To think that 8 is a bit of a low cut-off age for paddling pools.

[SolidGoldBrass]

My DS is 9, and he loves park paddling pools/splashzones. Always has done. I have noticed a few signs and mentions on websites that suggest over-8s shouldn't be using them which (particularly on hot days) seems a bit mean. I can understand over-12s being frowned on, but a 9 year old is still a kid and, as long as he's careful not to barge into or scare the little ones, he's not doing any harm.

That's pretty appalling... they expected a 9yo with ASD to go in a 6' deep pool alone? Don't leisure centres have some sort of inclusivity policy?

BackforGood

Yes and you should see the size of our local one, and no age limit

www.expressandstar.com/news/2014/03/29/wolverhampton-pools-will-open-on-bank-holiday/

Well said erralthedragon, ds is a big 6 year old but understands that toddlers don't need to get squished so he's careful round them.

Parents need to just keep an eye on their kids and there should be no problems.

MissDuke, how do they know he's over 8? Sounds like the perfect situation for a well justified white-lie!
Wintertimeisfun what on earth has sugary breakfast cereal got to do with it? Why would anyone NOT check to see if the food they give their child is healthy? Am i totally missing your point?

Just to add, I do completely agree it's unfair for those willing to supervise their children. I only have one child but I can imagine the frustration if you have more than one. It's just a shame some parents view play areas as an opportunity to take a break from parenting, ruins it for everyone else.

I would like it if there were 'sessions' say for under 5s and over 5s, an hour each alternated? I know it would be a bit difficult to police, especially if parents have more than one child but being a mum to a very tiny 3 year old (still wearing 12-18 month clothes) who in his mind is a lot bigger and stronger than he is, seeing 8-9 year olds tearing around play areas terrifies me.

The one by us allows any age, including parents, and if I go with my partner, one of us sits with our 13 month old (it's not a pool but a water area with sprinklers and jets and things and as he can't walk yet he gets a bit frightened) and the other takes our 3 year old in as he won't run off if mummy or daddy are there to play with!

Even if bigger children don't mean to be rough or careless they can be when over excited and playing

Nurserroscoe, just wait until your tiny ones are 8-9, you'll realise their still babies to you and not so big and scary. Big kids mean no harm to toddlers.

I understand that, and I don't agree with them being completely banned from play areas, I just like the idea of there being separate sessions for older and younger children, or a tiny little pool for toddlers and a bigger more exciting area for older kids, like they have at the soft play, if over 5's go in the toddler area, charging about they get told to move by staff, if they just want to sit there and play with their little brother or sister they are allowed to stay, a lovely little boy who we didn't even know wanted to sit and play in the ball pit with my youngest the other day which I thought was really sweet. I know not all older children mean to harm little children, it's just easy to miss them when running around and send them flying

Pyjamaramadrama unfortunately some do. That's the point I was making earlier. I once took dd to a play area that was separated by size not age, under 90cm for the toddlers and over 90cm for the older kids. There were lots of kids aged around 7+ that were much bigger than 90cm who kept going in the toddler bit. There was one girl in particular who became very frustrated when she got stuck behind 2yr old dd on the climb up the the slide. By the time they got to the slide she'd had enough and kicked dd in the back, dd came flying down the slide at an odd angle and really hurt herself. I went berserk but her parents were no where to be seen. I told a member of staff who announced on the tannoy there were children in the small play area who shouldn't be and it was still another 5 minutes before her mother sauntered over.

See that makes me really mad. I'm very lucky ds is a nice kid isn't a little shit parents should always be keeping their eye out. If ds kicked a child he'd be apologising and we'd be going home immediately.

If there's a separated area the parents should make sure they stay that way, with the exception of calmly playing with baby brother or sister.

I just wish we had a splash area near where I live :(