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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Waterpark holiday & DS' friend can't swim

166 replies

LittleMissSandy · 14/07/2016 10:15

DS(10) is an only child and so for our holiday this year we invited a friend of his to come along at our own expense.

We're going to an all inclusive water park in Spain, great slides, lots of water etc so I just naturally assumed that the friend could swim, until this morning at the gates when friend's Mum asked if he'd be able to wear arm bands on the water slides

I was so taken aback, I said I wasn't sure & that I would double check. Their doesn't actually seem to be anything about it on the website, does anyone know if children can wear arm bands on large water slides? Their are lots of small rides that I'm sure they could go on but the whole point of inviting a friend was so that they could spend the days together and go on all the rides.

We leave on Saturday, so far too late to do anything now.

OP posts:

VimFuego101 · 14/07/2016 10:16

I can't see him wanting to go on large water slides if he can't even swim tbh. I doubt he'd be confident to go down them and potentially go underwater.

Scarydinosaurs · 14/07/2016 10:17

Arm bands should be fine, I've often see children wearing arm bands.

It could be that he can swim but wears the arm bands for confidence? What about a zip up float top?

Double check his water confidence first before assuming he definitely can't swim.

Coconutty · 14/07/2016 10:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 14/07/2016 10:19

I'm sure it will be fine. Can he now swim at all or is he just not confident? A lot of slides will be shallow enough at the bottom to stand up in plus have a lifeguard there. You will just need to work out which ones you think are safe for him to go on without an adult and ban him from the others.

I went to a similar place in Egypt and to be honest the kids were fed up with queuing for slides and went on them a bit but spent most of the time in the pool which was shallow enough to stand in.

Original poster

LittleMissSandy · 14/07/2016 10:22

His Mother said "he can't really swim" which is why he'd need the bands, I was just too surprised to ask any further, I assumed that to mean that he can't swim at all but perhaps he's just not confident?

OP posts:

Scarydinosaurs · 14/07/2016 10:24

"He can't really swim" could very well be code for: he can swim but I make him wear armbands as I am neurotic. Double check, I really hope he is more water-confident than you think.

mummymeister · 14/07/2016 10:26

he and you would be better off with one of the zip on floaty jackets. water slides can be quite strong and unless arm bands are wedged on (which is uncomfortable) they can come off.

I would check with the water park and make sure that they are 100% happy with this.

from my point of view I would just buy the floaty jacket anyway to give you some peace of mind. did the mum know the sort of holiday that was planned when she said her DS could go?

xandra588 · 14/07/2016 10:31

Scarydinosaurs (love the username btw ) makes a very good point. Bitchmom can just be overprotective. You should double check and ask the kid if he can swim.

Sonders · 14/07/2016 10:38

I'm nearly 30 and can still barely swim (parents didn't see it as a priority and I didn't realise it was odd until well into adulthood). I also went on loads of waterpark holidays as a kid and it was never an issue.

There's generally only one pool that'll be deep, anything at the end of a slide will be 2ft at most. I wouldn't worry too much, but maybe use the first couple of days to judge how sensible of a child he is around water.

The mum should have told you as soon as she knew it was a water-based holiday though, it could end up being far less fun if you have to watch the child like a hawk the whole time!

KoalaDownUnder · 14/07/2016 10:38

I wouldn't be taking a child to s waterpark of his own mother said 'He can't really swim'.

No way.

KoalaDownUnder · 14/07/2016 10:39

I am actually really surprised at the way this thread has gone.

RubbleBubble00 · 14/07/2016 10:40

I would go for a float jacket. Much more secure and give the kid more confidence when he comes off slides as he will float right up. Safer than armbands too

Lunar1 · 14/07/2016 10:44

I'm shocked she didn't tell you when you asked him on the holiday! Is it a hotel with pool you are staying in? It would really change the holiday for me.

LunaLoveg00d · 14/07/2016 10:46

I would be telling the other parent that she needs to send her child with a zip-up float jacket as suggested, although I'm not sure I've seen them for a 10 year old, they are usually for much smaller children.

Also, what the hell was the other mother THINKING when she accepted an invitation to a waterpark holiday for a child who couldn't swim. That's just stupid. Or, assuming your holiday was booked several weeks/months ago you accept, and then put your child into as many intensive swimming classes as you can.

LunaLoveg00d · 14/07/2016 10:47

Oh and the mother who is organising the holiday should absolutely not be the one rushing around like a blue arsed fly trying to source the float jacket.

BathshebaDarkstone · 14/07/2016 10:49

Of course they can! DD goes to the Splashzone all the time in armbands!

kelda · 14/07/2016 10:50

I wouldn't take him to a waterpark if he can't swim, an extra child is hard enough work as it is, without worrying about keeping him safe in water. I am surprised they accepted the invitation. Did they realise it's at a waterpark>?

kelda · 14/07/2016 10:50

Agree, tell the parents to get him a float jacket. And rather you than me!

Coconutty · 14/07/2016 10:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KoalaDownUnder · 14/07/2016 10:52

Every waterpark I've been to contains multiple pools. Of water.

Why the hell would you want to be responsible for someone else's non-swimming 10-year-old in a place full of pools?

youngestisapsycho · 14/07/2016 10:54

The couple of waterparks I've been to in Spain do not allow armbands on the big slides....

Thomasisintraining · 14/07/2016 10:57

Yes armbands will be no problem in most water parks. We have had them on various children over the years until they learned to swim. It will be no problem.

Thomasisintraining · 14/07/2016 10:58

I think you need to supervise 10 year olds in a water park one way or another so that is not really the issue.

Rhythmsticks · 14/07/2016 10:59

10 yo's should be able to swim- I think you will make your holiday hard op if you take this child. You can't leave a non swimming child without adult supervision really. So you will have to accompany then on all the slides? I would check with the mother, maybe she is just being neuroti, why would she have a cepted an invitation to a Water park for a child who can't swim?!

BarbaraofSeville · 14/07/2016 10:59

Some pools and slides are fine for non swimmers. The slides dump you in 2/3 feet of water at the bottom and you walk out. Wave pools he just goes in as far as he feels confident - he can still stand in chest deep water and have fun bobbing up and down when the waves come.

No swimming required and there will be a sign on each slide/activity about height requirements and whether it is gentle, extreme or whatever.

If your DS is a confident swimmer, he can keep an eye on him anyway. I supervised my little brother at that age because my mum can't swim at all.

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