I would say if there is a competent lifeguard and your child is at least 8 and a good swimmer (like on the swim team) you are probably ok reading with lookups.

Anonymous wrote:No. Drowning is silent and takes 60 seconds.

My kids are 7, 5, and 2 but I will do this for life. I was a lifeguard and I know how quickly even good swimmers can get in trouble and how lazy some lifeguards are.

We used to go to the Bethesda Y indoor pool during the winter. One time the lifeguard actually fell asleep.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, 9 and 12. I look up regularly.

Same. 8 and 10 and have years of lessons under their belts. I keep an eye on where they are, and watch more closely if they’re near the deep end, but when they’re in the 3 ft part I don’t worry that much.

Anonymous wrote:No. Drowning is silent and takes 60 seconds.

My kids are 7, 5, and 2 but I will do this for life. I was a lifeguard and I know how quickly even good swimmers can get in trouble and how lazy some lifeguards are.

+1 But my kids are 11, 9 & 5

Another former lifeguard here. Mine are 11 and 13 now so I do sit and read. But I did sit and watch, usually from poolside, not from a chair twenty feet away. I watched for more years than a lot of people because our pool sometimes has a lot of people in it and kids jump off the side without looking for other kids swimming by. And the lifeguards are useless, esp when guarding the well. Argh!! Used to drive me crazy.

Not yet but my youngest is 5. I wonder when I can!

Nope. Kids are very strong swimmers but aged 7 and 9.

Anonymous wrote:No. Drowning is silent and takes 60 seconds.

My kids are 7, 5, and 2 but I will do this for life. I was a lifeguard and I know how quickly even good swimmers can get in trouble and how lazy some lifeguards are.

Right?!? One of my friends on IG keeps posting videos of her reading with her kids in the far distance swimming. They’re young, 6ish and 4?! It freaks me out. That’s a LOT of trust in the lifeguards.

No. Drowning is silent and takes 60 seconds.

My kids are 7, 5, and 2 but I will do this for life. I was a lifeguard and I know how quickly even good swimmers can get in trouble and how lazy some lifeguards are.

I do to some extent, 8 and 10. I did last year as well. The year before I was always in with them. This year I frequently get in with them b/c of social distancing and I have certainly seen a lot more parents in the water.

Not this year they are 9 and 6 with social distancing the need playmates. So I get in with them.

What about ages 6 and 4, but good swimmers?

When I am at the pool with my oldest, yes. She’s 11 and a competitive swimmer.

Yes, 9 and 12. I look up regularly.

A poll about the pool:

Do you read while your kids swim? Like, you sit back/away/in a chair and read while your kids swim?

If yes, how old are they? When did you feel comfortable doing this?

If no, why not?