Ages 1 to 6 years

Swim-Float-Swim, for children 1 to 6 years in Helotes

Coach Glare teaches your child to swim head down, roll to float and breathe, and swim on until they reach the side.

Call (321) 662-3718Ask about lessons

Where a toddler gets into trouble

A child who can walk can reach the water's edge on their own, and that is the situation Swim-Float-Swim is built for: a toddler alone at the pool, and then in it. ISR says parents enroll because they want their children to be able to help themselves if they ever end up alone in the water.

ISR's position is that pool fences, supervision and pool alarms matter as part of a layered approach, and that the child is the most important part of it. It also says flotation devices give children a false sense of security and are not a substitute for the ability to swim or for adult supervision.

A boy pulling himself up onto the edge of a pool

A boy pulling himself up onto the edge of a pool

The sequence a child rehearses

Each lesson drills one route. The child swims with their head down. When they need air, they roll onto their back to float, rest and breathe. Then they roll back over and swim on, repeating the sequence until they reach the side of the pool, where they can crawl out or wait to be rescued.

Lessons are ten minutes a day, Monday to Friday, for 4 to 6 weeks, one-on-one with Glare in Helotes. Some children take a little longer. One parent wrote that her child needed longer than the six weeks and that Mrs. Sanchez stayed patient until the child was truly comfortable and confident.

Fully clothed practice, and keeping the habit

Once a child is fully skilled, they practise the techniques fully clothed during lessons, because an unplanned fall into the water rarely happens in swimwear.

ISR claims a retention rate of 94-100% up to one year after lessons. That is ISR's figure, not Glare's. ISR is also clear that children explore and can pick up habits that interfere, so talking with your instructor about what to watch for, and coming back in good time, keeps the skills sharp. Call Glare on (321) 662-3718 with any question.

"My son put up a fight at first but she was so patient and knew exactly how to get him to trust her. We continue to come every season!" G DB, Google review of ISR San Antonio in Helotes.