To think it’s a bit negligent to leave your DC in a water park for hours at a time?

[Rainallnight]

We’re on holiday at a place with an on site water park. DD has made friends with a little boy who’s 5, with an older brother who is 8.

Their parents routinely leave them unattended in the swimming pool for 3-4 hours at a time, just showing up to get them for meals etc.

The 8 year old is a good swimmer. The five year old has an enthusiastic doggy paddle.

DP and I are quite anxious about water safety generally so I am wondering if I’m being uptight or if this is genuinely weird.

YABU - of course it’s ok to leave kids this age unattended in pools/water parks

YANBU - of course it’s dangerous.

Very unreasonable. So dangerous.

That is weird, especially the 5 year old.
8 year olds can swim unnacompanied at swimming pools around here so I wouldn't be suprised by him, especially as a confident swimmer but 5 is too little and thats a long time in the water to get tired
Are they definitely nowhere nearby?

Can you mention to the lifeguard? They’re then able to speak with the parents and remind them of any park rules they’re potentially breaking.

Obviously not. They could drown. I am amazed that they are allowed to just leave them, every place I’ve been has been pretty strict on ensuring that parents are with their kids

You should report to the pool staff unless this is allowed under the pool entry requirements as under 8 usually have to be supervised.

Are they not around somewhere, watching from a distance?

I’m struggling to see how anyone could think it’s a good idea to leave a 5 year old unaccompanied in water! The 8 year old might be a great swimmer and responsible but he’s 8 and may well get distracted when having fun himself!!

As others if the 8yo is happy, I think that's OK. But not at 5yo.

You don’t leave a five year old unattended anywhere, much less somewhere they could easily drown. Most reputable water places would expect a parent within arms reach supervising at all times at that age and swimming ability. Awful parenting which I hope for the child’s sake they don’t come to regret.

I think it’s irresponsible. Lifeguards can’t watch everyone at the same time if that’s the excuse they might use. Does the water park even allow for children under a certain age to be in the water by themselves? Where we are you have to be 11 without an adult around.

This isn't true surely? They must be around and watching at least from a distance. I'd report to the staff if you're sure that's what's happening

Ok, not just me!

to answer some questions, the parents are definitely not at the pool. When I’ve asked the kids, they’ve said they’re either in the bar or in their accommodation. And when they show up to collect them, the parents are fully dressed, not in poolside clothing so don’t think the kids have got it wrong.

Yes, it’s against the rules. The staff are incredibly strict about some other rules (especially swimming shorts which they really crack down on! I don’t understand that but it s another thread). But it’s a busy place and I think they just don’t notice these boys are unsupervised.

ALSO, because my DD and the five year old are friendly some other people on the pool think they’re our DC! And therefore give us dirty looks when the boys are doing horse play in the jacuzzi or whatever.

Telling the staff is a REALLY good idea. I’ll do that today.

That's too young, especially if the older one is expected to look after the younger one. I wouldn't leave them unattended until 13+

I wouldn't leave my 8 year old unattended!

YANBU

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/girl-8-dies-four-years-13727404

You must tell the staff.

Of course it's negligent! That's said as someone who tends to be on the relaxed end of allowing DCs freedom and responsibility.
I have an 8 and 6yo. The 8yo is an excellent swimmer (swims for a club, has completed the Learn To Swim program, and can swim over a mile non-stop), and the 6yo is pretty good for her age (nearly finished Stage 5, and can swim 150m non-stop). I am happy to sit (clothed) on the side and watch them now, rather than needing to be in the water with them, and I feel comfortable swimming lengths in one lane whilst the 8yo swims lengths in another. I wouldn't leave them completely unsupervised as, despite their swimming ability, their age makes them prone to silliness and they still forget pool rules when busy having fun. We went swimming yesterday, and they had to constantly be reminded not to duck and hold each other under the water or run on the deck.

The furthest I'd go is the loungers poolside! I might be wearing shorts etc rather than swimwear, but not in anything I wouldn't happily jump in wearing & nothing that would be too heavy in the water. I see life guards as a nice extra! That's all.

theyre fucking idiots.

No that's entirely negligent and an accident waiting to happen. Is there a lifeguard or any staff?

YABU to be posting on MN about this- of course it’s negligent

i would have been alerting staff the moment I clocked the parents were elsewhere

Just to be clear, PPs think it's OK to fuck off elsewhere and leave an 8 year old on their own?! Just not the 5 year old?! What the fuck is wrong with you?! Of course tha

...that's not OK!!!

There are always signs up somewhere that say how many adults are required per child. 0 is not an option

I still keep an eye on my teens in the pool. Not obsessively, but I wouldn’t ever go out of the vicinity. I’d definitely tell staff and the lifeguard if I were you.

Terrible parenting and needs to be addressed. Last year I wadded into the sea fully clothed to drag a 10 year old out who got severe cramp in his leg. He was a top swimmer and a member of the surf team but still panicked and got into difficult. Water is dangerous and those children need to be watched.

That's insane! Drowning is obviously one thing but what if someone stole them! You could be anybody, everybody thinks they're your kids you could easily walk off with them, even if they were screaming and no one would think twice because they've seen you all week and know they're your kids! Stupid and dangerous.
Definitely tell the staff. What if one got hurt, how would anybody be able to tell them? Who does that?!