning to incorporate more swimming into the sequence.

  • Lessons are short and focused, with children working towards achievable goals, building confidence as they progress.

  • ISR instructors undergo extensive training in child development, safety protocols, and CPR, ensuring a safe learning environment.

  • Some critics argue that the method can be stressful for young children and may lead to negative associations with water. However, ISR proponents emphasize that the technique is carefully taught and adapted to each child's individual needs and pace. This allows the student to become familiar and comfortable with the water at their own rate.

What will ISR Lessons Require?

  • We know committing to lessons four days a week might feel like a lot—but it’s one of the most important parts of the ISR approach.

    ISR Self-Rescue Skills are developed through consistent, repetitive practice—just like learning to crawl, walk, or ride a bike. Imagine trying to master those milestones with only one session a week! Daily (Monday through Thursday) lessons allow your child to build strong muscle memory, which is what helps them respond instinctively in the water during an emergency.

    The consistency of four focused sessions each week ensures your child is progressing steadily, retaining what they’ve learned, and gaining confidence with every lesson.

  • Safety and effectiveness.

    ISR lessons are intentionally brief to protect your child’s well-being. These sessions are physically and mentally challenging, and while 10 minutes might not sound like much, it’s the perfect amount for their small but mighty bodies. We keep lessons short to avoid fatigue and ensure your child is ready to come back the next day ready to learn.

    Just as important—this time frame is when young children learn best. Studies show that children in this age group retain new skills most effectively within the first 10 minutes of focused instruction. By keeping lessons short, consistent, and individualized, we help your child make the most progress in the safest way possible.

  • Fall sessions will be taking place from October 6th to November 20th of 2025.

    Too soon? No problem. Join the newsletter for upcoming 7 week sessions.

I will be teaching under the ISR Flex Plan which means four days a week instead of the original requirements for five days a week. 

Research and experience show that consistency is of the highest importance when learning new skills.

With a steady 4 day schedule that makes it easier for your family to commit to lessons, your child will still build skills effectively and retain them, especially when lessons are uninterrupted by cancellations or scheduling fatigue

Water Safety

Creating multiple layers of protection is key to preventing drowning. Here are five essential water safety strategies every family should know:

1. Active Supervision

There is no substitute for undistracted, adult supervision around water. Stay within arm’s reach of young children and avoid distractions like phones. If your child is ever missing, check the water first.

2. Pool Fences

Install a permanent, four-sided fence that completely separates the pool from the house and yard. It should be at least 4 feet tall, self-closing, and self-latching—ideally placed 3–5 feet from the pool edge.

3. Alarms

Equip all doors and windows that lead to the pool area with alarms. Consider adding surface wave or submersion alarms in the pool for added security.

4. ISR Self-Rescue® Lessons

A moment of inattention doesn’t have to end in tragedy. ISR’s survival swimming lessons teach children vital skills to help them save themselves if they were to accidentally fall into water.

5. CPR Certification

Be prepared to act in an emergency. Parents, caregivers, and anyone responsible for watching children should learn infant, child, and adult CPR—and keep those skills up to date with regular refreshers.

Looking for more resources?

Download ISR’s Family Aquatic Safety list to use as a helpful checklist in your home and visit infantswim.com for more water safety resources.

❊ Important Reminder ❊

Even if your child has had swimming lessons, no child is drown-proof, and there is absolutely no substitute for adult supervision.