What the heck are our kids going to do this summer with no camps and no pools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a big fenced back yard. We have an inflatable pool, small, but big enough for my two STB 9 YOs. We also have a long water slide. I can set those up so that if they want to be outside with water, they can play with the pool, the slide and have water gun battles (we have some of those water tubes that shoot water). We have bikes and scooters. Since we can't take skating lessons now, I'm thinking about getting them roller blades to keep up. We have tennis rackets and our neighborhood has private courts that have not been closed down. There aren't that many people who use them, so hopefully we can find a time when there aren't others using the courts.

They can do things in the yard and driveway while we're working. Biking away from the house and tennis will have to be evenings and weekends when we're not working. And they have the Nintendo Switch and shows they like on Amazon Prime and books and some home crafts they like. We'll be fine. It will be hard, and I may be doing a bit more with them during the day, but fortunately, my employer allows me to flex my time so that as long as I get 80 hours in over 2 weeks, I'm okay. I may be working more evenings and weekends, but I'll find a way to make it work.

What kind of water slide do you have? I just bought an inflatable pool because I'm afraid there will be a run on them if more pools start announcing they won't be opening. We have a little plastic slide but I'm wondering if I should get a larger inflatable one.

Our HOA won't allow inflatable pools except the little kiddie pools.

I would love for my HOA to try to come tell me I can't have an inflatable pool in my yard if the HOA-controlled pool does not open this summer. I will raise hell.

[Anonymous]

I got a medium sized one. It’s 8.5’ x 6’ and about 3’ deep. The kids won’t actually be able to swim but it’s a lot bigger than a toddler pool. We have a lovely HOA with 5 different pools, but I don’t see them opening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're thinking of buying an above ground pool for the backyard.

Are you going to hire a full time life guard? We have an inground pool and when my husband or I are not at home, it is covered and locked. When we have a party, we hire two Red Cross lifeguards.

Haha, no. I won't be having parties and I'm capable of watching the kids even they're swimming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are in late elementary school and middle school. Sleep-away camps are starting to be cancelled this week. Girls scouts just cancelled the entire camp summer. My daughter's Vermont sleep-away camp just canceled the summer. Pools are also announcing that they won't open.
My kid are old enough to stay at home when I work but what the heck are they going to do home alone for 14 weeks? What about families with young kids? I suppose it will be a terrific time to be a college babysitter.

The same thing many thousands of kids do every summer who don't go to camp or have a swimming pool.

One would assume those kids in normal times could at least play with other kids, go to the movies or a store, go out for ice cream, at a minimum. I have similar aged kids and it’s going to be really challenging if camps are cancelled. Yes, they’ll read and do some chores and that will be like 2 hours if the day at most. I will take advantage of some of the virtual classes/camps, I’m hoping maybe tennis courts will reopen and there could be lessons, but it’s basically not going to be a good situation.

[Anonymous]

Mine is going to a virtual camp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a big fenced back yard. We have an inflatable pool, small, but big enough for my two STB 9 YOs. We also have a long water slide. I can set those up so that if they want to be outside with water, they can play with the pool, the slide and have water gun battles (we have some of those water tubes that shoot water). We have bikes and scooters. Since we can't take skating lessons now, I'm thinking about getting them roller blades to keep up. We have tennis rackets and our neighborhood has private courts that have not been closed down. There aren't that many people who use them, so hopefully we can find a time when there aren't others using the courts.

They can do things in the yard and driveway while we're working. Biking away from the house and tennis will have to be evenings and weekends when we're not working. And they have the Nintendo Switch and shows they like on Amazon Prime and books and some home crafts they like. We'll be fine. It will be hard, and I may be doing a bit more with them during the day, but fortunately, my employer allows me to flex my time so that as long as I get 80 hours in over 2 weeks, I'm okay. I may be working more evenings and weekends, but I'll find a way to make it work.

What kind of water slide do you have? I just bought an inflatable pool because I'm afraid there will be a run on them if more pools start announcing they won't be opening. We have a little plastic slide but I'm wondering if I should get a larger inflatable one.

Our HOA won't allow inflatable pools except the little kiddie pools.

I would love for my HOA to try to come tell me I can't have an inflatable pool in my yard if the HOA-controlled pool does not open this summer. I will raise hell.

Send them an email and ask if they will be loosening the rules this summer. If enough people ask, maybe they will allow it.

[Anonymous]

Read.tons.of.books.

I would read 2-3 books a week as a kid in summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Read.tons.of.books.

I would read 2-3 books a week as a kid in summer.

So did I. I also went to the beach, played in the forest with friends, went to overnight summer camp for 2 weeks, rode bikes around the neighborhood, played kick the can, played baseball and a whole lot more.

