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!

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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.
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.
Will my child fear the water because of lessons?
There is an important difference between being fearful and being apprehensive because you are not yet skilled in a new environment. ISR is not like traditional swim lessons; it is a drowning prevention program that teaches survival swimming. Sometimes as a parent, you make choices for your child’s safety, like sitting in a car seat, because you know they are important. The same can be said for ISR. Fun can be defined as when skill meets challenge. Once competent in their skills, many children cannot be dragged away from the pool. They are having entirely too much FUN.
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.

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