ISR stands for Infant Swim Resource. Its a swim program developed to teach a child to save himself. You can read all about the facts and history on the site itself. I am blogging to tell you my personal experience and feeling I get from having paid for the service.
I have 4 children. My youngest at about 9 months of age, last summer fell into a 3 ring toddler
pool much like this one.
Apparently the top ring had been popped by a cat or some other night lurking beastie but you could not tell it was popped just by looking at it. I was standing 5 feet away and my boy must have been able to lean over the edge and tumble inside the water.I was watering the garden just next to the pool for 20 to 30 seconds when my 2 yr old came to me giggling saying, "mommy baby swim."
I said, "what no your not your right here?"
Blu (my 2yr old) then said, "no mommy dat baby swim."
I turned to look and found my 9 month old upside down in this baby pool gulping up water. I swooped him up and he expelled quite a bit of water. He was able to breathe right away but his skin went from blue to gray to just ugly pale. I called his pediatrician to make sure he was going to be ok.
After asking a few questions about his breathing and color the doctor referred me to sign him and my other son up for ISR. I called immediately to speak to the instructor and learn more about it. I questioned many other parents across the country about these lessons and all of them had glowing reviews. I can not, still to this day, find one negative review from anyone who has followed through with this course.
If you have a young child age 6 months to 4 years, I highly recommend you sign them up for the ISR swim lessons. They can be difficult to endure as a parent, watching your child gulp up water or struggle to understand why they are being allowed to flap about in water as the instructor guides them to be able to save themselves. I'm positive some parents have walked out never to return after the first few lessons. I understand then if this is just not for you.
It does require quite a commitment on the part of the parent. The classes are 5 days a week for 4 to 8 weeks. This all depends on how each child takes to the lessons. My younger son did take 8weeks to float for 5 minutes alone. Also you should understand and accept that each lesson will only last 7 to 10 minutes. This is important to be kept short as it is so intense. You will also be required to keep track of each child's bowel movements,urine,sleep patterns and food intake. A record of this information is given to the instructor every day before the lesson begins. The cost is $125 to register each child and then $100 for each week of lessons.
The technique is amazing and it works. My boys are living proof. To pass the class the child has to come fully dressed (in a diaper if age appropriate) with shoes and they are dropped in the pool. They right themselves to a safe float and, depending on their age, wait for help or they are able to swim float to a side to get themselves out.
You can view the site for video proof and you can go to YouTube and search for ISR videos.
I have received many odd looks from parents when I tell them I have my kids in this class. They judge that I must have gobs of money to be able to afford such a thing for 2 boys. Let me say, this is not the case at all. We go without many "comforts" that others enjoy and we use our tax return money for these lessons. It is indeed worth it. You will NOT be let down by the technique being taught. Not only will your child learn to save himself or herself you will also find a new strength in yourself as a parent
video of my son after graduating. He moved on to fun stuff.....snorkeling
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