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?

[wobytide]

If anyone gets into difficulties in the pool its their job to sort things out

Your one of these people who think teachers are there to supplement parenting too aren't you?

[wobytide]

*you're

[wobytide]

As an aside these are the rules from our local waterpark. I'll be amazed if they allow 1 to 5 for under 8s

What is the required adult to child ratio?
Children aged 9 and under must be accompanied, in the water, by a responsible adult (aged 18 and over). 1 adult must not be responsible for supervising more than 2 children under the age of 9 years.

[Dancingbea]

Why are you doing this to yourself?

[BlackCatSleeping]

I think it's fine. As long as you are clear on the invitations about the cost, let the parents decide. From personal experience, waterslides are usually well-supervised by staff.

[AllTheUserNamesAreTaken]

I’m no helicopter parent but not a hope in hell would I let my DS go to party at a water park with that ratio of adults to children. They are noisy, busy and potentially dangerous. Yes there are lifeguards but they are keeping a general eye over everyone rather than specifically supervising your party

I definitely think you need to pay for a couple more adults to supervise. That being said, if DS was invited and you put on the invitation that adults had to pay, then I would go anyway as I absolutely love waterparks!

I’m not sure who has more fun at them, DS5 or me and DH! We like to take him together so we can each sneak off to go on the faster slides that he’s not allowed on

[CouldntThink]

If anyone gets into difficulties in the pool its their job to sort things out

Lifeguards aren’t babysitters. Despite what many people think.

[greendale17]

You are putting parents in an impossible situation where they have no choice but to pay. An 8 year old party will be 7 and 8 year old children. There should be at least five adults supervising.

^This. I wouldn’t allowed my child to attend

[mummyhaschangedhername]

At out local pool swimmers over 8 can go in unaccompanied, so it's that a national recommendation then I assume that's how they can justify those ratios. However, I assume some children will be under 8 so you may need to check with them it's still ok.

As for invites, putting it on the invite is the best bet. My 9 year old is a confident swimmer but he has asd so I wouldn't want him to do something he's never done before without me at least spectating. But otherwise I would be confident he would be fine.

[Contraceptionismyfriend]

Another thing would be the child's siblings. So the adult may have to pay for themselves and subsequent siblings.
Possibly costing a fortune and causing a very stressful day as they try to drag another child after a group of hyper 7 year olds.
After thinking about it I'd just outright say no to the invite.

[GreatDuckCookery6211]

Supervising 11 children between two adults is impossible OP. I would think twice about letting my 8 year old a party like this. I guess you could mention to parents that they are welcome to swim too but they will have to pay, which might not go down well.

I think I’d be planning something else personally unless you can rope two or more adults in to swim too.

[wobytide]

National guidance is 1:3 at a push www.cimspa.co.uk/guidance

Does the waterpark themselves not specify a limit? Pretty much every swimming pool has guidance and a rule

[needthisthread]

I would have to decline your invite. My 8yo wouldn't be going to a water park with a load of other kids under the supervision of strangers. I am not about to fork out £15 plus the inconvenience of having to actually go in the pool for someone else's kids birthday. Remember people will be buying a gift and paying travel costs etc too.


I would do a water park day with your DD entirely separately and have a meal out or go bowling or something with her friends.

[needthisthread]

*under the supervision of TWO strangers

[NCforthis2019]

2 adults with 10 kids?! No. That’s unreasonable, my daughter almost drowned once and that was with way less children and more adults. You are being irresponsible to even consider this. And any parent would be irresponsible to allow their child to go.

[themoomoo]

no way would I allow my 8 year to go to that

[tablelegs]

As a parent, I would pay to go but only because it's something I would love, not necessarily to supervise my own child.

[Likethewind321]

To these parents who don’t like the ratios, I work in a primary school and for a year group of 50 kids going swimming, there are 5 adults.
That’s in a normal pool, but once a year we take them to a waterpark and the ratio is the same.

1:5 is really not a bad ratio, and there will be lifeguards as well, what are you so worried about?

[arethereanyleftatall]

Drowning one would assume @Likethewind321

[anniehm]

My kids couldn't swim at that age, but there's no way they would have admitted it to friends! You need at least an adult for every 3-4 kids under 12 swimming. In addition have you checked if any have ever had a seizure, my dd doesn't swim unless 1:1 despite being 3 years seizure free and being an adult. As you may suspect, we don't do water often!

[littlecabbage]

I too would decline the invitation. I wouldn't be happy with the ratios.

[RedSkyLastNight]

I think most parents will want their 7/8 year olds to be more closely supervised that you're going to be able to manage with 2 adults.

So if my child had this invitation, I'd end up paying to go myself, but would be cursing you as a trip out to a waterpark is an occasional treat, and one where I'd normally want to take the whole family.

I think you need to pay for at least another 2 adults, so that you have sensible supervision ratios.

[Katebob22]

My ds had a pool party and I was surprised at the lack of swimming ability of some of the children (more that parents hadn’t mentioned it and didn’t come it). That was a simple square pool and I had loads of adults. No way would I do a water park - will be so hard to keep track of them all.

[Likethewind321]

OK obviously drowning, but then don’t ever go swimming at all? There will always be a level of risk, I suppose it will depend on the child and how much you trust the adults in the end.

[StinkyCandle]

My kids can swim at that age, but I still wouldn't let them with less than 1 adult for 2 children. It's not even worth the risk.