Family first. Safety always.

Certified ISR Instructor committed to your child’s safety and success.

Dedicated to teaching life-saving skills — one child at a time.

For more than 46 years of living on the water as well as playing in and on the water, Tom more than realizes the importance of water safety and swimming survival skills !

Tom Grothouse is a resident of Winter Haven, Florida, and Crown Point, Indiana, who along with his wife Carol and their three children, Ryan, Kristen, and Karen, originate from Crown Point, Indiana. Prior to spending time in the education field at Polk State College and Northridge Christian Academy as an Athletic Director, Coach and Project Manager, he spent 30 plus years in the Airline and Logistics Industry, spending most of his time with American Airlines, Flying Tiger Airlines, and other privately owned companies.

In the Educational Field, working with children and student athletes at various levels has always been more than a career for Tom; it has been a ministry of service in an effort to impact young people and families. These factors along with other personal experiences led Tom to become an ISR Certified Instructor.

Tom has had a considerable athletic experience culminating in spending four years within the California Angels Organization. Leading up to that time with the Angels, started his youth and High School athletic career in Munster, Indiana; earning Varsity Letters and participating in Track, Cross Country, Basketball and Baseball. He went on to play College Basketball and Baseball at St. Joseph's of Calumet College and Santa Monica College, where he joined the California Angels. After getting married to Carol, who in her own right is a tremendous athlete, Tom coached Youth Basketball, and every level of Baseball and Softball including All Star Teams for over 8 years in the Tampa Bay, Coral Springs, and Winter Haven, Florida areas. He concluded his official sports career by pitching a one hitter as a 42 year old for the Clearwater Dodgers of the Senior Baseball Association.

Tom and Carol love spending time and investing their lives in their children and grandchildren, while also having a passion to serve others in the Christian Ministry; Carol investing her life in teaching children at Christian Schools and Tom investing his life in Pastoral, and Men's Ministries.

FAQs

How can you teach babies and young children to swim?

ISR instructors teach infants to swim by honoring each child's individual strengths and experiences. They understand the fundamentals of the behavioral sciences, child development and of sensori-motor learning as it relates to the acquisition of aquatic survival skills; they use this education to guide each child through the sequence of learning to swim and float.

Can you really teach a child who is not verbal how to swim?

Yes. Consider that children learn to sit, crawl and walk before they learn to speak. Because we teach through sensori-motor learning, verbal skills are not required for a child to acquire Self-Rescue skills. We are able to communicate with our students through touch and positive reinforcement while striving to set our students up for success every step of the way.

Why don’t parents participate in the water during the lessons?

We do not want the baby to initially associate the water with the love, attention, and affection of the parent while in the water. Also, it takes incredible concentration and objectivity to teach the baby how to respond to an aquatic emergency and our experience shows that parents often find it too difficult to be objective to be effective teachers with their own children in the water. We gladly invite parents to join us in the pool once their child has independent skills to practice at home.

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.

Inspiring children through faith, family, and life lessons—one story at a time.

In addition to his work as an ISR Certified Instructor, Tom Grothouse is also a published children’s book author. His book, “What Grandpa Wants to Teach Me,” reflects his heart for family, faith, and guiding the next generation. Through his writing, Tom shares meaningful lessons and values that encourage children to grow in wisdom, kindness, and confidence—both in and out of the water.

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