Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don’t understand why OP wouldn’t hire a lifeguard. Is it just to save a few hundred dollars?

Because it's a handful of 10 year old girls. A parent or two can handle it. Why is a teen "lifeguard" so important?

Why do you have the word lifeguard in quotes? I have been two parties like OP describes and both of them have had certified lifeguards (both were kids who lifeguard at our local pool and live in the neighborhood).

Because parents can easily watch a few tweens. Come on.

You have the word lifeguard in quotes because parents can watch 8 ten year olds? That doesn't make any sense, OP.

I would hire a lifeguard because it’s not my idea of a good time to supervise a bunch of kids for 2-3 hours while they play in a pool. This is also a really litigious area, so it’s better to be over cautious.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don’t understand why OP wouldn’t hire a lifeguard. Is it just to save a few hundred dollars?

It's not even that expensive. Teen lifeguards make less than $20 per hour if they aren't supervisors. It probably costs less than the cake.

It isn’t the expense- it is the fact that it is totally unnecessary. A lifeguard rock supervise a handful of 10yo girls in the pool?! That is just weird. For a larger party or a party with smaller children a lifeguard might be a wise idea- sure.

I literally cannot imagine hiring a lifeguard to supervise max 8 10 year olds in a backyard pool.

Anonymous wrote:I really don’t understand why OP wouldn’t hire a lifeguard. Is it just to save a few hundred dollars?

It's not even that expensive. Teen lifeguards make less than $20 per hour if they aren't supervisors. It probably costs less than the cake.

Anonymous wrote:10 year olds can hang out at your pool without a lifeguard or their parents. Have you or your husband (or older sibling) in charge of supervising and the other parents runs the party. This must be a rich person thing. I grew up solidly middle class and lots of people had pools but never heard of someone hiring a lifeguard.

I live in AZ and a huge number of people have backyard pools, obviously. We’ve been to a fair number of (middle class) backyard parties with a hired lifeguard - but usually these are large parties where the whole family is invited and there are kids of various ages present. In that case, a lifeguard is a smart idea IMO.

Pool parties for younger kids <8 or so are very uncommon even though most people have a pool. I think most host parents don’t want to deal with it. I have 3 DC and I don’t think we have ever been to a pool party geared towards younger kids. Usually these parties are at a venue or even if at home, the pool is fenced and off limits.

Pool parties are very common for older DC but I can’t imagine anyone hiring a lifeguard for a small group of older kids. Very odd. Usually the parents just loosely supervise. All of the kids can swim quite well by that age but I do know this can be different in other areas.

It also depends on the type of pool IMO. A pool with a diving board (not common in my area- only in a handful of older homes) is different than the “play pools” (usually max 5-6ft) that are more common here. Diving boards make me nervous and require a lot more supervision IMO. Kids do dumb things.

10 year olds can hang out at your pool without a lifeguard or their parents. Have you or your husband (or older sibling) in charge of supervising and the other parents runs the party. This must be a rich person thing. I grew up solidly middle class and lots of people had pools but never heard of someone hiring a lifeguard.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don’t understand why OP wouldn’t hire a lifeguard. Is it just to save a few hundred dollars?

Because it's a handful of 10 year old girls. A parent or two can handle it. Why is a teen "lifeguard" so important?

Why do you have the word lifeguard in quotes? I have been two parties like OP describes and both of them have had certified lifeguards (both were kids who lifeguard at our local pool and live in the neighborhood).

Because parents can easily watch a few tweens. Come on.

+1

A lifeguard is not needed to watch a couple of 10yo girls (max 8 girls and probably not all will attend) in a backyard pool. Overkill. A parent can easily supervise.

At that age, it is weird for parents to stay. Also how many will end up bringing tag along younger siblings (that would be the real safety hazard)? I do not trust parents to properly supervise their kids anyway - my pool, 100% my responsibility regardless of parents present. IME parents socialize and zone out anyway, in most cases.

If it is all the girls from class, I’d assume 10-12 girls depending on attendance? Ten 10yo girls is not very challenging to supervise IME and I have BTDT. One adult (must be yourself or spouse) watching the pool at all times, and close the pool (everyone out and close gate, verbally say pool is closed for now) once swimming time is finished.

A lifeguard is great but probably not necessary IMO. I’ve never hired one for this type of party (a party with older kids where I will not be socializing). Usually I cover the pool, and DH handles food prep and non pool supervision.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don’t understand why OP wouldn’t hire a lifeguard. Is it just to save a few hundred dollars?

Because it's a handful of 10 year old girls. A parent or two can handle it. Why is a teen "lifeguard" so important?

Why do you have the word lifeguard in quotes? I have been two parties like OP describes and both of them have had certified lifeguards (both were kids who lifeguard at our local pool and live in the neighborhood).

Because parents can easily watch a few tweens. Come on.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op- we are inviting 8 kids.

Then you need a lifeguard

I grew up near the beach and with pools you are an absolute fool not to have a lifeguard

The kids are 10 not 2. These teens aren’t that impressive.

You are all assh0les. You don’t need to crowdsource this shit.

Anonymous wrote:Op- we are inviting 8 kids.

Then you need a lifeguard

I grew up near the beach and with pools you are an absolute fool not to have a lifeguard

My kids were lifeguards at our town beach (in New England) - on a lake - during high school and college summers. All the lifeguards loved being asked to work a party at a home pool. First it was cash -- which they loved and secondly -- a pool is so much easier to watch than a lake. And it was usually a 2-3 hour gig.....with food.

Also the kids at the party usually knew them from the town beach -- so the kids behaved and knew to follow the rules.

There were lots of babysitting requests that followed but that generally was considered to be more work (more hours maybe?) so not as popular of a job.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don’t understand why OP wouldn’t hire a lifeguard. Is it just to save a few hundred dollars?

Because it's a handful of 10 year old girls. A parent or two can handle it. Why is a teen "lifeguard" so important?

Why do you have the word lifeguard in quotes? I have been two parties like OP describes and both of them have had certified lifeguards (both were kids who lifeguard at our local pool and live in the neighborhood).