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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think the restrictive adult-child ratios at swimming pools...

62 replies

ILoveDrKarl · 31/05/2011 21:00

...will only result in a generation of children who can't swim?

This has bothered me for years, but now that I have 4 children, (6, 3 & 9m DTs) it bothers me more and more.

For example... we're going away this weekend and have looked at the websites of the 2 local swimming pools in the city and discovered that we can't take out children swimming with us! My son who can swim confidently will have to wear armbands as he does not have a "certificate of proficiency" from an official swimming instructor. Even with the armbands he would have to stay in the small pool as none of the other children are allowed in the big pool as it's age 4 and over only, and I am not allowed to stay with the 3 younger children on my own in the small pool. It even says that any adults seen to be breaking the rules will have to leave the pool along with all other members of their family. (OK - so we can go, but it will be crap for my son who would actually like to swim!)

This might seem extreme, but sadly I don't think it's unusual. (and yes, I do know that 4 children isn't the norm - but again, it's not THAT unusual!)

It's not just big families that have problems either - in most pools I've come across families with 3 children (any of whom are uner 8) can only go swimming with both parents. This means that most families can only go swimming at weekends when both parents are around, but of course this is when the pools are most busy. It's also discriminatory against single parents who have more than 1 child - when do they ever get to go? (for me as a mother of DTs too it's a nightmare that right now seems never ending - in some pools I've been to in the past I will only be able to take my DTs swimming on my own once they are over 5!)

Gone are the days when you could go swimming as a family, teach your kids to swim and just enjoy the water! Swimming is such a valuable life skill and it's also a great, cheap family activity! Not to mention that it's a great form of exercise which (last time I checked) the government are trying to get everyone to do more of - but these restrictions are making it so difficult that I do believe we're going to look back in 10 years at a whole groups of children who can't swim because they've never had the opportunity to learn, practise and enjoy it.

OP posts:

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 31/01/2015 22:32

I'm so glad this draconian rule isn't as strict at our local pool. I have been able to take my two in on my own for years. I like to think that as I haven't killed them anywhere else yet, I'm probably able to supervise them in a swimming pool.

WhereIsMyFurryHat · 31/01/2015 23:07

My local pool has a 1-2-2 ration for under 4s. I found it perfectly manageable to take 2 small ones. We have one local-ish pool that has a 1-2-3 ratio but I wouldn't be comfortable alone with my 3.

I wasn't aware that some places have a 1-2-1 policy. A majority of the pools here are 1-2-2 so ok for most average sized families.

sashh · 01/02/2015 03:36

Children who can swim can still get in to trouble.

What would your 6 year old, alone in the big pool do if there was a fire alarm and you had to evacuate? What would you do?

JellyTipisthebest · 01/02/2015 04:44

I have just looked at the details for pools local to me. I am not in the uk but the rules seem strict but useful. The life guards here seem to be more actively supervising here, don't look bored and switch place often.

The rule here in nz

All children under 5 years of age must be accompanied in the water within arms reach at all times, by a caregiver 16 years or over. A maximum of 2 preschoolers to each adult.
Children between 5 and 8 years of age must be actively supervised by a caregiver 16 years or over. Actively supervised means watching the child or children in your care at all times and being able to provide immediate assistance.

This seems to be a national rule. I would be that the original poster would be able to take hers swimming at the weekend with dh.

Also looked at two local councils where I used to live one was similar to here

small pool 1-2 for under 4 1-4 for 4-7 mixed ages 1-3
big pool 1-1 under 4 1-2 4-7 mixed ages 1-1

The other council had this on the website

Changing facilities

Children entering a changing room of the opposite sex must:

Be under eight years of age
Be accompanied by a parent, or adult aged 16 or over.

Swimming pools

Children under the age of eight must be accompanied and supervised in the water by a responsible parent, or adult aged 18 or over
A maximum of two children under the age of eight may be supervised by one adult.

TooHasty · 01/02/2015 09:37

YANBU especially when their spotty teenage swimming instructors are deemed capable of supervising 10 kids alone ( without a life guard if the swimmers are schoolage)

scaevola · 01/02/2015 09:50

It's relevant that this is an old thread, because it shows how long such rules have been in force, that they were not and remain not uniform, and that there probably hasn't been that much difference in population level swimming ratios over this time - my guess because:

a) so many families don't take their children swimming at all (nothing to do with logistics, they just don't)
b) real learning of swimming (as opposed to water confidence) usually only begins at school age when the rules may not be at their most restrictive anyhow.

2rebecca · 01/02/2015 09:54

Given the number of times my local pool is closed for 24 hours due to small children pooing in the water as swim nappies aren't completely leak proof I think no under 4s in a large pool where people want to swim not faff about is sensible.
Ou rules are 1 adult for 2 children under 4 and 1 to 3 above that so you could go but taking them all swimming doesn't sound much fun with 2 under a year old. I'd have 1 parent take the 6 year old and the other one do stuff with the tinies.

TeWiSavesTheDay · 01/02/2015 09:58

Our rules are 1to1 for nonswimmers, we have 3 kids (5 and under) so we almost never have a chance to go!

It does worry me because there are lakes and rivers in our town and I would like them to get lots of practice and learn to swim sooner not just a ten minute lesson a week (waiting list for individual lessons is huge)

fatlazymummy · 01/02/2015 10:02

I agree with the OP. My middle child can barely swim because of this rule. As a single parent I was unable to take my youngest 2 , and couldn't afford lessons for him.
He had 30 half hour lessons during the course of his junior school ,during which he learnt almost nothing, and that is it. He refuses to go swimming at all now, even though I have offered to pay for lessons.
When I was a child virtually all children could swim. We went every single week with the school from years 5 -11. Neither of my parents could swim but that didn't matter.
Something is wrong here, IMO.

ProudAS · 01/02/2015 15:45

The rules have been around for at least 20 years in some places.

I don't get why parents can't be trusted to make correct decisions. Our local pools are one adult to two under eights but I've often heard parents say they are not prepared to take two weak swimmers on their own.

And in reply to Rebecca's post (albeit slightly off topic) I think it should be compulsory for babies to be "double bagged" as required by Aqua Tots and the like.

Ashleyg1992 · 19/02/2015 14:12

I think the suggestion that no young children should be in the main pool, is ridiculous. In my local pool they have a very small baby pool and a main pool, I would not dare take my young ones only in the baby pool, where is the fun in that, they would be bored quick. Then again I have never been in a pool when a baby has pooed in it, never had to be evacuated for that reason.
I think 1-2-2 is a reasonable ratio for under 4's, think it is a lot to ask for people to be getting someone else to go with them just so their kids can swim.
I am in the UK and it is pretty strict about ratio rules most places.

bruffin · 19/02/2015 14:40

The rules have been around for at least 20 years in some places.

Yes as my DS is 19 and DD 17 and the rules didnt stop my children learning to swim. They are now qualified lifeguards and it would be their responsibility if a child drowned because the parent was distracted because they have too many children to look after. Mine had swimming lessons or one went in the creche if i took them swimming until they were old enough.
Parents do not always make the right decisions. I used to watch dd at her lesson, there was some parents whose children were in an earlier lesson and they let them stay in the pool, these were young children about 6 or 7 and not competant swimmers (their class was still in shallow end). The parents were never keeping an eye on them, too busy chatting and werent even facing the pool.
Another young couple came in and had a baby in a seat float, the baby was floating at the deep end way out of their reach and they didnt notice. He also came into the ladies changing room afterwards.

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