AIBU - pool safety question

[Wearegoingtobedlehem]

Should a three year old be expected to walk poolside ( round to the opposite side of the pool) without an adult?

If you are walking round a pool and slip over, it's incredibly difficult to fall into the water. Who slips over and ends up a couple of feet away from where they were walking?

Also part of water safety is learning to walk (not run) around a pool. Yabu.

Whenever I've been swimming and the kids have to walk along the side of the big pool to get to the lesson pool, the instructor makes them walk with a hand on the wall. They must be several feet away from the edge with zero chance of falling in. Perhaps they could do this?

As long as your DD understands not to get in the water before reaching her instructor that is perfectly safe. Would you never let her walk ahead when walking next to a river, for example? If you are watching and aware of what she is doing you could react quickly enough to save her in the very unlikely event that she were to fall into the pool.

By 3 in the worst case scenario that they fell, mine would have had enough sense to come up and grab the side (isn't that the whole point of swimming lessons at that age - to teach them water safety and confidence?).

Personally I think it's great that parents aren't allowed water side. Where parents are allowed pool side I have seen so many children distracted by their parents and refusing to do as they are told by the teacher or leave their parent's side at the start of the lesson, which just wastes a lot of time for the other children who are waiting patiently (and distracts the teacher who then needs to focus on them rather than the safety of the other children).

Ok, I always go straight to the viewing gallery so no I don't distract them during the lesson.

My only worry is the little one slipping and hurting herself on the floor- I am not worried about her slipping into the pool as this is unlikely- and the instructor is in the pool albeit in the wrong bit/ lanes away.

My 5 year old doesn't worry me in the least she is very stable walking poolside

Lo has nearly gone over a number of times on the wet floor- but with me holding her hand I have saved the fall. . Maybe she has leant to walk more carefully?

Maybe I will do as another poster said and flop flops or crocs for them to avoid the slipping issue.

Just seems daft in a sense that the rule exists to prevent a previous incident of a parent slipping but they don't mention the risk of a small child slipping.

Fwiw I am not that pfb or risk averse, they ride the live on a farm etc- but much the same as I wouldn't be happy to let them walk up the road alone - but with an adult fine etc.

I get you OP. You're scared of him banging his head? Mine were prone to slipping at that age too. Just don't have him in there if you feel uncomfortable.

I think she will be fine.The sides are usually quite textured aren't they.Just tell her not to run.

In the unlikely event she did slip, I think she would either land on her arse or her hands and knees

sorry posted too soon.I think head bangs usually happen when people faint and can't save themselves at all.

Op i didn't suggest you were distracting the dc, just that I think it's preferable for parents to be away for the pool side so that this doesn't happen for any parent or child.

If you double the amount of people poolside (by adding in parents), the likelihood of someone being bumped into or knocked by a handbag of a mum turning round etc increases hugely. Also there is a hygiene / cleanliness issue of people wearing outdoor shoes poolside.

We have always lived in hot countries (I am also a swimming teacher for small children) and children learn to walk poolside as soon as they learn to walk elsewhere. Learning to walk carefully on slippery surfaces whether bathroom floors, icy pavements or poolside is just something that kids have to get through.

Little children often fall over. Why some adults feel this is so horrendous I'm not sure.

As long as there is an adult looking out for them I don't think it's an issue. You said the instructor collects and delivers them though, then you said the instructor stays in the pool. Which is it?

Notso, the company running the lessons and school suggest that the instructor collects the but he does not