Certified ISR Instructor, traditional swim instructor, personal trainer, & nutrition specialist, Kym Cragel
FAQs
How do you teach them to hold their breath?
Breath holding skills are taught beginning with the first lesson. We shape breath control using highly
effective positive reinforcement techniques. We continue to reinforce these breath-holding techniques
throughout every lesson.
What is the American Academy of Pediatrics position on swimming lessons for young children?
The AAP encourages parents to consider that starting water-survival skills training at an early age must
be individualized, based on the child's frequency of exposure to water, emotional maturity, physical
limitations and health concerns related to swimming pools. You can view their policies and suggestions
through the AAP website here: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-
play/Pages/Swim-Lessons.aspx
Can you really teach a child who is not verbal how to swim?
Yes. Consider that children learn to sit, crawl and walk before they learn to speak. Because we teach
through sensori-motor learning, verbal skills are not required for a child to acquire Self-Rescue skills. We
are able to communicate with our students through touch and positive reinforcement while striving to
set our students up for success every step of the way.
Can’t babies swim naturally?
Unfortunately, babies cannot naturally swim. If this were the case, there wouldn’t be so many drownings
every year. According to the Center for Disease Control and Accident Prevention, drowning is the leading
cause of accidental death for children ages 1-4 in the United States.