
Every parent feels some sort of excitement and happiness when their child graduates from ISR swim lessons. As Jake and I did almost 4 years ago when our son did with miss Holly. However, the feeling with our daughter was so so different.
Earlier this year we had literally had our pool for maybe 2 weeks. We had always said our daughter was a drowning victim waiting to happen so we knew we had to build a pool. We all were in the pool and she was playing on the Baja step when I had to get out for 1 minute to help my husband on the pool deck (who is paralyzed.) Next thing I know our son is yelling mom SJ mom SJ.... I jumped in as fast as I could and grabbed her. She was completely under like a pencil I will never forget it. I said her name no response so I started CPR. It seemed forever but I’m sure it wasn’t. She coughed up a bunch of water then I turned her over and did the heimlich probably out of panic. She seemed fine but scared for sure and scared of the pool. She wouldn’t even take a bath for months after. Every single one of her toes were bloody or blistered like she was trying to get back onto the Baja step and she just couldn’t figure it out. We were all there, right there, out there, it literally takes 1 minute and everything can change. Biggest mistake I ever made around water wasn’t to leave the pool gate open or walk away from the pool it was to turn my back. It happened to us and it can happen to you.
We took her to miss Holly and miss Holly said the first 2 weeks were very hard and SJ gave her a run for her money. I thought she’s never going to get this. Then next thing I know she’s graduating at week 5. It wasn’t until on my drive home the calm, the peace, the gratitude and the feeling of pure relief knowing our daughter can save herself if there ever were a next time.
If there were one piece of advice to give parents do not put ISR lessons off for one summer and do not tell yourself it is not important. Best choice you will ever make for your child when it comes to water and water safety and the respect for water!
Thank you miss Holly I could never thank you enough! Emily & Jacob, Gilbert AZ
Earlier this year we had literally had our pool for maybe 2 weeks. We had always said our daughter was a drowning victim waiting to happen so we knew we had to build a pool. We all were in the pool and she was playing on the Baja step when I had to get out for 1 minute to help my husband on the pool deck (who is paralyzed.) Next thing I know our son is yelling mom SJ mom SJ.... I jumped in as fast as I could and grabbed her. She was completely under like a pencil I will never forget it. I said her name no response so I started CPR. It seemed forever but I’m sure it wasn’t. She coughed up a bunch of water then I turned her over and did the heimlich probably out of panic. She seemed fine but scared for sure and scared of the pool. She wouldn’t even take a bath for months after. Every single one of her toes were bloody or blistered like she was trying to get back onto the Baja step and she just couldn’t figure it out. We were all there, right there, out there, it literally takes 1 minute and everything can change. Biggest mistake I ever made around water wasn’t to leave the pool gate open or walk away from the pool it was to turn my back. It happened to us and it can happen to you.
We took her to miss Holly and miss Holly said the first 2 weeks were very hard and SJ gave her a run for her money. I thought she’s never going to get this. Then next thing I know she’s graduating at week 5. It wasn’t until on my drive home the calm, the peace, the gratitude and the feeling of pure relief knowing our daughter can save herself if there ever were a next time.
If there were one piece of advice to give parents do not put ISR lessons off for one summer and do not tell yourself it is not important. Best choice you will ever make for your child when it comes to water and water safety and the respect for water!
Thank you miss Holly I could never thank you enough! Emily & Jacob, Gilbert AZ
Testimonial

ISR has been very important to our family and we strongly believe in the program. I first heard of ISR lessons from a coworker. She told me that babies learned to save themselves by floating, if accidentally fallen in water. I researched it and we decided to give it a try. We didn’t have a pool at the time, but both sets of grandparents did and we also did a lot of boating. Though the first lessons were filled with lots of crying from our little one, we were amazed when our first child learned to float at 9 months!
As an educator, I appreciate the systematic and progressive instruction. We have watched all three of our girls demonstrate survival skills and become confident, happy swimmers.
We have had the chance to see and receive lessons from a few capable instructors. However, Holly Nelson’s knowledge and skills are unmatched. She is positive with the children and communicates well with the parents.
I would hate to feel the regret if some tragedy were to happen to one of my children when I knew there was a way to help prevent it. I feel confident the ISR lessons my children have received from Holly have been a safeguard for our family.
Cindy & Steve DeBoer
As an educator, I appreciate the systematic and progressive instruction. We have watched all three of our girls demonstrate survival skills and become confident, happy swimmers.
