Having hosted pool parties before here is my advice:

at that age, yes a parent stays. I don't mind if they don't get in the water. They are responsible for their child and if they are comfortable sitting and watching from the side that's their choice.

Make sure you have a fully shaded area for parents and kids to cool off and eat. If the pool does not have such an area, make one up yourself with a shade tent.

Lots of water, lots of watermelon or other melon fruits are good, ice cream is good, cake is too messy go with cupcakes or skip them in favor of ice cream sandwiches.

buy one or two pool toys for the party and get enough for each kid to have their one - we usually did pool noodles and nerf type balls

No diving toys allowed.

Taking my 6 year old to a pool party this weekend and DH and I argued about who had to take him as we fully expect to be in the pool with him. I lost out because DH had covered the last party at Chuck E Cheese

Assuming you don't have a strong swimmer (which I don't), I feel like this time is one of the most dangerous and when you have to be super vigilant, as they think they're better swimmers than they really are and they take risks they shouldn't.

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/family/2013/06/rescuing_drowning_children_how_to_know_when_someone_is_in_trouble_in_the.html

Slate reprints this every year and it is good.

I am about to enroll my little ones in swim classes. I am a firm believer in children being good swimmers. That said, I would not let a six year old attend a pool party. It is not developmentally appropriate. 10 or up, okay, that would make sense to me, but a gaggle of six year olds with out a life guard is not a good idea.

Some moms are very uncomfortable with swimwear, and avoid wearing it if possible. I think that was the main factor in parents not swimming at the party I attended.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don't need activities, but you do need to be ready to have many adults in the pool too. Many 6 year olds cannot swim.

OP here. Yes, this is NOT a drop off party!!!

But do the adults know they are expected to be in the water with their non-swimmers?

I'm confused. No matter where you go (except one-on-one swim lessons), if your child can't swim, shouldn't you either (i) be in the pool with him; (ii) put him in a flotation device; or (iii) have a rule that he is to stay in the shallow end?

We're having a pool party at home this weekend, so this worries me if the above are not common sense and have to be spelled out for the adults, even though we will have a lifeguard on duty.

This helps people feel secure, but is not a good protection. It takes one strong push-off or kick for a kid to veer away from the shallow end, and then what do you do?

You watch from right there on the side, or you get in the pool. You don't trust a friend to watch, you don't send them with floaties that can come off, and you don't ever take your eyes off young swimming kids.

Anonymous wrote:"Yes. I said in the invite that the pool rules required adults to be in the water with kids. "


The word REQUIRED is kinda strong for adults.

Actually I went to a pool party this year where the invite said that DC Pool rules REQUIRE that an adul be within arms length of a child under (a certain age, can't remember). And in MoCo (and our pool rules), there are posted signs that say that adults need to be within arms length of kids while in the pool IF they require floating devices.

Anonymous wrote:Hire a lifeguard. It will give everyone piece of mind.

Yes, and also require parents to be close to their child at all times. Really, you cannot be too vigilant on this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don't need activities, but you do need to be ready to have many adults in the pool too. Many 6 year olds cannot swim.

OP here. Yes, this is NOT a drop off party!!!

But do the adults know they are expected to be in the water with their non-swimmers?

Yes. I said in the invite that the pool rules required adults to be in the water with kids.

And people are coming?

Anonymous wrote:You don't need activities, but you do need to be ready to have many adults in the pool too. Many 6 year olds cannot swim.

This. My son is 5.5, and there is no way I'd allow him to go to a pool party alone. I am usually in the water with him. He's taking lessons, but cannot swim.

Hire a lifeguard. It will give everyone piece of mind.

"Yes. I said in the invite that the pool rules required adults to be in the water with kids. "


The word REQUIRED is kinda strong for adults.