To throw DS a swimming party?

I instantly thought of Motherland 🤣

Honestly the parents will be miffed. I’m miffed whenever we have to go to one, but when I see how much DD/DS and their pals enjoy it, I get over it. At the end of the day, it’s for the kids and they almost universally love it.

Id bring DS because I wouldn’t want him to miss out…but I’d be secretly fuming with you 😅 I do agree with a lot of PPs though. Some kids may be only just 6 and barely able to swim.

Plus, if OP is planning this now, I presume he is 'old in the year', so the majority of his classmates are actually only going to be 6.

Does it have to be 1-1 adults to children? Does every single parent need to get in? One of DD’s friends had a swimming party and I think they needed 5 or so adults to get in the pool to make ratio, the birthday child’s two parents both got in plus a child-free young fun uncle and then they asked around if any other parents would be willing which a couple of dads were.

We had a swim party - kids loved it - but waited till older so no parents had to go in.

My first thought was motherland 😂

My ds was invited to a swimming party at about that age.... honestly it was a pain for me but he absolutely loved it so all in all I was pleased we went.

Oh my god, this would easily make you the most unpopular parent on the playground 🙈

Don’t do this age 7, wait til 9 when they can swim better. I think people will decline the invite. Can you take him to a new pool as a birthday treat and then do a different party?

This was in the ‘small’ pool at our leisure centre where they could all touch the floor as well. I know that doesn’t stop the risk but less risky then where kids are jumping in out of their depth.

Omg I absolutely hate these parties, had so many invites over the years, after the 1st one when we turned up and the mother said I had to go in too I nearly fucking died, all I kept thinking about was my legs that hadn't been shaved as well as others bits, my white ugly body with god awful stomach, I said I didn't know so didn't bring a swim suit and she's like, everyone knows you have to go in and tried looking for spare swimsuit so I pretended to go home to get mine and drove to McDonald's with my child and sat there and never accepted a pool invite again. Just make sure you tell the parents they have to get in, many are ok with that.

I would have absolutely hated this for various personal reasons, I wouldn't do this and i would have no qualms saying - no thanks. I think many parents might be uncomfortable with this and therefore some of your son's friends might not be able to attend.

I personally would just arrange a party for him which doesn't have to involve the parents having to get so involved too.

X

Is it 1:1 adults in the water? We had them where it was like 1:3 ish, they had about 12 kids, so birthday parents (mum & dad) plus two other parent volunteers or family (aunts etc) with other parents tending to stay but watch from the side.

I wouldn’t be able to take mine. I like the suggestion of a swim party when he turns 9 so all his friends at old enough. You could throw him a different party this year and a day at the pool for family?

Went to loads of those when my kids were little 😀 I guess it helped that I /my kids were all good and enthusiastic swimmers.

Is it definitely parent per child? We did this and it was one adult per 2 children. So both me and DH swam which gave us option to offer to take/supervise some people's DC if they couldn't come and/or didn't want to get in the water. We also allowed siblings to make it easier for people. It was a slightly stressful (for me as was keeping eye on so many DC) party but they all loved it. Can you chat to a couple of the parents of his closest friends and see what they think?

A lot of kids that age will be weaker or non-swimmers. I would leave it until they're all a bit older.

If another mum was asking me what I thought of such an idea, I'd say the above rather than "I would rather not be seen by all in a swimming costume thanks" but I'd be thinking it...

You might find a lot of invitees are "busy". Maybe do a different type of party and tell DC they can invite one child swimming the following week and you supervise both.

I agree. Unfortunately I can't see many children attending this kind of party at 7, a large amount won't be able to swim and even if they can it's quite likely a parent won't want to be in the pool with the other school parents.

I would definitely save it for when he's older.

I have a dd the same age, if it was a smaller party with her close friends I would go, but a big class party where all the parents were all there in swimwear would be a bit awkward for me personally.

I'd leave it until 9 when most are basic swimmers, and pool ratios are easier.

7 needs too much supervision and too many non/ weak swimmers.

I would decline the invite

My children have been invited to a few of these parties and usually it’s one adult for two children (of the age I assume are attending). It’s never been an issue for the parties I’ve been to, so assume enough people have someone who will go.

Please watch the Swimming pool party Motherland episode!!

As a parent this would be my worst nightmare, sorry. No-one wants to see their fellow parent-acquaintances in swimsuits.

Why don’t you take them to a special pool they don’t usually go to with flumes and slides etc as a bday treat and then do a smaller party with a couple of friends, film and McDonald’s sort of thing

Kids will love it, parents will hate you.
DD had one when she was 7 but we only had to have 3 adults in the water so DH and 2 other Mums volunteered so everyone else was off the hook. I would happily have done it but I was sorting cake, food etc so DH offered