We have had the chance to see and receive lessons from a few capable instructors. However, Holly Nelson’s knowledge and skills are unmatched. She is positive with the children and communicates well with the parents.
I would hate to feel the regret if some tragedy were to happen to one of my children when I knew there was a way to help prevent it. I feel confident the ISR lessons my children have received from Holly have been a safeguard for our family.
Cindy & Steve DeBoer
TESTIMONIAL

Choosing to enroll our 3 children in the Infant Swimming Resource program with Holly Nelson was one of the best decisions we’ve made as parents. Our children, who are now 8, 7, and 4, all completed the program as infants and as well as refresher courses each year until they became proficient swimmers. Our oldest started the program with Holly when he was just 7 months old!
Our initial motivation as parents to enroll our infant in the program began because of our desire to provide every safety net possible to protect our child from the danger of drowning in our backyard pool. We live in a state with one of the highest child drowning rates, and although we had a secure pool fence, we wanted to not only keep our children away from the pool but to provide them skills to know what to do should they ever fall in. There are countless stories each year about children who drown despite an adult being present and the various physical pool barriers in place. Although there is no substitution for vigilant watching of our children in and around water even after completing the ISR program, it is just not fair to our children to not give them the skills necessary to save themselves should they ever fall into the water. ISR gives children a significant chance at surviving a fall into the water by teaching them how to roll onto their backs where they are face up and can breathe and cry or yell for help. If a child isn’t taught to roll over and float on their backs they have no chance of survival.
It is an amazing gift as a parent to see your very young children be able to actually enjoy being in the pool with their family because they have the skills to swim, float, and breathe! They quickly become confident in their own ability in the water without the false sense of security offered by arm floatation devices or of having to constantly be in the arms of mom or dad. They can enjoy the water, and so can mom and dad, because they are no longer fearful of water but are confident in their ability to breathe while in the water.
I would highly recommend not only ISR as a program, but specifically Holly Nelson as an instructor! She is not only extremely knowledgeable in the principles of the program and teaches other instructors, but is patient and loving to her little swimmers. She promotes their self-esteem and teaches them to overcome their fears and develop the skills necessary to succeed. Holly communicates the goals and plans with the parents and is a pleasure to work with. She has become a true friend and blessing to our family.
Our children are now top swimmers in our local swim team and LOVE the water! ISR has truly changed the dynamics of our family! Thank you, Holly!!
Todd, Heather, Landon, Chaille, and Micah
Our initial motivation as parents to enroll our infant in the program began because of our desire to provide every safety net possible to protect our child from the danger of drowning in our backyard pool. We live in a state with one of the highest child drowning rates, and although we had a secure pool fence, we wanted to not only keep our children away from the pool but to provide them skills to know what to do should they ever fall in. There are countless stories each year about children who drown despite an adult being present and the various physical pool barriers in place. Although there is no substitution for vigilant watching of our children in and around water even after completing the ISR program, it is just not fair to our children to not give them the skills necessary to save themselves should they ever fall into the water. ISR gives children a significant chance at surviving a fall into the water by teaching them how to roll onto their backs where they are face up and can breathe and cry or yell for help. If a child isn’t taught to roll over and float on their backs they have no chance of survival.
It is an amazing gift as a parent to see your very young children be able to actually enjoy being in the pool with their family because they have the skills to swim, float, and breathe! They quickly become confident in their own ability in the water without the false sense of security offered by arm floatation devices or of having to constantly be in the arms of mom or dad. They can enjoy the water, and so can mom and dad, because they are no longer fearful of water but are confident in their ability to breathe while in the water.
I would highly recommend not only ISR as a program, but specifically Holly Nelson as an instructor! She is not only extremely knowledgeable in the principles of the program and teaches other instructors, but is patient and loving to her little swimmers. She promotes their self-esteem and teaches them to overcome their fears and develop the skills necessary to succeed. Holly communicates the goals and plans with the parents and is a pleasure to work with. She has become a true friend and blessing to our family.
Our children are now top swimmers in our local swim team and LOVE the water! ISR has truly changed the dynamics of our family! Thank you, Holly!!
