Child's party - paying for adults WWYD?

[partypartypartyparty]

For my DD 8th birthday she wants to go to a waterpark near us with a swimming pool and lots of different slides. She is inviting about 10 friends, mix of boys and girls. The waterpark does a party package and it includes 2 free adult entries to supervise the children so that will be me and my DH. If any additional adults are attending it costs £15 for entry for them and £5 if they just want to spectate. My issue is whether parents would be expecting to attend?

We are both happy to supervise all the children and this is what I had planned to do, however when I was sorting the invites I wasn't sure if parents would be comfortable with this because it is a waterpark? I would be fine with DD being supervised by other parents at a waterpark but she is a very sensible child.

My other issue is if parents do want to attend whether they would expect to be paid for. We are already stretched to the limit on our budget for the party so really don't think we could pay for them, however I don't know whether this would seem cheeky saying this on the invite.

What does everyone think?

[Jux]

That's much better, but you do nee to be very very aware of what drowning actually looks like. It's not always threshing about and stuck underwater, sometimes it's very quiet and immobile. If you've got lifeguards around they should recognise it though.

[Ginseng1]

Sound like it's not a center parcs type of park but more slides into a pool n if they can all touch the bottom it's OK. But my god dh n I brought Ds + 9 for his 11th last year to an outdoor inflatables place (on a lake) everyone had super inflated life jackets & there were life guards but my god we were withered from trying to keep an eye on them all! Dh is a Scout leader so more used to it but still don't think I'd do it again!

[SleepingStandingUp]

If your child is inviting 10 friends then there isn't a ratio of 1:5...

New plan sounds better. And if its only for a couple of hours, the "spectating" parents can at least help with dressing, taking their own kid to the loo etc

[eightoclock]

Agree with pp that 4 adults ideally needed for 10 children... but feel very sorry for children of those posters saying they would never let their child go to a swimming party. They will miss out on so much fun and probably grow up too anxious to take any risk. As for an 8 year old not being able to dress themselves? They will manage, and gain more from trying than they will from mummy standing over them ensuring everything is perfect until they are 18!

[starshollow1]

Your update sounds very sensible OP. Hope your child has a lovely party

[londonrach]

Great solution op

[londonrach]

Agree you need more adults. Does the pool provide someone as part of the package

[IncrediblySadToo]

Tbh if it’s actually a waterpark (rather than a few slides into one pool) i would insist that every child has to have an accompanying adult and I’d pay the £5 per child (they can top it up by £10 if they want to go in). Then work out how many you can afford to invite. I just wouldn’t want the responsibility of children who will want to be running around a water park going on different slides, in & out of the toilets etc

Being ‘good swimmers’ means nothing when you come off a slide and are disorientated under the water or another kid dunks them etc.

I’d have said no to a birthday party at a proper waterpark.

[pinkhorse]

My ds had a pool party like this last year for his 9th birthday so they were all 8 and 9 year olds. We had to have one adult to every 2 children in the pool for the 8s and under even though there were lifeguards too. It was manic. The kids were all way over excited. Running round the edge of the pool, running to the toilet, dive bombing each other. 2 adults to 11 7 and 8 year olds is silly imo. You need a lot more than that.

[SoupDragon]

I don't worry about a swimming party where there are clear lines of sight but a water park with loads of slides is more dangerous IMO.

[LongWalkShortPlank]

I wouldn't let my daughter attend a swimming party, kids get silly and overexcited at parties, especially at that age and all it takes is one little accident. Plus you don't know how strong they can swim. Would she be happy to take a friend there just to swim and have a different kind of party? I think you're going to end up with declined invitations which is heartbreaking in itself. It's not just in the pool you need to think about, you've got to supervise these kids getting changed into swimming gear, showering and back into clothing, hair drying etc etc.

[HotpotLawyer]

I think you have come to a good solution OP.

Mine couldn’t swim until 9, and it doesn’t take much in the excitement for one to smash into another’s head on the slide / skid and bang head etc.

Have a lovely party!

[BlueSkiesLies]

If they are all in the same swim class, and know this water park place well - I would think the parents can make an informed choice.

1-4 ratio does sound better though.

[Weebitawks]

My DS is just about to turn 8. Despite having lessons for years, he is not at all a strong swimmer and needs constant supervision (he has this habit of swimming along fine and then just sinking)

I think as other posters have suggested, put it on the invitation about the coats etc and maybe mention how many children will be there so parents can may an informed decision as they'll know the swimming capabilities of their child.

[BlueMerchant]

No way I'd want to be responsible for other people's kids in a water park even if they are confident swimmers. I really hope my two don't have this idea for their Birthdays!
The fewer kids the better.

[Whereareyouspot]

That sounds better ratios OP

[NewPapaGuinea]

I’d probably go for an adult for every 4 children, so ask for 2 extra volunteers that you pay for. Anyone on top of this pay for themselves.

[Pimmsypimms]

A little off topic, but seriously, they charge you £5 to sit and watch? With no tea or coffee included? That's bloody extortion!!!

[Fullofregrets33]

I wouldn't let my 8 year old go to a waterpark without me. I don't know where you are but in the UK recently we recently had in the news a child who died at a swimming party in a private pool. You are taking on so much responsibility looking after other kids in what is potentionally a dangerous situation. You have no idea what each child's swimming ability is.

Im not saying each parent should be paid for, but i think that you should be paying for at least 2 more adults so that there are 4 adults assigned 2 children each who will basically never take their eyes off them.

[SnowyDaze]

You need additional adults to supervise!! 2 adults looking after 11 children would be a challenge on dry land...it seems irresponsible at a water park.

[arethereanyleftatall]

I think the layout as described in the latest post changes everything. Many of the responses above were assuming a centre parcs type massive water park with lots of pools.

[partypartypartyparty]

And also they do not need to stay if they do not wish to.

[partypartypartyparty]

Just to answer a few questions.

The children will all be 8/9. (I was meant to say 9th birthday - sorry!) Not that one year really makes much difference.

The water park has a ratio of one adult to five children for over 8s, hence why that is what is included in the price. There are lots of life guards at the venue, however they are not supervising our children specifically.

The water park is more slides than an actual swimming pool. All the children will be able to touch the bottom. All the children invited are actually confident swimmers (they are in the same swimming class as DD).

After reading all the feedback from everyone I think we are going to tell DD she can only invite 7 friends if she wants this type of party. That means there will be a ratio of 1 adult to 4 children in the water. With the money that is freed up from less children we will be able to afford to pay for every child to have one adult in to spectate at £5, however if they actually want to go in the water/slides they will have to pay themselves, or for additional adults to spectate. Spectating means you can go up to the top/bottom of slides and anywhere in the pool complex as long as you don't actually go on anything.

[dreamingofsun]

are they boys or girls, will you need supervisors for both for toilet trips/changing rooms.

[dreamingofsun]

so do we know what sort of waterpark this is yet? we used to do this in the local swimming pool with a range of blow up obstacles etc, hence my comment about them being lifeguards there already.

to be honest , if you are going to do this properly then you shouldnt just be asking for volunteers. you need to check that people are strong swimmers who can rescue anyone in difficulty, they can see properly without glasses or have prescription goggles.