Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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:

Aeroflotgirl · 14/07/2016 11:00

Yanbu she should have said that ages ago, tbh I would not feel happy taking a child who is not able to swim, on a water park holiday. I would have to helicopter him like a much young child all the time, that is not what I would want to. Its added stress. If I were the mother, I would not feel happy if my child who was not water confident, going without me on a water park holiday. She better book some swimming lessons for him, or start taking him to the pool regularly to build confidence, as it is an essential skill, which can save his life.

Orangetoffee · 14/07/2016 11:02

Most waterparks I have been to do not allow armbands on the big slides or any other floating devices.
I would be very pissed off with his mum for not telling you when he was invited. Are you supposed to be supervising him? Surely you can't feel relaxed knowing that he can't really swim. And what is your DS supposed to do when his friend can go on the big slides. I also can't imagine a 10 yo being happy about wearing armbands.

She has really dropped you into it.

ParadiseCity · 14/07/2016 11:03

In some ways taking a child who can't swim is better than taking an over confident child. You can set rules about arm bands etc without them being unhappy about it. I would have a look at travellers photos on tripadvisor to see what the water park is like and go from there.

Orangetoffee · 14/07/2016 11:03

Can not go on the big slides

JoandMax · 14/07/2016 11:03

All the water parks where we live are no armbands for the big slides and rides, only in the children's section which to be honest is really only 5 years olds or younger...... Also they all have deep water, I'd be pretty concerned and looking for an alternative in your case I think

Birdsgottafly · 14/07/2016 11:04

I "can't really swim", but I've on to many water parks, around the world.

Oddly enough, I go snorkelling, as well. Put me in open water without a snorkel on and I'd be in trouble.

Your DS wants someone who can mess about in water and can float to the top, not a 'swimmer' as such.

A float jacket would be good, sports direct etc have them cheap enough.

I've never heard of this fear of non swimmers going to water parks, tbh.

At most it will limit what he goes on, but as long as he's happy to watch your DS, or do one of the smaller ones, there isn't going to be an issue.

Your DS wants someone he'll get on with and hopefully isn't a fussy eater, upset at being in a different country than his Parents etc.

HairySubject · 14/07/2016 11:05

We have been on a few waterpark holidays and the big slides come out into deep water. No way can a non swimmer go on those.

budgiegirl · 14/07/2016 11:05

does anyone know if children can wear arm bands on large water slides

There's no way of answering this, unless you call the hotel. Some places will allow it, some won't.

I'd ask the mother to provide a float jacket, and then you'll just have to wait and see when you get there.

Coconutty · 14/07/2016 11:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KoalaDownUnder · 14/07/2016 11:06

I wish people would stop peddling the idea that 'in some ways, a child who can't swim is safer than one who can'. It's untrue and dangerous.

The only way such a child would be 'safer' is if he literally stays within arm's length of you the entire time. Which is impossible.

Schwabischeweihnachtskanne · 14/07/2016 11:07

That's going to add a lot of stress to your holiday as you will have to be at the bottom of the slide when he comes down, surely.

Some big waterparks have rules about exactly which floatation devices are allowed on sides - certain types of life vests usually - so it might be foolish to assume anything.

The parents are very odd not to have told you he can't swim before accepting the invitation! How unfortunate!

CocktailQueen · 14/07/2016 11:08

Could you ask his mum to take him swimming so he can swim before the holiday??? Some slides will come out into shallow water; some will not. NO way of knowing unless you ring the park and ask them. Hassle for you, though.

2nds · 14/07/2016 11:10

OP it was up to you to find out if the child could swim or not seeing as you were the one who asked him to come and you booked the holiday and I'm sorry but I think it's wrong to assume that other kids can do something if your child can.

NavyandWhite · 14/07/2016 11:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fourarmsv2 · 14/07/2016 11:13

I try to avoid taking non-swimmers swimming TBH. I've invested lots of time and money getting mine to be confident swimmers so now I want to reap the rewards.

But I've made the mistake and ended up with non-swimmers on holidays.

I'd get a float jacket and situate myself at the exit to the deepest slides.

