Unsupervised pre-k kids in floaties at pool
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Anonymous
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We are new at our suburban pool club. I am amazed at how many kids there are at the shallow end of the pool
in floaties with parents chatting on lounges or kids without floaties who can’t swim. This is not a kiddie pool. There are lifeguards. I obv say nothing but was curious if this is normal. I am in the pool supervising my kids who are learning how to swim. |
Anonymous
| Dang |
Anonymous
| If there is a lifeguard and I can maintain a view of my child, then yes I will let them swim. And yes, you may see me chatting with other moms - doesn’t mean I’m not paying attention. What you won’t see me doing is reading, looking at my phone. |
Anonymous
| this is why why my pool does not allow floaties |
Anonymous
| Wouldn’t (and shouldn’t) happen at our pool. Lifeguards make it very clear to any parents who try to do this that kids in floaties need an adult in the pool with them. |
Anonymous
| I'm comfortable watching my kid wearing a puddle jumper from outside the pool. If he was not wearing a puddle jumper I would be in there with him. |
Anonymous
| Are the kids tall enough to stand at end of the pool they're in? Are they old enough to stay close to that end? I wouldn't do it with my kid (she's 2 and not tall enough for even out shallow end) but provided the parents are near by and paying attention and the kids can safely stand where they're playing I really don't see your issue. |
Anonymous
| I am the OP, I have no “issue” and as I said, would not say anything. I learned to swim in another country in the ocean growing up and I am amazed I survived ha. No, kids cannot stand up - the pool’s shallow end is too deep. Maybe a tall five year old can. Not a 3yo in a floatie. I know the kids’ ages bc they talk to me since I am right there. |
Anonymous
| Yes happens a ton at our pool. |
Anonymous
| This happens all the time at our pool but only in the shallow end - 2-3 feet. I don’t think they’re supposed to be unsupervised in floaters or life vests etc. in the swim lanes and the deeper ends. |
Anonymous
| I do this sometimes only in the tub pool where my child can stand. He doesn't wear floaties and is working on learning how to swim (daily lessons all of July). This pool has no access to anything that can go over his head, I'm watching very closely, and there is a lifeguard. I would never let him be in a deeper pool without me in there even with floaties on. |
Anonymous
Ours did not allow floats either. They're not life-saving devices and give false sense of security to the kid and the adults. |
Anonymous
| This was normal in my childhood. Admirable? Probably not. But normal. Once we were 7 years old or so my mom would leave us there alone. |
Anonymous
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My pool has a rule that parents have to be arms length away if the kid is in floaties. I’ve only seen the lifeguards tell parents that twice. But I don’t think I see what you see at our pool.
I went to my parents pool in another state and there were toddlers in the baby pool by themselves. Lifeguards not watching. Parents back turned drinking beer. It freaked me out. I watched the kids. |
Anonymous
I was the poster who asked about height -- yeah, I would not be at all comfortable with a kid (or adult actually) who couldn't swim and couldn't touch the bottom in the pool without someone helping them. But I also don't hold with floaties for my kids (no judgment for people who use them, I just didn't grow up with them so I'm inherently suspicious lol) so maybe that makes a difference. I let my 2yo do a lot of things at the playground that sometimes has other parents grabbing for her because I know she can do them safely but I wouldn't at the pool because drowning is such a high risk. But then again, I'm not a particularly strong swimmer so maybe I'm overly cautious. |