As moms, we have all experienced the joy and trepidation of taking littles to the pool, or any other body of water for that matter. That’s why I was so excited to find Cassie Curtin! Cassie is a mom of two, a 3 year old boy and a 12 month baby girl, and now a certified Infant Swim Resource Instructor. South Austin Moms spoke with Cassie to learn what makes Infant Swim Resource unique and how it can help moms and their little ones in South Austin swim safely and confidently.
Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in South Austin?
My entire family is from Austin but I grew up in Abilene, Texas. I have lived in South Austin for 14 years.
Oh wow, so you’re an expert on Austin living! What is your favorite thing about living here?
South Austin has a little bit of everything. It’s close to downtown but also just a short drive to the Texas Hill Country. It’s diversity means great food and community and a wonderful place to raise kids.
We wholeheartedly agree with all of that! What do you love to do with your family around town?
We love to visit farmers markets, explore the hike and bike trails, and visit the places that makes Austin so unique!
Tell us about how and why you got involved with Infant Swim Resource…
Why did I decide to begin a new career as an ISR instructor? Because I witnessed first hand just how incredible the life saving skills that ISR offers are!
My son was two and loved the water. He had no fear and was intrigued by every pool and body of water we came across. As a mother I knew that before he could have fun in the water, he needed to be SAFE in the water. I had already watched both of my nieces go through ISR training and it was amazing to see a small child go from sinking in the water to swimming and floating in such a short amount of time so I enrolled my son. Getting to watch first hand my son’s confidence and competence in the water grow was all the assurance I needed to know I had made the right choice and I was hooked from then on. I am so excited to start this new career and spend my life saving babies!
Tell us about the structure of your classes and the why behind it…
Lessons are 10 minutes a day, everyday for 5-7 weeks. We know, we know….it sounds a little crazy but this is very much by design. Here’s a bit of info as to why we do short, frequent lessons in ISR…
It’s the way young children learn:
As babies, we don’t practice walking once a week. Standing, balancing, cruising are done in tiny increments each day as part of our experience of learning to walk. And similar to walking, swimming is a sensorimotor skill best learned by experience over time.
Kids thrive on routine:
The consistency of the daily lesson schedule creates an optimal learning environment. When kids know where they are going, who they will be with, and what is expected of them they begin to feel confident and secure, building trust with their instructor as they are taught these priceless skills.
It’s WORK!
People often think of swimming as a “for fun” activity, but they forget…it’s a workout! Little bodies get tired quickly, and fatigued muscles + water (the most unforgiving environment on the planet) = dangerous. Safety is our top priority, so instructors closely monitor your child’s fatigue to ensure they are practicing efficiently for an optimal learning experience.
That makes sense! It sounds like a time commitment that is 100% worth it if it is going to mean saving my child’s life! Just for fun, what is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
The funniest surprise about me is that I met my husband on tv he was on America’s got talent in 2010 and came in 3rd place. The second I saw him on tv I knew that was the man I was going to marry. We’ve been together now over 10 years! I am also plant obsessed and have my degree in interior design.
To learn more or register you can email Cassie at [email protected], or visit the Infant Swim Resource website.
This is a sponsored interview.