Todd, Heather, Landon, Chaille, and Micah
TESTIMONIALS

We were was introduced to ISR when our oldest, Bailey, was in third grade and her younger sister, Ashley, was in preschool. It was life changing for our family in many ways, first being the safety of our children around water and second an enjoyable swimming experience in the heat of the Arizona summers as a family. Hailey, our third daughter took lessons as an infant and when we were blessed with our fourth son Austin, the statistics of him (being our fourth child) drowning were gut wrenching. Austin took his first ISR lessons from our phenomenal instructor, Holly Nelson, whom has taught all four of our children to swim safe and how to be efficient in water safety. She is an incredible instructor with an amazing, loving disposition with children. The patience and structure in her teaching made it possible for our children to quickly grasp the ISR concept. We highly recommend Mrs. Holly Nelson to everyone we meet, she truly changed history in our family by teaching all of us water safety and helping to equip our children at the tender age of six months to swim safely.
Austin, at age 1 1/2, was outside playing as my mother n law and I chatted outside by the pool. In seconds his ball had rolled into the pool and he had reached in after it. I couldn't believe how quickly he plummeted head first sinking with the weight of his head. I calmly watched from the side to see his reaction and in seconds he popped to the top of the water in a perfected ISR float position and began to scream for me. It was chilling to watch my worst nightmare play out in front of my eyes and watch my son display all of the steps he had been taught and pop to the top of the water to safety. We are so grateful to Holly and ISR and the dedication they seek to help prevent children drowning.
Austin is now three and a half and he not only enjoys swimming but swims safe. We will continue refresher courses in between the season's to remind our son how to swim safely. We truly love Holly Nelson and recommend her as an incredible instructor for her passion to teach children how to swim safely. We believe in ISR and it has changed our families lives forever!
Sincerely,
Jeremy and Tanya - Gilbert AZ
Austin, at age 1 1/2, was outside playing as my mother n law and I chatted outside by the pool. In seconds his ball had rolled into the pool and he had reached in after it. I couldn't believe how quickly he plummeted head first sinking with the weight of his head. I calmly watched from the side to see his reaction and in seconds he popped to the top of the water in a perfected ISR float position and began to scream for me. It was chilling to watch my worst nightmare play out in front of my eyes and watch my son display all of the steps he had been taught and pop to the top of the water to safety. We are so grateful to Holly and ISR and the dedication they seek to help prevent children drowning.
Austin is now three and a half and he not only enjoys swimming but swims safe. We will continue refresher courses in between the season's to remind our son how to swim safely. We truly love Holly Nelson and recommend her as an incredible instructor for her passion to teach children how to swim safely. We believe in ISR and it has changed our families lives forever!
Sincerely,
Jeremy and Tanya - Gilbert AZ
Testimonial

What ISR and YOU have done for my girls is amazing! THEY LOVE the water and have no fear. Which is why I am very thankful for the training you have provided them. Starting them as young as we did, just over 12 months, was instrumental in setting a foundation to life saving skills. We practice the floating every time we are in the water, however, we have only had to use them once in a panicked state! The girls followed their cousins into my mom's FREEZING cold pool in OCT of 2009! Simone was GREAT. She was cold but swimming. Tatum, well, she panicked! I was right there watching her. I just looked at her and watched. May sound cruel, however, she was in no danger. All of a sudden she went into her float and we pulled her over to the side. The event shook her up, however, has not stopped her. We were all very calm and at least we were THERE! I have all the confidence in this program and your instructions, that if my girls were in a life threatening situation, they would know what to do!
You are amazing with the kids and your knowledge of how the program works or effects daily bodily habits is amazing. We have not only learned to swim, float, and survive, but we have taken away how the body functions on certain foods and what is normal in the swimming environment.
I will never forget when we started with my Simone how she screamed the entire session.. and now.. she wants to be on the swim team! AMAZING! And well, Tatum... she just scares me all together! HA!
THANKS again!
Chris, Karen, Simone, and Tatum - GIlbert, AZ
Testimonial

ISR has been a real lifesaver for our family. We started our oldest daughter in lessons when she was 15 months old. About a week after we finished her lessons we took a family vacation to Hawaii and we almost lost my daughter in the ocean. We were out wading in the water, my husband was holding my daughter, when a huge wave come and knocked my husband off his feet and took him under water and knocked my daughter out of his hands. My husband quickly stood up and started looking for her and I heard him yell, “where is she” and my heart sank. Moments later my husband saw my daughter a few feet away from him floating on her back. My husband quickly picked her up and held her close. She was unaffected by the event and couldn’t understand why mom and dad were crying. My husband and I on the other hand still get the chills when we think of that moment. I truly believe that the skills that my daughter learned through ISR saved her life.
