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?

[StoppinBy]

I wouldn't be trusting a stranger to watch my 7 year old who is not a great swimmer at a water park or perhaps not even my 8 year old, I think you need to ask parents to RSVP for themselves as well as the children and pay for them if you go to a place like that.

Your own house or a safe park area is different to a water park where it is easy to lose track of kids and have one get in a life/death situation as they will be more likely to do things they actually are not capable of doing when they are with their friends who may be more capable.

[Hahaha88]

I don't think I'd want my DC at 7 or 8 years old to be in a pool where two adults are supervising ten children. It wouldn't feel safe. I think based on their age's you should either invite less children or cough up for the adults. I appreciate it's a lot of money for you but I'd be annoyed if I had to pay £15 to come in (which I would as I'd feel I couldn't accept the invitation otherwise) and then there's the card and gift obligation. I think if the kids were 10+ I wouldn't expect you to pay as the ratio would seem fair.
Also I would double check that you aren't expected to have more adults that just aren't free? As DS went to a friend's kids pool party and it was one adult per two non swimmers. Which I imagine most 7 and 8 year olds are. Though now I've written this I'm wondering if I've misinterpreted the destination and it's more of a theme park with wet rides than a swimming pool?!

[reluctantbrit]

DD had a swim party for ther 9th Birthday at a local pool with inflatables. The rules were that children 8 and older could be on their own but each one had to pass a test before going on the obstacle course.

DH and 2 other adults were in the pool as we also had 3 little ones, otherwise just the life guards. I think you need some close supervision for these kind of parties.

Ours was a private one, would yours be during public opening hours? I would then be more careful, especially if you have children where you don’t know the level of experience in the water.

[Whoopsies]

Just make sure you check the age restrictions of the pool and the age of the kids. Our local pool needs a better ratio of adults to children if they are under 8, so watch out if you are inviting any 7 year olds. Do you know that all of the kids you're inviting can swim?

[PrincessScarlett]

My DC and friends regularly have swimming parties. For up to 25 children the leisure centre specifies 4/5 adults (free of charge) so I don't think your ratio of 2 adults for 11 children is too problematic so long as they are all in the same area together. However if half are in the pool and half are tearing around up slides etc I think you need more adults supervising.

If the water park won't let you have a couple extra adults free I think you need to pay for 2 more adults and then anyone else that wants to stay have to pay for themselves.

[Thesearmsofmine]

I think you would be better waiting a couple of years for this kind of party tbh. My 8 year old can swim a little but not confident enough that I would be happy leaving him with that little supervision and i wouldn’t want to pay £15, plus gift and card to attend a childs birthday party.

[Drum2018]

You are not likely to know the swimming level of each child attending so it could be a case that one or two are not strong swimmers. If my child was invited I'd just decline as he's not a strong swimmer. No way would I want to attend it to supervise him either - my personal idea of hell If it's a case, as mentioned above, that they wear floatation vests and the pool has lifeguards, then that's not as bad.

As regards paying for parents to get into the pool - I wouldn't offer. Likewise if they want to spectate let them pay themselves. First post had a good way of phrasing message.

[VelvetPineapple]

I wouldn’t be happy with my 8yo being supervised in a pool on a 1:5 ratio (and if one parent has to take a kid to the loo or sort out an injury then it’s a 1:10 ratio!)

My local pool has a sign up saying the maximum permitted ratio is 3 children (over the age of five) to one adult. If a child is under the age of five it has to be supervised on a one to one basis. I’d be very surprised if they’d even permit you to have eleven kids with only two adults.

[viques]

The thing that strikes me is that kids in swimmies look very different to kids in clothes! I think two,adults will have problems trying to track 11 kids who they don't know that well in a public pool with lots of other similar sized kids in. I think you need to be calling in some favours and getting a minimum ratio of one adult to three children with one spare adult to deal with toilet/ early dressers / other minor issues. That would mean you finding three people at a cost to you of £15 . Cheap at the price.

I would also give parents the information about entry so they can choose to come if they want.

[arethereanyleftatall]

I am swimming teacher, teaching schools, this is relevant. If I'm teaching in an affluent area about 20% of swimmers (aged 8 or 9 ish usually) cannot swim at all. In an area with more poverty, i will be looking at only a few children in a class of 30 being able to swim.
Therefore, given my own experience, there's no way in the world I would take 10 7&8 year olds to a swimming pool with only 2 adults. I think you should pay for at least 2 more parents, dropping a few children if you need to for budget.

