Anonymous
05/30/2025 01:31
Subject: Birthday Q about water parks
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Best if you go with three adults total. Here's some tips for you about crowd control:
1. Have a meet-up spot. One adult stays there for the entire party. Kids can leave crap with them, they can take a break there if they want, go there to ask questions, announce problems, whatever.
2. Every kid has to have a waterproof watch.* Everyone has to meet up at the meetup spot once an hour (or whatever you decide). It's a way for you to count the kids and limits the amount of time any kid is lost if that were to happen.
3. Kids need to be in groups of at LEAST three. One kid gets injured, second kid stays with them, third kid runs to get help. They can switch groups, but each group must have at least three, and nobody stays in the water alone.
4. As you're about to walk into the park you tell the kids what time you're all leaving and where to meet up at that time. (It's the meet up spot where one adult has been the whole time.)
I used to work as a camp counselor for tweens that we took each day on field trips.
My kid is an excellent swimmer but doesn’t own a waterproof watch. It’s not 1993 Beryl.
Did someone tell you they stopped making waterproof watches in 1993? They still make them! Maybe the OP could buy a cheap one for each group. Hopefully they can read analog time.
Anonymous
05/30/2025 00:37
Subject: Birthday Q about water parks
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Best if you go with three adults total. Here's some tips for you about crowd control:
1. Have a meet-up spot. One adult stays there for the entire party. Kids can leave crap with them, they can take a break there if they want, go there to ask questions, announce problems, whatever.
2. Every kid has to have a waterproof watch.* Everyone has to meet up at the meetup spot once an hour (or whatever you decide). It's a way for you to count the kids and limits the amount of time any kid is lost if that were to happen.
3. Kids need to be in groups of at LEAST three. One kid gets injured, second kid stays with them, third kid runs to get help. They can switch groups, but each group must have at least three, and nobody stays in the water alone.
4. As you're about to walk into the park you tell the kids what time you're all leaving and where to meet up at that time. (It's the meet up spot where one adult has been the whole time.)
I used to work as a camp counselor for tweens that we took each day on field trips.
Not the OP but thanks. Theses are great tips.
I’m at the pool daily and when I see camp groups it’s a hard no. The counselor rarely supervise and kids can get into trouble. Parents need to know the plan.
Anonymous
05/30/2025 00:35
Subject: Birthday Q about water parks
I would not be ok with my 10 year old walking around alone or with a friend unsupervised at a water park and they are a year round swimmer. I’d pay for myself to go in if necessary.
Anonymous
05/30/2025 00:00
Subject: Birthday Q about water parks
Anonymous wrote:Best if you go with three adults total. Here's some tips for you about crowd control:
1. Have a meet-up spot. One adult stays there for the entire party. Kids can leave crap with them, they can take a break there if they want, go there to ask questions, announce problems, whatever.
2. Every kid has to have a waterproof watch.* Everyone has to meet up at the meetup spot once an hour (or whatever you decide). It's a way for you to count the kids and limits the amount of time any kid is lost if that were to happen.
3. Kids need to be in groups of at LEAST three. One kid gets injured, second kid stays with them, third kid runs to get help. They can switch groups, but each group must have at least three, and nobody stays in the water alone.
4. As you're about to walk into the park you tell the kids what time you're all leaving and where to meet up at that time. (It's the meet up spot where one adult has been the whole time.)
I used to work as a camp counselor for tweens that we took each day on field trips.
Not the OP but thanks. Theses are great tips.
Anonymous
05/29/2025 19:54
Subject: Birthday Q about water parks
I don't let my 10 go to parties without direct supervision if it's open to the public during the party
Anonymous
05/26/2025 17:25
Subject: Birthday Q about water parks
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Best if you go with three adults total. Here's some tips for you about crowd control:
1. Have a meet-up spot. One adult stays there for the entire party. Kids can leave crap with them, they can take a break there if they want, go there to ask questions, announce problems, whatever.
2. Every kid has to have a waterproof watch.* Everyone has to meet up at the meetup spot once an hour (or whatever you decide). It's a way for you to count the kids and limits the amount of time any kid is lost if that were to happen.
