My six-year-old was invited to a pool party to celebrate a friend’s birthday. Are all kids who attend these kinds of parties strong swimmers? DD is in swim classes, but not good yet.
If it makes a difference, it’s not a drop-off party. |
Probably not. Many kids are not strong swimmers at 6. |
not at 6... We were going to do a pool party, but that the reason we went to a trampoline park instant. |
We have had two pool parties this year in first grade and they were drop off optional. Both venues have life guards and shallow water. DD is a strong swimmer (I.e. she’s past the phase of learning to swim for safety and does lessons only to build endurance and practice her strokes) . We felt comfortable doing drop off because we knew the pool depth wasn’t more than 3-6 and there were lifeguards. Most of the other parents did drop off as well. If you feel uncomfortable I wouldn’t drop off. |
Who knows, but you are responsible for making sure your own kid is supervised and safe in water at all times-dont assume host is doing this. |
Most kids are not and I've been shocked at how lackadaisical parents are about that at pool parties. It usually ended up being me and sometimes one other nervous mom trying to watch all the kids. It's funny since I'm pretty lax in other areas where parents hover or tell their kids to stop, like letting the kids climb trees, skateboard, and do parkour, but I'm not lax around a group of hyped up kids in water. |
Even if you are there, these are dangerous, especially if no lifeguard. I’ve been present where a young child had a near-drowning with a parent right next to them. Parent was slightly turned and socializing with another parent.
Young kids in the pool plus parents all being social can be recipe for tragedy |
At six, a lot of classmates attended but I rsvpd no for my son. I think kindergarten is too young for an all class swim party. |
How do you feel about camps that include swim? I know many skip swim birthdays where parents attends but those same parents send their kids to weeks of camp that include pool time. |
No. You stay and watch your own kid. At 6 my decent at 8 swimmer could barely hold above water. |
Camp is different. Most of those dont let the little kids go beyond 3 ft. And they have lifeguards and camp staff in charge of watching the kids and not taking their eyes off them. We sent our Ker to Barry Camp and before she was a good swimmer she complained they didnt let her into the fun part of the pool. |
Doubtful, just keep an eye on her when she's in the water. |
It’s about half and half usually. I always stayed at that age, even if your kid is a good swimmer they can get excited with a big group of friends and try to dunk each other. I’m pretty comfortable with my kids in the water on their own but not with a big group like that. |
We had a pool party when our DC was 10. Hired a professional lifeguard. Kids all seemed to be good swimmers but you can’t be too careful. Kids were all dropped off. |
We are thinking of doing this, including the lifeguard, but also will invite parents to stay if they want. OP, I would not drop off my kid for a pool party at that age: I would stay and supervise. |