Your Child's Water Safety Journey Starts Here

How ISR Lessons with Callie are Different:

Emotions: we are indeed learning a NEW and difficult skill at first. If your child has a fear of water, please reach out before lessons so we can prepare together. If your child is fearless around water, I’d love to know that as well! We’ll focus on building essential safety skills that not only strengthen their abilities but also give you greater peace of mind and teach your little one their natural boundaries in the water.

Confidence: Many parents share that the skills their child gains in the water extends far beyond swimming—enhancing confidence in sports, school, and everyday life. Hearing these success stories is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.

Lifelong Skills: Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children under four—a statistic I take very seriously. By introducing water safety skills early, we empower children to respond effectively in emergencies and lay the foundation for a lifetime of confident, capable swimming.

A dedicated instructor who puts your child first. Safety is at the heart of everything I do. Beyond teaching essential water skills, I’m committed to equipping families with the knowledge and confidence to enjoy the water safely together long after lessons end. I serve as an ongoing resource for parents—offering personalized recommendations, from selecting the right life jacket and fun water toys to finding the next instructor once your child has progressed beyond ISR and is ready for more technical strokes. Many families continue to stay in touch, seeking advice and guidance as their children grow into stronger, more confident swimmers.

FAQs

Will my child need additional lessons?

Based on our research, we know that refresher lessons are important because children change so much both cognitively and physically during the first 0-5 years of life. It is important that their water survival skills grow with their bodies. Frequency depends on the child's age, growth rate, skill level and confidence level. The goal of refresher lessons is to help your child adjust his/her new body size and weight to his/her 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.

Why does it take an average of 6 weeks for my child to learn this?

The 6-week average is an estimate that is based on the average time in which it takes most children to learn these survival skills. Every child is unique and ISR’s Self- Rescue program is specifically designed based on your child’s individual strengths and needs. It is important to realize that this is an average which means that some children will actually finish more quickly while others will need more practice. ISR is dedicated to safety and, therefore, we want to provide your child with the time and best opportunity to become proficient in his/her survival skills. We will always honor your child’s needs.

Why don’t parents participate 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 experience shows that parents often find it too difficult to be objective to be effective teachers with their own children in the water. We gladly invite parents to join us in the pool once their child has independent skills to practice at home.

How do the kids react during the first few lessons?

Children often fuss during the first few lessons because they are in a new environment and around new people. As your child becomes more confident in his/her ability in the water, the fussing will decrease. It is not unlike the first time you tried a new exercise class or were asked to perform a task at work that you’d never done before: the first time you try a new task it is always challenging, until you get the hang of it. It is the same for your young child. Your child is learning to perform a skill that he/she’s never done before.

Download ISR's Family Aquatic Safety List to help protect your family from the hazards of an aquatic environment

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