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AIBU?

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Original poster

Swimming party for a 7 year old

42 replies

Fullofthought · 08/07/2018 13:03

Thing of a swimming party for my daughter's 7 birthday most kids will be 6 or 7 so parents need to go in with them. Would you let your child go to one of these party's? Or would you be put off.

OP posts:
AnastasiaVonBeaverhausen · 08/07/2018 13:05

For my DC no because both can swim but it would probably be worth checking with the friends if they can or not before booking. And if there were any suggestion that I would have to don swimwear and join in you wouldn't see my kids for dust!!!

LorelaiVictoriaGilmore · 08/07/2018 13:05

Why not? What are you worried about?

Sirzy · 08/07/2018 13:05

Can you arrange enough adults so parents having to go in isn’t expected? Not all will be able to/want to.

AnastasiaVonBeaverhausen · 08/07/2018 13:06

Just reread properly seen parents would have to get in too. Ugh. I mean I'm sure there are plenty who would. I am not one of them.

BoxsetsAndPopcorn · 08/07/2018 13:07

They don't bother me but I know a lot rsvp no for this kind of party as they can't think of anything worse than having to don a bathing suit in front of other school parents.

NotAsGreenAsCabbageLooking · 08/07/2018 13:09

No way.

Backstabbath · 08/07/2018 13:10

You would get a lot of rejections... my experience says parents hate these type of parties... lots of mums/ dads do not want to make small talk in a pool with fellow parents in swimwear

Dixiechickonhols · 08/07/2018 13:11

Personally I’d wait until they are 8 and can swim alone. Dds friend had one age 7 and it was awkward. I went in with a few dads but felt I had no choice as there weren’t enough swimming adults. Some of the other mums were Muslim and couldn’t swim or wouldn’t swim in public. Birthday girls mum had had an expensive blow dry, couldn’t swim and didn’t go in. Felt like we were the childcare whilst all the others sat in the side chatting.

Lindy2 · 08/07/2018 13:21

My DD wanted a swimming party. I have to say I really wasn't keen on arranging adults to go in the pool and supervising changing of clothes before and after the swim whilst also trying to do the food, party bags and other host stuff.
I was very relieved when she decided on a trampolining party. We still needed 3 extra adult helpers for that and I have to say we only just got enough other parents willing to stay and do that. At 7 most adults just want to drop and run.

NameChangingParanoid · 08/07/2018 13:24

I wouldn’t get in the pool & have refused previously. I’d wait till they can all swim & no one needs to go in.

megletthesecond · 08/07/2018 13:25

Not a good idea.
My dc's have been invited to two pool parties and safety standards at the pool and parent / child ratios were dodgy. The pool only specified a minimum age limit, no requirements for the kids actually being able to swim.
I ended up supervising other dc's who couldn't swim, my dc's can but I was so glad they had me at a distance.

KnockMeDown · 08/07/2018 13:33

I would check with your local pool re how they organise it. Last year when DD turned 7 she wanted a swimming party. About a month before her birthday she was invited to a friend's swimming party, and it went so well that I booked hers the same day. Then of her friends that came, several went on to do the same.

The party was held in the learner pool, party organisers provided a couple of parents to go in, and venue provided lifeguards in and out of pool. There was no obligation on parents to go in at all.

And all the kids absolutely loved it!

Applesandpears23 · 08/07/2018 13:37

Only if held in shallow pool not main pool.

missperegrinespeculiar · 08/07/2018 13:37

No sorry, no way! I would hate it!

But when we organised a swim party for our DC when they were little we hired a group of lovely and well-trained young people who organised games in the pool and supervised the kids, they had a great time and no parent was required to go in, could something like this be possible where you are? in out area most swimming pools offer the service.

CurcubitaPepo · 08/07/2018 13:40

Ive done this as a guest and I didn’t mind. I appreciate others feel differently tho and I know it was a lot of work for the parent to organise re relevant ratios.

xyzandabc · 08/07/2018 13:45

I wouldn't do a swimming party before 9th birthday. Then the youngest child would be 8 which is the minimum age limit unsupervised for most pools.

I would and have taken my children age 5 and 6 to swimming parties and they had a great time. But as a parent I just think it's a bit rude to invite kids to a party, but then expect the parents to have to not only stay, but also get in the pool to supervise.

Amongst our friends most can swim or are at least tall enough to touch the bottom in the shallow end and muck about by age 9.
At 6 or 7 many still can't swim and find even the shallow end quite deep.

DustyOwl · 08/07/2018 13:47

Depends on the parents. We have some parents that we knew would be fine with it. DS had a brilliant party, the kids loved it and a lot of the parents had fun on the floats too!

DustyOwl · 08/07/2018 13:50

Forgot to add, he was 6 and the pool was shallow. Like I said, I asked around the parents first to check if they minded.

Original poster
Fullofthought · 08/07/2018 14:04

Have took advice on board and have decided to put it off another year.

OP posts:
FatSally · 08/07/2018 14:07

I've taken mine to them but they were poorly attended...I don't let the dc have them until their 9th birthday when all their friends will already be 8 (or their 8th if summer born).

SoyDora · 08/07/2018 14:11

We’re going to a swimming party for a 5 year old soon (my DC is 4). More than happy for her to go and more than happy to get in the pool if needed.

mavismcruet · 08/07/2018 14:12

Wow I’m really surprised so many are against this. My dd is 7 and she has been to lots of pool parties since reception. They always get a good turn out.

SoyDora · 08/07/2018 14:31

I’m surprised too. Didn’t realise they were considered a bad thing. DD loves swimming and loves parties so swimming parties are ideal!

LorelaiVictoriaGilmore · 08/07/2018 14:48

I'm surprised. Ds is 3 and I was thinking I'd do a pool party for his 4th birthday - our local leisure centre does 'toddler splash' so it would just be a birthday version of that. But nearly all the mums and dads I know take their kids to the leisure centre anyway so it wouldn't be anything different or unusual other than a birthday tea afterwards!

mummyhaschangedhername · 08/07/2018 14:49

We have done a pool party for the last few years for my twins who are now aged 6 but been doing it since they were 4. It's never been massively well attended. However my kids love it! So. I don't really mind if others do or don't attend. Their birthdays are end of Nov so it's an awkward time of year and people get sick etc so I'm less worried about numbers this way.

Yes adults have to go in with them, which is a pain I suppose, but then we are quite hands on so I don't really mind.