Anonymous wrote:Meaning you keep an eye on them, but are not in the pool too or beside it, but you can see them from where you are.

Once they could swim back and forth in the deep end (7 feet) several times and could do a "survival float" (dead man's float we used to call it) I let them swim without me keeping an active eye. My kids were late swimmers so this was about age 6-7.

Never, I sit outside when my 20 year old swims lap. Around 13 I let my kids out if someone else was with them, but stayed out if it was a group. Left the group alone around 15.

Anonymous wrote:No one, no matter how good a swimmer should be left to swim in a pool unattended.

+100

-former lifeguard

Please, please, please never let any child swim alone. If they hit their head or otherwise black out, they could drown in 3 feet of water like this very accomplished teen swimmer did at Michael Phelps's training center in Baltimore.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-county/towson/ph-tt-lowenthal-1107-20121101,0,4905655.story

I don't think a parent always has to be watching, but there always has to be a buddy.

Anonymous wrote:Oh and this is a small pool, about 4 ft deep. Not a public pool (no lifeguards).

In general, not a great idea for anyone (adult or child) to swim alone, simply because accidents happen and even an adult can panic when faced with inhaling water.

That being said, a 4 ft. pool - the child should be able to stand with his/her head above water so the child should probably be at least 4'6"-ish.

Anonymous wrote:What age would you let your good swimmer be in the pool unattended?

No one ever swims alone. There is always a buddy.

Anonymous wrote:4 foot pool, smart kids, rule-followers? 8 years old. Just make sure kid understands to stand up when struggling, don't just flail around. You really do have to teach and practice it.

Thanks for the tip!

4 foot pool, smart kids, rule-followers? 8 years old. Just make sure kid understands to stand up when struggling, don't just flail around. You really do have to teach and practice it.

I was 10 in our backyard in-ground pool, had a deep end with diving board. All my friends could swim.

Oh and this is a small pool, about 4 ft deep. Not a public pool (no lifeguards).

Meaning you keep an eye on them, but are not in the pool too or beside it, but you can see them from where you are.

Anonymous wrote:What age would you let your good swimmer be in the pool unattended?

Depends what you mean by "unattended". Do you mean with no lifeguard?

If so, I'd say age 15, after they have earned their Red Cross Basic Lifeguard certificate, and with a friend.

Do you mean watching but not actually in the pool with them? I sit on the edge or steps while my 5 year old swims, but I have a constant eye on her and won't let her go over her head. If she's in water over her head, I'm in there with her.

No one, no matter how good a swimmer should be left to swim in a pool unattended.

What age would you let your good swimmer be in the pool unattended?