ISR Swim Lessons with `Misty Douglas` | Infant Swimming Resource

Misty Douglas

Hello! My name is Misty and I have been involved in the swimming world ever since I can remember. I began swimming at an early age and joined a swim team when I was 8 and have never looked back! I have taught swim lessons and coached swim teams for about 10 years, while also swimming in college for UC Davis. I graduated from UC Davis with a Bachelor's degree in Human Development and a Minor in Education. I also have my multiple subject teaching credential. Due to my passion for children and for swimming, I knew that becoming an ISR Instructor was the perfect job for me.

I am happiest when working with children, making a difference in their lives by giving them the confidence and skills necessary for survival if they find themselves alone in the water. Once these skills are learned and students become independent aquatic problem solvers, most students move on to develop a lifelong love of the water.

My husband and I have 5 children, and our youngest two went through the ISR program. I was amazed at the progress they made in such a short amount of time, and loved the peace of mind it gave me to have an additional layer of protection in and around the pool. All five of our children are now on swim teams, with our oldest swimming all 4 years at a D1 college! I want to give other families the same peace of mind with their youngest children that I have with my kids in and around the water. I am very excited to be a part of the ISR community, helping to fulfill its mission of "Not One More Child Drowns" in San Diego where water based activities are a central part of virtually every family's lifestyle. Please contact me with any questions you may have. I look forward to speaking with you!

FAQs

Why do you have the children swim in clothes?

Because 86% of children who fall in the water do so fully clothed, we want our students to have experience with such a situation. If a child has experienced the sensations of being in the water in clothing prior to an emergency situation, he/she is less likely to experience panic and be able to focus on the task at hand. If you have ever jumped in the water with clothes on, then you know that there is a significant difference in weight and feel with clothes as opposed to a bathing suit.

Do you have children that just can’t learn the skills?

No. Every child can learn. It is my job to find the best way to communicate the information so that it makes sense to the child. I set your child up to be successful every time you bring them to me. I start where they are and through consistent lessons, we see progress.

Why are lessons 5 days per week and for only 10 minutes?

The reason for this is multifaceted. First, repetition and consistency are crucial elements of learning for young children. Research shows that short, more frequent lessons result in higher retention. Second, most children have fairly short attention spans and will not be able to focus on the task for longer and we want to take advantage of the best time for learning. A third reason is that, though the pool temperature is maintained at 78-88 degrees, the temperature is still lower than your child's body temperature. Lessons are work and therefore will also be losing body heat. Instructors check students regularly for temperature fatigue since this is an indicator of physical fatigue.

Is it the baby fat that makes them float?

Actually, the primary factor in a baby’s ability to float is the ability to take air into the lungs. To maintain this access to air, the child must adjust his/her posture. The difference in positioning for an adult can be inches. For a baby, this adjustment is reduced to centimeters. If a child’s body posture is just a few centimeters off, it can make the difference between the face being submerged or the child having access to air.

Misty Douglas

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