[dreamingofsun]

surely there will be life guards on duty still at the pool? If anyone gets into difficulties in the pool its their job to sort things out. By supervision dont they mean helping them get changed/taking any kids to the toilet etc? Thats what happened when we had this sort of party. i cant imagine the pool would be covered for health and safety if it let anyone supervise within the actual pool area

[CouldntThink]

It’s not enough adults for me, how are two of you really going to supervise ten children? Can they all swim? I have a 7 year old and would want to be there. Are you getting sole use of the place or will it be full of non party people too? As that would be even more difficult to supervise.

[arethereanyleftatall]

Mind, the layout of the pool makes a huge difference, and whether you're having a bespoke party, or just going in with the public. If the pool has multiple pools, tunnels, flumes etc then no way, if it's one pool, only the twelve of you in the pool, then fine.

[StinkyCandle]

2 adults for 10 7 or 8 year old in a waterpark is absolutely not enough. You can't keep an eye on the pool, the slides, the toilets, the side. I am not even sure the waterpark will allow you entrance.

For that reason, it's not right to expect parents to pay for their entrance. It doesn't feel safe enough, so more will have to attend.

It won't cost you that much more to pay for entrance than it would be for lunch, so I do think that you need to pay.

If it was another set up, it would be fine to ask them, but you cannot seriously supervise so many children in a waterpark.

[CottonSock]

I agree they sound too young for that level of supervision. You may get a fair few decline

[SinkGirl]

I’d have to go - I wouldn’t feel comfortable with someone else supervising my kids in such a big group. We have a water slide place near us and you simply couldn’t keep track of 11 kids in there with two adults - within 30 seconds of getting in there you’d lose sight of most of them. The stress for you would be enormous.

I’d either pay for any parents who want to come and supervise (and then ask them to pay the extra £10 if they want to participate) or tell your DD to pick something else and you’ll do this when she’s a bit older.

You could say to the parents you need an extra four parents to volunteer to help supervise and pay for them.

I’d be more worried that most wouldn’t want to come and you’ll be stuck trying to manage the group with just the two of you.

[LellyMcKelly]

I almost came unstuck at my DD’s 8th swimming party when one of the mums dropped her daughter off and completely neglected to tell us that her DD couldn’t swim a stroke. That meant she couldn’t go down to the deep end or play on the inflatable. She hadn’t even brought any armbands. Luckily we had enough people in and around the pool to supervise but I got stuck looking after her for an hour.

[IM0GEN]

You are mad to even consider taking other people’s 7yo to a water park, it’s far too risky . Even with a good adult : child ratio, which you don’t have.

Personally I’d take my own children plus birthday child best friend. And me and DH would stick by them like glue.

[StinkyCandle]

how do you even know all the children are independent and safe swimmers?

[2rachtin]

There's no way I'd have a swimming party at this age if parents weren't supervising their own children. I used to be a swimming teacher too and their ability at that age massively. I'd ask (and pay for) a parent to attend.

[Inaboatwithoutapaddle247]

You definitely need more adults.
I took one of DD's friends to a water park with DD (similar age to yours) and I found it stressful with just the two of them!
They go off in all directions, down various slides, in the whirl pool etc, it's a nightmare. I was a nervous wreck and in hindsight wished I'd had another adult.

[PompeyBez]

2 adults per 5 children is not nearly enough for this age group. What if someone needs the loo? In your position I would enlist at least 2 more adults to help (at your cost). If parents want to spectate I think you should pay, not all want to drop and run at this age, but if any more parents want to join in I'd expect them to pay for themselves.

[StinkyCandle]

First thing you need to do is call the waterpark, or check their website and ask how many adults are required.

No places will allow 11 young kids with only 2 adults. Some places allow entrance from 11years old, but not 8years old.

[mkmo]

I would worry about the safety of these children if anything happens you are liable.

Will the waterpark even allow it? How many children do you expect to accept the invitation?

5 children per adult are far too many. I think with 2 adults you could probably handle a maximum of 5 kids between the two of you to be sure they are all safe.

You hear horror stories in waterparks of adults turning their backs for 30s and their child is drowning in the water. Maybe pay for a couple more adults to join?

[Contraceptionismyfriend]

I don't think you've thought this through.
If you're DD needs to invite that many people then she can't have a water park party with that many adults.
Either she chooses another party or you pay for more adults.