I'd also confirm with parents what level of supervision they expect. I regularly (weekly+) take kids whose parents are happy for them to swim unsupervised by me (they have a lifeguard and there's usually less than 10 kids in the pool). I make sure they know that's the deal though.

lucy101101 · 14/07/2016 11:13

I sadly would withdraw the invitation as I would find it very stressful indeed that they couldn't swim. I have seen a young, fit boy who could swim drown by the way when they got into difficulties which I will never forget. I actually can't believe the boy's parents accepted the invitation....

reallyanotherone · 14/07/2016 11:15

Arm bands won't keep a 10 year old afloat anyway.

I wouldn't be allowing a non-swimmer to go chest deep in a wave pool, if he loses his balance he's under and panicking. Knee or thigh deep at most.

Sorry O/p, sounds like a nightmare.

feathermucker · 14/07/2016 11:16

How long ago did she know that it was a water-park holiday?!

Did you not ask her at the time whether her son could swim?

Mistakes on both parts really, but you can't change that now.

Phone the company and check.

And check his actual level of swimming ability.

Schwabischeweihnachtskanne · 14/07/2016 11:17

2nds unless LittleMiss and her son failed to mention that the holiday was to an All Inclusive Water Park your comment is a bit silly.

If another mum asked you if your child would like to go with them on a horse riding holiday you would know they were going to ride horses and ask the inviting mother whether the holiday was appropriate for a child who'd never been on a horse, surely. It would be sensible for the inviting mother to ask about that, but once Horse Riding had been mentioned you'd automatically have that in mind when deciding whether to accept.

The same is doubly true for a swimming holiday as, unlike horse riding, swimming is something that most 10 year olds can do to some extent...

Its actually almost unbelievable that anyone would accept an invitation to go on an All Inclusive Water Park holiday on behalf of a non swimmer without discussing the non swimming status of the child with the person offering the invitation from the outset! In fact the normal response would be "Oh what a lovely offer but I'm afraid he can't really swim, such a pity we'll have to turn you down" ...

CocktailQueen · 14/07/2016 11:26

Totally disagree with you, 2nds. It's up to the other boy's parent to check where their dc has been invited to and decide if it's appropriate or not, then let the inviting parent know important things your dc can;'t swim! If one of my dc had been invited on a holiday like that I'd Google and check the resort and would tell the other parent that my dc couldn't swim.

sofato5miles · 14/07/2016 11:27

Oh OP i feel for you. What a silly woman his DM is. A 10 year old in arm bands is ludicrous.

Many slides end in shallow water, or troughs. He will just have to be restricyed to those. Wave pools etc tend to have floaty jackets, and it's easy to supervise that.

I once took an non swimming adult to a waterpark in Dubai and it was fine. Even the lazy river was easy enough, but i would stay by his side for rides like that.

I would be irritated by his mother though.

Original poster

LittleMissSandy · 14/07/2016 11:30

I did make it very clear on the invite & on multiple phone calls/face to face convo's after that it was a waterpark and that although we would be around we wouldn't be following them 24/7 and not once has she brought up the fact that he might have issues swimming. I booked it May, discussion started around mid April.

I really wouldn't have invited him if I'd known that I might have to worry about his safety. It's not just the slides but the water park in general, anything can happen. I'll ask his Mother to get a float jacket and hope that he's a far better swimmer then she made him out to be

OP posts:

SuperFlyHigh · 14/07/2016 11:31

Koala bit over dramatic - I'd let him come but just make him wear arm bands and say if there's any pool etc he doesn't want to go in (eg too deep, he's too scared etc) or if he's nervous he could come in with me (eg the OP).

if they don't allow arm bands on big slides then he's not allowed on them... end of.

Excited101 · 14/07/2016 11:32

This is ridiculous!

Why wouldn't this have been mentioned up front?! You need to clarify just how bad in the water he is. I doubt very much if he'll be able to wear arm bands on the rides (you can get them even for adults so they can be bought to work with older children) And Konfidence style jackets aren't usually made for older children but life jackets/boyency aids- as for sailing/waterskiing but I doubt you can wear them on slides- it's be worth his mum checking though.

I agree that it sounds like she's having a last minute panic about him going, and he'll probably be fine. He doesn't need to be able to swim great distances but he does need to be confident and strong at kicking (to the surface/side) and treading water.

Scarydinosaurs · 14/07/2016 11:32

Float jacket will definitely be sufficient. Try not to worry- if he was bad enough to warrant total supervision, I'm sure she would have said when booking!

And also, surely your DS would have noticed if he had massive water issues during school swimming lessons!

I bet it's just her worrying and wanting to be extra safe.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Swipe left for the next trending thread