50M pool and almost 12 year old

[LolaLockdale]

DD who'll be 12 this Sunday has just asked if she can go to the outdoor pool in our area, I said I'll think about it but I really can't decide.

7 other girls and 5 boys are going, I only know 3 of the other girls.

By public transport it takes either 2 buses and 30 mins altogether or 1 bus and a walk which would be around 40 mins.

In the summer the outdoor pool is jampacked, the deepest part is 50M, halfway point 25M, their are lifeguards and DD is a strong swimmer but she's never gone to that specific pool without us and I'm worried that something could go wrong.

Am I being too overprotective?

Yes, a bit.

(I'd be more worried about the buses than the pool, but not with all those other kids).

I think you are. Can understand your concern however, I certainly would have let my DD go at 12

The pool is very unlikely to be 50m deep, or even 25m. Drowning only needs a few inches of water anyway.

Does the pool allow unaccompanied kids?

It definitely is not even approaching 50 M deep. The deepest pool in the world is about 40M I think.

No, it's definetly 50M. Picture attached.

It will be 50m long not deep.

And yes a twelve year old should be allowed to go swimming unaccompanied with friends.

That's a 50m long pool. Olympic sized.

unaccompanied children over 8 are allowed

Defiantly the length not the depth! She'll be fine. Make sure she's got a phone and ask her to ring when she's there and when she's leaving.
Sounds lots of fun!

I think you are getting length and depth mixed up OP.

Oh, my mistake, sorry for the confusion.

The public transport doesn't bother me with all those children going and I suppose I am being too overprotective, although I really wanted you all to agree with me. DD will be pleased

The worlds deepest pool is only 35m at the deepest point so think your local pool could be a record breaker!! More likely that it is 2/3m deep at most

So you are picturing a pool that you could drop the statue of liberty into and have it completely underwater?

Goodness me that's the length not the depth!
But still I get why you are worried but still I think I would let her go. Parenting is hard isn't it!

You dafty OP! It's 50m LONG not deep! Our local outdoor pool which is also 50m long incidentally, is only as deep as the indoor pool.

At least I made this mistake on an anonymous forum and not in real life, I can just imagine DD's face if I'd used the pool's 50M deep as an excuse

Thats why mumsnet is so useful!

I asked what a vest was on here when I was pregnant. :)

Love it. And glad there are still 50m pools rather than the silly 25m ones that get built now.

Yes, course. I used to drop dd and her friend off at the door from being 8, while I went shopping, as did friends mum. (Shared childcare a fair bit). From the summer holidays after y5 we let both catch the bus there together. Although in fairness the bus route is a safe one, both v sensible and strong swimmers. From about halfway through y6 a few others started joining them. And throughout y7 there hasn't been one in her group of friends that has wanted to go but isn't allowed.

I'd let her go. And impress upon her that they all need to stick together and re-apply suncream!

I've told her she can go, she's so pleased and thinks I'm really cool now, thankfully doesn't realise that I've embarrassed myself over the internet

I would let her go although I would be a bit anxious. Think its one if the hardest parts of parenting - encouraging independence while fretting at the same time. I still worry about older teens and public transport - probably due to a nasty experience when I was younger but I still let them go. On the positive side she is with a large group so they should all look out for each other.

Well done