Spin-off - pool party question - 9 year olds

[Anonymous]

It made sense to me that a bunch of 5/6 year olds were kind of young for a pool party. What about 9 year olds? My daughter is asking for a pool party. She has had swimming lessons on and off for years and is a decent swimmer (can pass a swimming test). My thinking is that 9 year olds are usually ok swimmers and also that they are tall enough to stand in 4 feet. Of course, there would be lifeguards.

[Anonymous]

You’re asking DCUM. Of course the answer will be it’s irresponsible

In real life it’s fine and the majority of kids are decent swimmers by then. We had one for my kid when he was 7 or 8 and everyone came. Some even dropped off Shocking!

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand why this wouldn’t be okay at a pool staffed with lifeguards. If at a private home, I’d probably require a parent to stay. Maybe? Or idk at least talk to everyone I don’t know well. Maybe hire a lifeguard.

[Anonymous]

What’s not ok with it? We had a pool party (with a lifeguard) at age 7. Not understanding the issue.

[Anonymous]

What’s the question???

[Anonymous]

My son is turning ten this year and has had one for the last few years. My daughter did as well at that age. They tend to stay in the shallower area where they can stand because the kind of playing they do is easier when you can stand. We invite parents to stay if they want to as well in case anyone is nervous. There’s usually 1 or 2 kids who aren’t good swimmers, but they’re also kids who know their limits.

[Anonymous]

My kids had birthday parties at our pool starting younger than that. Lots of kids spend their summers by the neighborhood pool, it's one of the things I really like about NOVA culture. In this area, I would expect most 9 year olds to be good swimmers.

[Anonymous]

I live somewhere (not DC/VA) where covid shutdowns lasted a long time and swimming was really limited. My DD just turned 9 and is a strong swimmer, but many of her peers hadn't started swim lessons before the pandemic (when they were 4 turning 5). Many never really caught up because they were too old for the group lessons for younger kids and had trouble accessing the limited lessons for older kids. Her friends are now divided between strong swimmers and kids who are basically non-swimmers. They're the smallest age group in summer swim, too.

I think you really need to know your kid's friend group to be able to answer this question, especially because 9 year olds are getting to be the age where they might fib about their abilities to fit in.

[Anonymous]

As long as there is appropriate lifeguard to kid ratio and you aren’t relying on parent supervision

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live somewhere (not DC/VA) where covid shutdowns lasted a long time and swimming was really limited. My DD just turned 9 and is a strong swimmer, but many of her peers hadn't started swim lessons before the pandemic (when they were 4 turning 5). Many never really caught up because they were too old for the group lessons for younger kids and had trouble accessing the limited lessons for older kids. Her friends are now divided between strong swimmers and kids who are basically non-swimmers. They're the smallest age group in summer swim, too.

I think you really need to know your kid's friend group to be able to answer this question, especially because 9 year olds are getting to be the age where they might fib about their abilities to fit in.

This is an interesting COVID-related observation.

[Anonymous]

My kid has a June birthday and has had outdoor pool parties at our neighborhood pool for her 9th birthday then every year onwards. This year will be 12th birthday.
I always put on the invite “ this is a drop off party unless your child cannot swim or is not confident in the water”
Yes there are lifeguards.

[Anonymous]

It's fine, especially with a life guard and doubly so if you allow parents to stay. Parents can keep an eye on their swimmer if they're concerned.

[Anonymous]

It is fine. My son has been to many. One time, a mom hired a life guard to come to her house.

[Anonymous]

From my experience with a 9 year old and many pool parties, parents with non-swimmers or very poor swimmers will stay, and they stick by the pool.

[Anonymous]

My son has an early bday (Sept), and we had a pool party bday party when he turned 8 (many friends had turned 7 in the spring and over the summer). It was fine - we had a lifeguard, and, no one drowned.