50M pool and almost 12 year old

[LolaLockdale]

DD who'll be 12 this Sunday has just asked if she can go to the outdoor pool in our area, I said I'll think about it but I really can't decide.

7 other girls and 5 boys are going, I only know 3 of the other girls.

By public transport it takes either 2 buses and 30 mins altogether or 1 bus and a walk which would be around 40 mins.

In the summer the outdoor pool is jampacked, the deepest part is 50M, halfway point 25M, their are lifeguards and DD is a strong swimmer but she's never gone to that specific pool without us and I'm worried that something could go wrong.

Am I being too overprotective?

[Thefitfatty]

Yes, a bit.

(I'd be more worried about the buses than the pool, but not with all those other kids).

[TheNaze73]

I think you are. Can understand your concern however, I certainly would have let my DD go at 12

[specialsubject]

The pool is very unlikely to be 50m deep, or even 25m. Drowning only needs a few inches of water anyway.

Does the pool allow unaccompanied kids?

[splendide]

It definitely is not even approaching 50 M deep. The deepest pool in the world is about 40M I think.

[LolaLockdale]

No, it's definetly 50M. Picture attached.

[WannaBe]

It will be 50m long not deep.

And yes a twelve year old should be allowed to go swimming unaccompanied with friends.

[Sunnyshine]

That's a 50m long pool. Olympic sized.

[LolaLockdale]

unaccompanied children over 8 are allowed

[Snuggledbythefire]

Defiantly the length not the depth! She'll be fine. Make sure she's got a phone and ask her to ring when she's there and when she's leaving.
Sounds lots of fun!

[LagunaBubbles]

I think you are getting length and depth mixed up OP.

[LolaLockdale]

Oh, my mistake, sorry for the confusion.

The public transport doesn't bother me with all those children going and I suppose I am being too overprotective, although I really wanted you all to agree with me. DD will be pleased

[EchoesOfLeon]

The worlds deepest pool is only 35m at the deepest point so think your local pool could be a record breaker!! More likely that it is 2/3m deep at most

[splendide]

So you are picturing a pool that you could drop the statue of liberty into and have it completely underwater?

[milkysmum]

Goodness me that's the length not the depth!
But still I get why you are worried but still I think I would let her go. Parenting is hard isn't it!

[DamsonInDistress]

You dafty OP! It's 50m LONG not deep! Our local outdoor pool which is also 50m long incidentally, is only as deep as the indoor pool.

[LolaLockdale]

At least I made this mistake on an anonymous forum and not in real life, I can just imagine DD's face if I'd used the pool's 50M deep as an excuse

[splendide]

Thats why mumsnet is so useful!

I asked what a vest was on here when I was pregnant. :)

[specialsubject]

Love it. And glad there are still 50m pools rather than the silly 25m ones that get built now.

[Lurkedforever1]

Yes, course. I used to drop dd and her friend off at the door from being 8, while I went shopping, as did friends mum. (Shared childcare a fair bit). From the summer holidays after y5 we let both catch the bus there together. Although in fairness the bus route is a safe one, both v sensible and strong swimmers. From about halfway through y6 a few others started joining them. And throughout y7 there hasn't been one in her group of friends that has wanted to go but isn't allowed.

[EllyMayClampett]

I'd let her go. And impress upon her that they all need to stick together and re-apply suncream!

[LolaLockdale]

I've told her she can go, she's so pleased and thinks I'm really cool now, thankfully doesn't realise that I've embarrassed myself over the internet

[Tink06]

I would let her go although I would be a bit anxious. Think its one if the hardest parts of parenting - encouraging independence while fretting at the same time. I still worry about older teens and public transport - probably due to a nasty experience when I was younger but I still let them go. On the positive side she is with a large group so they should all look out for each other.

[MerryMarigold]

Well done