The difference between now and when I was a kid is that I could go out and play with other kids. There were activities that I could do with other kids. A summer without that interaction strikes me as very, very sad. My DS is 7 and doing a good job with this mess but he misses his friends. He knows why he cannot see them but he still says he misses playdates and Den meetings and baseball. I can deal with a summer without the pool, I didn't have a pool to go to as a kid. But a summer without being able to hang out with friends is going to be very sad.

And just because I was a reader doesn't mean other kids are readers. There are some kids who don't enjoy reading as much. The idea of reading 2-3 or more books is boring as all hell and gone.

I am hoping that we can hang out with other families this summer. I am less worried about camp and the pool but I do hope that there is time for playing with friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine is going to a virtual camp.

Mine, as well. One of her camps (2 weeks in August) hasn't cancelled yet, so hopeful that it will go on as normal.

Otherwise, she'll do what she's doing now. Read, FaceTime/Skype friends, go for walks and bike rides, swim (we have a pool). It won't be the same as hanging with friends, but she'll be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're thinking of buying an above ground pool for the backyard.

Are you going to hire a full time life guard? We have an inground pool and when my husband or I are not at home, it is covered and locked. When we have a party, we hire two Red Cross lifeguards.

Haha, no. I won't be having parties and I'm capable of watching the kids even they're swimming.

Hiring lifeguards is smart. Drownings DO happen during parties because parents figure there are lots of parents around and someone is watching... but no one notices the little kid who falls in.

This is more of a concern if you have a home in-ground pool. Most people who have never had one in their backyard don't think about these things. The owners could get sued by angry parents whose kid drowned at a party...

[Anonymous]

We don’t do camps, but the lack of pool will be felt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're thinking of buying an above ground pool for the backyard.

Are you going to hire a full time life guard? We have an inground pool and when my husband or I are not at home, it is covered and locked. When we have a party, we hire two Red Cross lifeguards.

Haha, no. I won't be having parties and I'm capable of watching the kids even they're swimming.

Hiring lifeguards is smart. Drownings DO happen during parties because parents figure there are lots of parents around and someone is watching... but no one notices the little kid who falls in.

This is more of a concern if you have a home in-ground pool. Most people who have never had one in their backyard don't think about these things. The owners could get sued by angry parents whose kid drowned at a party...

There will be no lifeguards to hire, even for HOA/club pools. No certification classes are being offered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're thinking of buying an above ground pool for the backyard.

Are you going to hire a full time life guard? We have an inground pool and when my husband or I are not at home, it is covered and locked. When we have a party, we hire two Red Cross lifeguards.

Haha, no. I won't be having parties and I'm capable of watching the kids even they're swimming.

Hiring lifeguards is smart. Drownings DO happen during parties because parents figure there are lots of parents around and someone is watching... but no one notices the little kid who falls in.

This is more of a concern if you have a home in-ground pool. Most people who have never had one in their backyard don't think about these things. The owners could get sued by angry parents whose kid drowned at a party...

I'm not worried, thanks. Hiring lifeguards for your own backyard pool is ridiculous in the first place. And other people are obsessed with the HOA aspect. No HOA, and I can supervise my own kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're thinking of buying an above ground pool for the backyard.

Are you going to hire a full time life guard? We have an inground pool and when my husband or I are not at home, it is covered and locked. When we have a party, we hire two Red Cross lifeguards.

Haha, no. I won't be having parties and I'm capable of watching the kids even they're swimming.

Hiring lifeguards is smart. Drownings DO happen during parties because parents figure there are lots of parents around and someone is watching... but no one notices the little kid who falls in.

This is more of a concern if you have a home in-ground pool. Most people who have never had one in their backyard don't think about these things. The owners could get sued by angry parents whose kid drowned at a party...

I'm not worried, thanks. Hiring lifeguards for your own backyard pool is ridiculous in the first place. And other people are obsessed with the HOA aspect. No HOA, and I can supervise my own kids.

It's a great time to not have an HOA. Put up that pool! Buy a trampoline, too, while you're at it! Keep the kids busy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're thinking of buying an above ground pool for the backyard.

Are you going to hire a full time life guard? We have an inground pool and when my husband or I are not at home, it is covered and locked. When we have a party, we hire two Red Cross lifeguards.

Haha, no. I won't be having parties and I'm capable of watching the kids even they're swimming.

Hiring lifeguards is smart. Drownings DO happen during parties because parents figure there are lots of parents around and someone is watching... but no one notices the little kid who falls in.

This is more of a concern if you have a home in-ground pool. Most people who have never had one in their backyard don't think about these things. The owners could get sued by angry parents whose kid drowned at a party...

There will be no lifeguards to hire, even for HOA/club pools. No certification classes are being offered.

My daughter is a lifeguard and her certification expires in May. They were just granted a 120 day extension. Current lifeguards should be ok. Having new ones certified will be an issue.