More About: Sylvie Dumaine

Beginning in 1998, I performed nightly in Cirque du Soleil's premiere water show for 18 years. I have been a synchronized swimmer since the age of 7, and have competed and coached internationally. I graduated from the University of Montreal with a B.S. in Physical Education for children, where I taught water activities to children with special needs.

I am now the mother of 2 beautiful girls. My love for water has transitioned from the stage to teaching the ISR technique to infants and children.

I have been a Certified ISR Instructor for 11 years, teaching over 800 children. I am excited to expose youngsters to the ISR Self-Rescue technique, and I am committed to ISR's mission of "Not One More Child Drowns."

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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.
I hear you say your priority is survival skills. Will my child learn to actually swim?
Yes. At ISR, we believe that part of survival for a child who can walk is swimming. Children learn the swim-float-swim sequence so that they could get themselves to safety. The difference in our program is that they will learn swimming AND survival skills and how to be an aquatic problem solver.
If more frequent but shorter lessons are better, then why don’t you teach 7 days/week?
Everyone needs a little break from learning to process the information and in this case to give muscles a chance to recover. In addition, you need to be able to spend time with your family, as does your instructor. Weekends are family time. Periodically, if weather or other issues have cause lessons to be canceled for numerous days, your instructor may choose to offer make-up lessons on a weekend. This is strictly up to the instructor and based on the availability of parents.
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.

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