To throw DS a swimming party?

That motherland episode was brilliant, Julia requesting a Long Locker, and having to wear an oversized cossie.

I did attend 1 swimming party , dc was 5 iirc - it was ok.

And no long lockers!

Almost a third of children leave primary school without being able to swim 25 metres or perform basic lifesaving skills.

I know it's part of the curriculum that they should leave being able to swim but pools have been closing across the country and school budgets decreasing so it frequently doesn't happen.

Especially in deprived areas where parents can't afford private lessons or holidays with pools where there's more of a need/impetus to learn.

This is perfect.

I absolutely love this and its so true.
I was once offered a bikini to wear from someone's elderly mother (who was lovely) but, seriously what are people even thinking!!!
The only one that i went to where i was caught off-guard, involved inflatables and being thrown all over the place. I remember speaking to one of the other Mum's whilst in the pool and we were commenting on one of the Dad's really hairy back and shoulders!
X

@ShesTheAlbatross
Oh I have to agree and poor Julia....someone else's costume plus someone else's plaster...burgh!

Mine could swim but that doesn't change the fact that many places have adult/child ratios.
We had a pool party when DS was 7. He's young in his year so everyone was 7. Ratio was 1 adult :3 children for under 8, so we managed it with family and a couple of close friends.

You need to make sure YOU organise enough WILLING volunteers to run this party well BEFORE you invite the children. Either you invite enough adult helpers to supervise the children in the water in the ratio the pool require, or it is no swim party until they are older. We did a swim party when DS was 11 at the local fun pool - 7 kids and 3 adults - me and DH and the mum of the lad who has been DS's best friend since reception.

Unless you have enough family and friends who are prepared to get into the water so you can phrase the invite "the pool requires 1 adult for every 2 kids. If you wish to get into the water, we'd love you borh to join us, otherwise we will provide sufficient supervision for all the kids" you need to wait. Sorry.

We went to one of these and although I didn't love being stood in my swimsuit in a knee deep kids pool, my child had a lot of fun. The birthday child's mum said a lot of parents declined and quite a few just didn't turn up on the day, she was really upset.

I would wait until they're older, can swim more confidently and can go in the water without parents.

I did a pool party for my DS when he was in year 4 so they were 8 and 9 year olds. The minimum age to be without an adult was 8. I would have felt very awkward asking the parents to go in the water to be honest. It’s definitely something I would hate to have to do if any of my children ever got an invite like this, so I wouldn’t have considered a swimming party if they were under 8.

Maybe wait another couple of years or so and then revisit the idea?

I love swimming. But hate, hate, hate just bobbing around in cold human soup. Especially with the sound of multiple kids screaming inside an echoey swimming baths. So I would have hated to go to a party like that.

It's also quite a young age. The kids who can't swim will feel conspicuous by their absence so I dont think it's a massively inclusive party. It also feels like it would be massively stressful to be on edge the entire time making sure no one drowns (I'm catastrophising obviously but those are the intrusive thoughts that my head would be filled with)

I used to have them for dcs. The kids loved them. That's the most important thing. I despised bouncy castles at parties. So dangerous. I had all different sorts of parties.

My DD is almost 7 and can't really swim. She wouldn't like attending a party where others could see that she can't do it yet. I think it's best saved for a bit older.

We had a couple of swimming types parties - but only once all invitees were at least 8 so parents didn’t have to get in. I checked swimming ability in advance too. Our leisure centre included a lifeguard. Great parties and they were all hungry so ate most of the food which was good as I am a chronic over caterer!

Sounds lots of fun and I’d enjoy accompanying my child to this (though I’d want to join in with the floats too 😝).

I would question swimming abilities of what’s presumably mostly 6yo’s though. It might be a party best suited in a year or two?

It'd be fine by me, neither DH or I would mind getting in the pool, and that age group don't tend to be 'drop and run' round here yet either.

All of our kids were strong swimmers by then, and while the thought of public costume wearing isn't great, I'd do it because...why wouldn't I?

I think some people might suddenly busy on that day or have a cold / cough/ flu on the day , which would be disappointing

When my eldest child was 7 this would have caused me a huge amount of stress. DH was working away a lot so I many weekends I had all the younger DC to manage and nobody nearby to help.

I have held water based parties for my own DC but only once they have been old enough that guests’ parents could drop off if they wanted and definitely didn’t have to get in (unless they wanted to - and there is usually at least one who does want to).

Oof no, I would definitely be 'busy'. Absolutely no desire to be in a swimsuit around the other class parents thanks. Plus my son's coming up to 7 and he's not a very strong swimmer yet, I doubt he'd really enjoy it.

Makes sense

We do parties on a massive floating inflatable (like a bouncy castle). For that we do a swim test because the end of it is in deep water. If there is a party in the kids pool with just small floats and toys we would not do a swim test but the water is shallow enough for a 3yo. Even a n the kids pool, we require under 8s to have adults with them.

But if his birthday is coming up soon, then even next year, most of his classmates are still going to be 7, hence several of us suggesting his 9th birthday is the best time, so ALL his friend will have turned 8, not just the birthday boy.

Do you swim test the kids?

I work in a leisure centre. 8yo are allowed in the pool without their parents. Maybe do the pool party next year?