ISR has given my family the ability to enjoy the water. My kids have learned the skills that could help them to save their own lives. I’ve had people ask if I feel my kids are “drown proof” after ISR and my answer is no. They are in no way “drown proof” but I feel that I they have a fighting chance against drowning if they were to fall into water. We make our kids sit in car seats and wear seatbelts when in the car to keep them safe in case of an accident. We make them wear helmets to keep them safe when riding a bike. ISR gives our kids the skills they need to keep them safe around water.
Holly Nelson is a wonderful instructor. She has the knowledge and skills to teach the kids. She is wonderful with kids. I have brought two of my kids to Holly and look forward to her teaching my third this summer. I would highly recommend Holly as an ISR instructor to any who are interested in ISR lessons.
Matt, Christi, Grace and Abby, Chandler, AZ
ISR has given my family the ability to enjoy the water. My kids have learned the skills that could help them to save their own lives. I’ve had people ask if I feel my kids are “drown proof” after ISR and my answer is no. They are in no way “drown proof” but I feel that I they have a fighting chance against drowning if they were to fall into water. We make our kids sit in car seats and wear seatbelts when in the car to keep them safe in case of an accident. We make them wear helmets to keep them safe when riding a bike. ISR gives our kids the skills they need to keep them safe around water.
Holly Nelson is a wonderful instructor. She has the knowledge and skills to teach the kids. She is wonderful with kids. I have brought two of my kids to Holly and look forward to her teaching my third this summer. I would highly recommend Holly as an ISR instructor to any who are interested in ISR lessons.
Matt, Christi, Grace and Abby, Chandler, AZ
Testimonial

When we researched the Infant Swimming Resource seven years ago when our first daughter was born, my wife Stephanie and I were very curious and excited about the program. One thing that concerned us was being a part of a program that nationally was so successful, but on a local level the specific instructor is what is really going to make the difference. Our two daughters are now seven and three years old and their time with ISR, and specifically Holly Nelson, is arguably one of the most successful and efficient activities we have done. Both started very early, both enjoyed the process and the success and investment in the program are equal. That is hard to accomplish in children's activities.
Our original thoughts were to save our children from drowning and the program provides the education. But the attitude and energy that Holly provides has helped our children with the learning process in general. They have learned that when you practice, you improve. Working hard has led to a positive impact. We know (and were reminded by Holly and the ISR materials) there is no substitute for watching of our children around water, but ISR provides the background and the proper teaching on how our daughter's can save their own llife.
Children are confident yet are well taught on how this program is part of the overall system in making sure child drownings can be stopped. I highly recommend ISR and specifically Holly Nelson as an instructor. She knows the program and communicates it at the highest level. She takes each lesson personally, as though it is her own kids in the pool. She communicates the ideas, goals and plans with the parents and makes sure it each child is treated the way they want to be treated and will learn in the best way. No child is the same, and Holly is willing to do whatever it takes to make each lesson effective. I never in seven years and countless lessons felt Holly was not at her best on any day. She is an "everyday" teacher and with what is at stake, we can't say enough how much that is appreciated.
Doug, Stephanie, Arianna and Miquela
Our original thoughts were to save our children from drowning and the program provides the education. But the attitude and energy that Holly provides has helped our children with the learning process in general. They have learned that when you practice, you improve. Working hard has led to a positive impact. We know (and were reminded by Holly and the ISR materials) there is no substitute for watching of our children around water, but ISR provides the background and the proper teaching on how our daughter's can save their own llife.
Children are confident yet are well taught on how this program is part of the overall system in making sure child drownings can be stopped. I highly recommend ISR and specifically Holly Nelson as an instructor. She knows the program and communicates it at the highest level. She takes each lesson personally, as though it is her own kids in the pool. She communicates the ideas, goals and plans with the parents and makes sure it each child is treated the way they want to be treated and will learn in the best way. No child is the same, and Holly is willing to do whatever it takes to make each lesson effective. I never in seven years and countless lessons felt Holly was not at her best on any day. She is an "everyday" teacher and with what is at stake, we can't say enough how much that is appreciated.
Doug, Stephanie, Arianna and Miquela