Swimming unaccompanied

[Doublebubblegum]

My 10 yo wants to go swimming with a couple of pals in the holidays without adult supervision.

Normally if the kids go swimming I (or another parent) would sit in the poolside cafe. This time they want to go without a parent being there. So we drop them off, they swim for a bit, we collect them later. No parents staying in the building.

The pool rules are that 8+ can go in unaccompanied. My daughter's friend's parents are fine with it. I'm a bit undecided. I'm a terrible swimmer and have a phobia of the water so don't trust myself to make a good decision on this one.

When did you let your kids go to the pool without an adult there?

If you are usually in the cafe anyway you aren't contributing to their swim safety.

The only difference is theoretically they could leave.

This is true.

They wouldn't leave. They are all pretty sensible.

I wouldn't at 10. I see what you are saying about you being in the cafe and not with them anyway, but tbh I wouldn't do that either.

I think mine were 13/14 before they went swimming without an adult.

This summer my 10 year old cycled himself to the local leisure centre (
0.7 miles away) without supervision

He is a good swimmer (I've made sure of it) there are lifeguards at the pool. He calls me when he arrives and when he sets off home.

It's given him a lot of confidence and life skills in dealing with situations without my input.

Speaking to staff
Paying his entrance fee
Managing his things and taking care of his bike.
Doing as asked by lifeguards
Buying a snack from the vending macines

We molly coddle kids too much nowadsays. Hes in senior school in a year and it's up to me to make sure he is capable.

I’d be fine with it. Can they swim? There’s a lifeguard?

As soon as the pool allowed it, so around 8 if I remember correctly. They walked themselves to the pool and back again. They had strict instructions to stay as a group.

Mine went from 8yo on their own ( being dropped and collected). The lifeguards are normally very on it ( they will watch them swim a length on their own before letting them past the narrow end of the big pool).

This for sure. I’d allow it if they’re a decent swimmer but only because id hang around the cafe anyway because we live too far from the pool for it to be a convenient drop off/pick up!

Sorry that was a key part I missed out - my daughter is a good, strong swimmer.

I'd let her go. By that age, I was cycling to the pool in the next town with my friends and spending most days there every summer holiday (big Lido in the Netherlands). If she's a strong swimmer and sensible, it isn't an issue at all. People are waaaaay too anxious these days.

Mine were going to our local pool solo from about 10, swimming by themselves from 8. I didn't pay for all those lessons for nothing!

by 8 mine could could swim much better than me. by 10 they were swimming 3 times a week for a local club. if your daughter is a similar competent strong swimmer she will be fine.

I would be fine with this as long as your child is a confident swimmer who has had lessons.

If there’s any doubt that they are sensible enough to not have an adult in the building then they shouldn’t be in the water out of sight of someone in the cafe and the level of swimming ability shouldn’t be in debate at that point so what is worrying you?

Probably because it's the first time of doing it.

She's never been in a pool without adult supervision, so that's why the doubt really.