Pool party question

[Anonymous]

I always stay because mine is not a strong swimmer either. One party was drop-off but the, the promised lifeguard didn't show up, and that was a large, deep pool. I think the parents rented the place but forgot it was after hours so the lifeguard wasn't working.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I'd RSVP no - a group of 5 and 6 year olds are NOT good swimmers, and if parents are socializing then there aren't enough eyes on the kids. I am like another poster above - risky play on the playground, climbing trees, carrying things, using loose parts like boxes, sticks and boards are all fine but drowning in a pool is just too easy and scares me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1 My 5yo (so a little younger and maybe the year does make a difference) has good judgement and has never done anything crazy in the pool but isn’t a strong swimmer. I wouldn’t want her in the pool unless I personally or one of our close friends was supervising in a 1:1 way. I’d be fine with dropping her off for a non pool party.

[Anonymous]

I had a good swimmer at 6 but I would not have assumed other kids were. And I wouldn’t have dropped off either, I would now she’s 11 but not at 6.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I'd RSVP no - a group of 5 and 6 year olds are NOT good swimmers, and if parents are socializing then there aren't enough eyes on the kids. I am like another poster above - risky play on the playground, climbing trees, carrying things, using loose parts like boxes, sticks and boards are all fine but drowning in a pool is just too easy and scares me.

OP here. This is probably where I’ll end up, for the same reasons. Even with it not being a drop-off party, we’ll probably just play it extra safe.

Thank you for the responses. The different perspectives helped me think this through.

[Anonymous]

It's irresponsible for the Birthday-Kid's parents to have planned this.

[Anonymous]

My then 6 yr old went to a pool party at the beginning of the year. She could still fit in her puddle jumpers / was within the weight limit and wasn’t the only child in puddle jumpers. There were also a few in life vests. The hosts hired a lifeguards as well. It was drop off with 6 adults actively watching (4 parents, two life guards). I asked my DD to stay where she could touch (despite the puddle jumpers) but I was comfortable dropping off in those circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My then 6 yr old went to a pool party at the beginning of the year. She could still fit in her puddle jumpers / was within the weight limit and wasn’t the only child in puddle jumpers. There were also a few in life vests. The hosts hired a lifeguards as well. It was drop off with 6 adults actively watching (4 parents, two life guards). I asked my DD to stay where she could touch (despite the puddle jumpers) but I was comfortable dropping off in those circumstances.

Why would people do this? This seems like way too much work. Just no to little kid pool party

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My then 6 yr old went to a pool party at the beginning of the year. She could still fit in her puddle jumpers / was within the weight limit and wasn’t the only child in puddle jumpers. There were also a few in life vests. The hosts hired a lifeguards as well. It was drop off with 6 adults actively watching (4 parents, two life guards). I asked my DD to stay where she could touch (despite the puddle jumpers) but I was comfortable dropping off in those circumstances.

A puddle jumper is class 3 not designed to save a child’s life. That was hugely irresponsible.

[Anonymous]

Wear a swimsuit and a change of clothes in case you need to jump in. I'm serious. We went to a swim party in preschool and one child had to be rescued by a parent already in the pool, and another parent had to jump in to rescue their child because the lifeguards were at the other end of the pool chatting and not paying attention.

[Anonymous]

I don't drop off for swim parties and I watch my kid like a hawk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wear a swimsuit and a change of clothes in case you need to jump in. I'm serious. We went to a swim party in preschool and one child had to be rescued by a parent already in the pool, and another parent had to jump in to rescue their child because the lifeguards were at the other end of the pool chatting and not paying attention.

DC just got invited to a pool party for preschool. It makes zero sense to me.