3. Kids need to be in groups of at LEAST three. One kid gets injured, second kid stays with them, third kid runs to get help. They can switch groups, but each group must have at least three, and nobody stays in the water alone.
4. As you're about to walk into the park you tell the kids what time you're all leaving and where to meet up at that time. (It's the meet up spot where one adult has been the whole time.)
I used to work as a camp counselor for tweens that we took each day on field trips.
You let 9 year olds wander off by themselves at water parks? That's horrifying.
What? My 10 & 8 year olds routinely navigate waterparks by themselves. Only rule is that they have to stay together and we have a check-in schedule. Both excellent swimmers.
Anonymous
05/26/2025 14:47
Subject: Birthday Q about water parks
Anonymous wrote:How many kids are you inviting? I assume under 5 - which would be a manageable number for the two of you to supervise.
If this is the case, then No, you do not need to pay for the parents if you have enough eyes / hands to supervise.
If any parent wants to join the kid, they can pay for themselves.
5 kids total is the most I would do in this situation. Even that gets chaotic when the park gets so packed. Less of a concern with 13 yrs and up, but with 10, you will still want to have eyes on them and it gets really challenging.
No, you don’t need to pay for adults but if you plan for more kids, absolutely have more chaperones.
Anonymous
05/26/2025 13:19
Subject: Birthday Q about water parks
Choose a different venue.
Anonymous
05/26/2025 13:18
Subject: Birthday Q about water parks
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Best if you go with three adults total. Here's some tips for you about crowd control:
1. Have a meet-up spot. One adult stays there for the entire party. Kids can leave crap with them, they can take a break there if they want, go there to ask questions, announce problems, whatever.
2. Every kid has to have a waterproof watch.* Everyone has to meet up at the meetup spot once an hour (or whatever you decide). It's a way for you to count the kids and limits the amount of time any kid is lost if that were to happen.
3. Kids need to be in groups of at LEAST three. One kid gets injured, second kid stays with them, third kid runs to get help. They can switch groups, but each group must have at least three, and nobody stays in the water alone.
4. As you're about to walk into the park you tell the kids what time you're all leaving and where to meet up at that time. (It's the meet up spot where one adult has been the whole time.)
I used to work as a camp counselor for tweens that we took each day on field trips.
You let 9 year olds wander off by themselves at water parks? That's horrifying.
Didn't you read above? Every kid is with two other people, minimum.
Anonymous
05/26/2025 13:14
Subject: Birthday Q about water parks
As a former lifeguard, I worked with people who had guarded at water parks. The sight lines aren’t great, it’s over crowded, and the guards are overwhelmed. A kid can get into trouble and the guard might not be able to see the bottom of the pool clearly enuf to spot them. I’d keep the party small enough that you can invite the parents.
Anonymous
05/26/2025 13:05
Subject: Birthday Q about water parks
Anonymous wrote:Best if you go with three adults total. Here's some tips for you about crowd control:
1. Have a meet-up spot. One adult stays there for the entire party. Kids can leave crap with them, they can take a break there if they want, go there to ask questions, announce problems, whatever.
2. Every kid has to have a waterproof watch.* Everyone has to meet up at the meetup spot once an hour (or whatever you decide). It's a way for you to count the kids and limits the amount of time any kid is lost if that were to happen.
3. Kids need to be in groups of at LEAST three. One kid gets injured, second kid stays with them, third kid runs to get help. They can switch groups, but each group must have at least three, and nobody stays in the water alone.
4. As you're about to walk into the park you tell the kids what time you're all leaving and where to meet up at that time. (It's the meet up spot where one adult has been the whole time.)
I used to work as a camp counselor for tweens that we took each day on field trips.
You let 9 year olds wander off by themselves at water parks? That's horrifying.
Anonymous
05/26/2025 13:00
Subject: Birthday Q about water parks
I might invite a couple of extra adults for more eyes and in case of an emergency that one adult needs to focus on. You do not have to invite all the parents.