Anonymous wrote:If they are both good swimmers and the pool allows and and they are generally responsible I would allow it.

+1

OP here, thanks to everyone who contributed to this, I'm surprised this is still getting attention over a month later. Our son and Larla have been going swimming together for the past few weeks (since our son's 12th birthday at the end of last month). No issues so far, so we're happy to let them continue.

12ish/6th grade, assuming a lifeguard, good swimmer, and “pool smart” (knows not to do boneheaded things, and has not needing reminding in several years).

Anonymous wrote:I'd wait another year. We had a scary experience last year with DS' cousin grabbing him when he was having trouble staying aflot, and DS (who is a strong swimmer) being unable to get away or hold both of them up. DS was 10 at the time, his cousin was 8. I think 13 or 14 is a better age for this.

But that was with a younger family member, OP's son and his friend are the same age and most likely know better than to do something like this.

I'd wait another year. We had a scary experience last year with DS' cousin grabbing him when he was having trouble staying aflot, and DS (who is a strong swimmer) being unable to get away or hold both of them up. DS was 10 at the time, his cousin was 8. I think 13 or 14 is a better age for this.

I know I'm late to the party but my 11 year old son and his two best friends (both girls) just started going to the pool by themselves. It's been fine so far. They're going into 6th grade in the fall.

I'd wait till they're older, high school at the earliest.

My 6th grader started doing this with a group of friends this year too, it's fine.

Like PP I'm an outlier too. My son started going swimming with his best friend last year when they were 9. She lives across the street from us and he goes swimming with her at the local outdoor pool on Fridays after school, then stays over at her house for a sleepover, or vice versa. We always drop them off and pick them up, the pool is very safe with diligent lifeguards and our son and Larla are both very good swimmers.

I'm surprised we are outliers with a child who started being alone at age 8.5 and I think there were a few friends who were about the same age who were also dropped off or walked alone to the pool.
They are all strong swimmers who started swim team at age 6 or 7.

I'd say it's about the right time, my 6th grader started doing it with friends this year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11 or 12 is a good age for this type of independence.

+1 Mine started at 11

Its not really independence because you are relying on others to supervise them.

I don’t swim in the backyard pool alone... Someone else is present, because weird happenstance could mean I accidentally drown.

The pool employs life guards as the last line of defense. Children who are too young and/or can’t swim have parents or caregivers with them. Life guards are there whether an unaccompanied child comes or not. And during adult swim, life guards don’t take a break, so they even watch when there are no kids swimming.