Kids changing out of swimsuits at camp

[Anonymous]

I live in a state that is allowing camps. My kids are 4 and 5. I just learned that at the end of their weeklong camp, right before pickup, they are changing out of their swimsuits right on the pool deck, in full view of anyone who happens to be at the pool, including coaches and other kids. It is a small group of similarly aged kids, both sexes, plus a few coaches.

I am on the board of a school and am very aware of the best practices and policies needed to protect children and also to protect the camp program, plus I've done hours and hours of training on child abuse prevention and recognition. I've spoken with their main teacher and the swim coach, and just left a message for the head of the entire camp program. The main teacher seemed completely surprised by my concern, while the swim coach agreed with me but is not actually in charge of anything.

I'm extremely surprised by how lax the camp is about this kind of stuff. E.g., I asked about pickup by our nanny and they said no need for an approved pickup list, as long as the kids know the person picking up, it's totally fine. The camp is aged 3-6, and there are many other camps going on at the same time with older kids. I am surprised in this day and age a camp can go on for years without many rules or policies to keep kids safe. I know they have a no 1-on-1 policy, which is good. I know three-year-olds might need help with their swimsuit. My preference would be that parents change the little ones when the parents arrive to pick them up, and bigger kids go into bathroom stalls and change themselves. (There are literally a boys' and girls' bathrooms on the pool deck, but I was told they are "dirty" and that's why they don't use them to change.)

I know I am not overreacting in my concern about this. I spoke to another mom who was dropping her daughter off, and she said it was "weird," but was not too bothered. I just want to gauge others' reactions to this.

[Anonymous]

Another question would be, which I don't have any training in - is it normal for unrelated kids to change in front of each other at those ages? They are changing out of swimsuits so are fully naked briefly.

[Anonymous]

No, little girls and boys should not be naked in full view like that.

[Anonymous]

The pool deck thing is a little odd, but my kids have been changing into and out of swim suits at camp in an open locker room situation since kindergarten. Totally normal in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

This does seem a bit strange. Maybe they could invest in some portable screens and just separate out boys and girls.

[Anonymous]

This always reminds me of when I taught in England. It was year 5, so 9/10 year olds. They had swimming class 1x a week.

They all changed in the classroom! Boys on one side, girls in the other. They just stripped down and got changed. No one batted an eye.

[Anonymous]

It wouldn't bother me, especially since most likely the alternatives are that they go inside and share covid germs, not swim or keep wet bathing suits on.

[Anonymous]

I think getting a portable screen would be fine, especially now as you don't want people spending more time indoors in a heavily trafficked place like a restroom than they absolutely have to. These kids are so far before puberty that I'm not horrified in any way. Everyone has parts. I'm more concerned about the pickup list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another question would be, which I don't have any training in - is it normal for unrelated kids to change in front of each other at those ages? They are changing out of swimsuits so are fully naked briefly.

Totally normal before puberty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in a state that is allowing camps. My kids are 4 and 5. I just learned that at the end of their weeklong camp, right before pickup, they are changing out of their swimsuits right on the pool deck, in full view of anyone who happens to be at the pool, including coaches and other kids. It is a small group of similarly aged kids, both sexes, plus a few coaches.

I am on the board of a school and am very aware of the best practices and policies needed to protect children and also to protect the camp program, plus I've done hours and hours of training on child abuse prevention and recognition. I've spoken with their main teacher and the swim coach, and just left a message for the head of the entire camp program. The main teacher seemed completely surprised by my concern, while the swim coach agreed with me but is not actually in charge of anything.

I'm extremely surprised by how lax the camp is about this kind of stuff. E.g., I asked about pickup by our nanny and they said no need for an approved pickup list, as long as the kids know the person picking up, it's totally fine. The camp is aged 3-6, and there are many other camps going on at the same time with older kids. I am surprised in this day and age a camp can go on for years without many rules or policies to keep kids safe. I know they have a no 1-on-1 policy, which is good. I know three-year-olds might need help with their swimsuit. My preference would be that parents change the little ones when the parents arrive to pick them up, and bigger kids go into bathroom stalls and change themselves. (There are literally a boys' and girls' bathrooms on the pool deck, but I was told they are "dirty" and that's why they don't use them to change.)

I know I am not overreacting in my concern about this. I spoke to another mom who was dropping her daughter off, and she said it was "weird," but was not too bothered. I just want to gauge others' reactions to this.

They are 4 and 5? I don't remotely see a problem with this.

[Anonymous]

I spoke with the head and she said the counselors are supposed to be holding up towels around the kids but not individually. But my kids just said that hasn’t happened. I suggested buying a tent or screens. I was surprised that she asked me a bunch of questions for advice. These camps have been running for years!

[Anonymous]

I would be pissed too. I am fine with my kid changing in a group environment, like with other girls in a classroon or bathroom.
Not ok with adults being around or opposite gender.
Any pedo with a zoom lens could be watching them if theyre out on the pool deck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in a state that is allowing camps. My kids are 4 and 5. I just learned that at the end of their weeklong camp, right before pickup, they are changing out of their swimsuits right on the pool deck, in full view of anyone who happens to be at the pool, including coaches and other kids. It is a small group of similarly aged kids, both sexes, plus a few coaches.

I am on the board of a school and am very aware of the best practices and policies needed to protect children and also to protect the camp program, plus I've done hours and hours of training on child abuse prevention and recognition. I've spoken with their main teacher and the swim coach, and just left a message for the head of the entire camp program. The main teacher seemed completely surprised by my concern, while the swim coach agreed with me but is not actually in charge of anything.

I'm extremely surprised by how lax the camp is about this kind of stuff. E.g., I asked about pickup by our nanny and they said no need for an approved pickup list, as long as the kids know the person picking up, it's totally fine. The camp is aged 3-6, and there are many other camps going on at the same time with older kids. I am surprised in this day and age a camp can go on for years without many rules or policies to keep kids safe. I know they have a no 1-on-1 policy, which is good. I know three-year-olds might need help with their swimsuit. My preference would be that parents change the little ones when the parents arrive to pick them up, and bigger kids go into bathroom stalls and change themselves. (There are literally a boys' and girls' bathrooms on the pool deck, but I was told they are "dirty" and that's why they don't use them to change.)

I know I am not overreacting in my concern about this. I spoke to another mom who was dropping her daughter off, and she said it was "weird," but was not too bothered. I just want to gauge others' reactions to this.

I am completely surprised by your concern as well. Are you normally so uptight and prudish?

I mean, you just said this is happening in full view of anyone. It's not like some predator is luring anyone off into a shadowy corner or something. The transparency of the situation is the protection.

The 4 and 5 yos don't care about the nakedness or the opposite sex. Why do you?

[Anonymous]

Why can't they buy some screens to surround the kids outdoors. What is wrong with these people? Sorry, but in the age of happy camera phone people, any sicko can just snap a photo of your kids. I find it strange some parents are all weirded out that their kids' photos are put online w/o their permission, but it's perfectly fine that their children are changing naked where randoms can take their kids' nude photos. What is wrong with you people?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in a state that is allowing camps. My kids are 4 and 5. I just learned that at the end of their weeklong camp, right before pickup, they are changing out of their swimsuits right on the pool deck, in full view of anyone who happens to be at the pool, including coaches and other kids. It is a small group of similarly aged kids, both sexes, plus a few coaches.

The bolded, is not okay!