To be irritated by swimming pool parties for 5yo

[ridingsixwhitehorses]

Trend for them at our school. Held in local municipal pool. Ratio 1 adult to 2 kids, so you have to go in with them. I don't want to be in my swimming costume in front of all the school parents. Not only that but the party room where the non swimming parents hang out overlooks pool so all the clothes parents get to see you too.

I'm in the south West Sea
Our local pool only charges £90 for the small pool for an hour + party room for one hour after.

Which is less than I usually shell out for a large hall + bouncy castle!

The funny thing is, I live in Australia and most of my friends have pools, but pool parties before about age 10 are not the done thing.

It's a safety issue. Most people don't want to be even vicariously responsible for a bunch of 5-year-olds in a pool.

Bit surprised these parties are so popular, tbh.

Yanbu at all op.

Sea I am in New Zealand and DD's 7th was 10 years ago, however back then though all children above the age of 5 can be left unaccompanied in the local pool. All the kids were confident swimmers and water safety here is taught at a young age, also like I said it was heavily lifeguarded.

I think we had about 8 girls, two parent's, I got in the water and the other mum stayed on the sidelines. We had no issues whatsoever, more issues at the McDonalds lunch

OP, you could wear swimming leggings and top? I wear them when I can't be bothered to Veet myself. They come in full length, cropped, shorts etc

Do you have a partner? Could you take it in turns?

My twins had one for their 7th. They got to invite the whole class as it's a big pool (teaching pool) at the local Leisure Centre. It was a mixture of parents, quite a few Dads plus two life guards. Same cost as a bouncy castle party. I didn't go in, I watched and sorted out the party room. The kids loved it. Most of them left begging to have a swim party.

I'm about to book a swimming party for my DDs 3rd birthday. I chose it because 1- my daughter loves swimming, 2- her best friend is disabled and while they would come to soft play they can't really join in but they can at swimming, 3- £90 for swimming and food and party bags for 10 kids is a bargain round here.

Try to forget it and get stuck in once you are in the pool, the more self conscious you act the more attention is drawn to you. The first 5 minutes will be hard but if you try to forget what you are wearing it will improve and get easier

I know it's easier said than done but it's something I push myself to do and it is true, even things like hating getting my photo taken but just going along with it when someone gets a camera out. They all know what I look like and they still like me, so seeing a photo won't change that

YANBU stupid idea on many levels. I wouldn't want to go in and also there will be huge variation in ability of the kids at that age.

Actually I didn't think I was particularly body concious but I agree- not so much being seen in a costume but the showers etc after (even in a locked shower cubicle I still have to walk around in just a towel and wrestle bags/ lockers etc making it possible it will fall down!) to me it's similar to finding yourself going swimming with co workers-
Cringe

I considered it for ds who is turning 6 but decided against it for the reasons already stated. Ds loves swimming and can swim reasonably well but I know there's huge variation at this age. I also know that at this age parents would need to get in too - while I would have no problem with this, wobbly bits and all, I know that many others would not be and can't say I blame them. I'd be concerned that parents would reject the invitation on their child's behalf which would also upset ds. Best to wait a few years until they're capable of swimming independently - although by then they'll have probably outgrown parties. Yanbu op.

This would be the first invitation I would have turned down on my child's behalf. I enjoy swimming and no one would think negatively of me in a costume (myself excepting). I need glasses though and get very cold quickly so I wouldn't do this.

I wouldn't go. I don't even own a swimsuit because i'm too embarrassed to be seen in one.

Slightly U IMO. If you can't handle it, just don't go.

YANBU. Sounds like hell on water. Changing rooms are no fun at all, neither is parading around in your underwater in front of many people you actually know. I would go, but I would hate it.

Whoah! WHo on earth doesn't want to go to a pool party? Muffin top or not, I am getting in. Wiggling around with happy kids in a pool is one of lifes delights. All you naysayers are mad. LOVE pool parties

I think it's a bit sad that kids are missing out on parties because of adults body confidence issues. No-one's going to be looking at you - they'll be too busy having fun with their kids/making sure they don't drown.
Wear a full costume, wrap yourself in a bath sheet and leave it at the side of the pool. When you get out wrap yourself in the bathsheet again and head straight to get changed - shower at home.

I agree

I get really bad eczema flare ups if I swim in chlorinated pools. It is really not worth the months of getting it under control afterwards. So I just used to say this. Luckily I had the skin flare excuse but even if I didn't have that, I also would never have put a swimming costume on in front of the "all skinny/slim" mothers at DS's primary school

Maybe you could use something like that as an excuse? I was lucky that Dh usually went instead of me but if he hadn't I just would not have taken DS. I would have thought of some reason why we could not make the party (eg pre-existing family/other friend event and then made sure it happened) .

It may make me a terrible parent but nonetheless there it is.

I have been lucky in that neither of my DC have ever been invited to a swimming party. Now they're 13 and 11 and so id they are invited, they can go in on their own.

I have no problems with my body but the whole thing of swimming pool and getting wet and getting changed and being sticky afterwards etc wouldn't have appealed to me at all

These threads are always the same, suggestions what the OP should wear, (like you would go and buy a NEW costume for a 5yo party??) advice on how no one cares about what you look like etc etc. I would be very irritated as I hate swimming pools non stop! I love swimming in the sea etc but just hate the smell of chlorine, hair everywhere, communal showers and veruca floors. Don't worry my kids can swim perfectly and do get to enjoy swimming pools with other members of the family. I also don't have any body issues

I just find it weird to do it for such young kids forcing parents to participate when there are so many other party venues available. Also many 5 yo are still a bit weary of water and don't want to dip their heads etc.

YANBU

I honestly think a lot of that is in your head bumblingbovine. Would you care what anyone else looked like? If you are overweight then you are in clothes or in a swimsuit anyway. If people are going to judge they're going to judge.

YANBU. If it's for 5 yo presumably you don't even know the other parents that well yet, it's like inviting them round your house and opening the door in a push up bra and thong. Weird. Even when was a size 8 I wouldn't have wanted to do this. 'Luckily' for me, I can't swim, ha so there! This did mean any swim parties before mine were 9 had to be attended by my DH thank god I'd chucked his Speedos out years ago he didn't give a toss though so all worked out in the end.

Yanbu, i hope they don't catch on here