Holiday home on waterside with non swimmer

[Maxtry]

In-laws have just booked beautiful cottage for whole family for week. Lovely and generous of them. But it is literally right on a riverbank with no barrier. 5 year old dd is total non swimmer. I am totally stressed as even with lots of supervising adults accidents can happen. Feel like im going to be on tenderhooks for the entire time. Can't cancel and whole rest of family including dh looking forward to it

Supervise at all times. It's ok, lots of adults, someone in charge of dc

I mean, it's the exact same worry if you rented somewhere with a pool or were beside a lake or the sea.

Many, many families holiday like this with young kids who can't swim. You just always have to one person designated to watch them.

You'll have a great time!

Lots of supervising adults. There you are. Make sure they are all aware.

That's what I'm trying to convince myself! It's just because normally when the cousins get together there are big games of hide and seek etc and they are used to lots of freedom.....much more than just small family hols by sea or pool. Not normally over anxious but I'm imagining their normal amount of running free ......you right. Sure it will be OK. Always a bit harder with in laws rather than own family I think!!!

I would stick arm bands on them when they are playing out just in case!

I did think of that or life jacket...am going to look right neurotic but could work!

Being a non swimmer may be an advantage here... your child will likely be more wary of going near the water!

If the kids are playing outside there will need to be an adult supervising at the waterside at all times and another watching the children.

Could you not buy a roll of that orange plastic fencing used by builders/utility companies when fencing something off temporarily & some metal stakes to put at bottom of garden.

Lots of supervising adults is where this really has the potential to go wrong as everyone can think someone else has their eye on the child.
We've had to deal with this in the past. Fortunately, our DC are naturally cautious and also well behaved. Therefore, we knew that a rule that they weren't to go outside in the morning unless DH or I told them they could would most probably be followed. We had also walked them around the garden and said where was safe and where wasn't. DH and I then adopted the approach we take on beach or pool days on holiday when one of us is always "on lifeguard duty" and we formally hand that over to each other by saying "DH - you are on lifeguard duty" and he replies with "DW - I am on lifeguard duty". We also trust DM and DMIL to do this. Most definitely not DFIL who would get distracted, DF who may well doze off or either of our siblings.

How well does she follow instruction?

I'd put something out to make a barrier/line and instruct all the children they must not cross that line. Combine that with close supervision and you should be fine. She's 5, not 2.

Also, get her some swimming lessons.

Great idea.thanks

tenderhooks has ticked me 🥸

Me too😂. But I don't think we're allowed to mention it 🤫

We used to stay with my parents who had a swimming pool in the garden. We had two firm rules. The kids wore swim jackets the whole time we were outside, and all of us adults would say 'Your aircraft' to the others if one of us had to go to the loo or similar. The other adult/s would reply 'My aircraft', so that no one assumed someone else was watching. When we came back from whatever we'd been doing, we'd call 'our aircraft', so everyone knew someone else was back to watch the DC.
It sounds silly, but it worked!