To throw DS a swimming party?

[otinata]

He is turning 7, really wants a swimming party.

They do a floats and fun party type thing at the leisure centre, but parents have to get in with their children.

AIBU to ask that of people?

Unless you have enough family and friends who are prepared to get into the water so you can phrase the invite "the pool requires 1 adult for every 2 kids. If you wish to get into the water, we'd love you borh to join us, otherwise we will provide sufficient supervision for all the kids" you need to wait. Sorry.

You need to make sure YOU organise enough WILLING volunteers to run this party well BEFORE you invite the children. Either you invite enough adult helpers to supervise the children in the water in the ratio the pool require, or it is no swim party until they are older. We did a swim party when DS was 11 at the local fun pool - 7 kids and 3 adults - me and DH and the mum of the lad who has been DS's best friend since reception.

Mine could swim but that doesn't change the fact that many places have adult/child ratios.
We had a pool party when DS was 7. He's young in his year so everyone was 7. Ratio was 1 adult :3 children for under 8, so we managed it with family and a couple of close friends.

@ShesTheAlbatross
Oh I have to agree and poor Julia....someone else's costume plus someone else's plaster...burgh!

I absolutely love this and its so true.
I was once offered a bikini to wear from someone's elderly mother (who was lovely) but, seriously what are people even thinking!!!
The only one that i went to where i was caught off-guard, involved inflatables and being thrown all over the place. I remember speaking to one of the other Mum's whilst in the pool and we were commenting on one of the Dad's really hairy back and shoulders!
X

This is perfect.

Almost a third of children leave primary school without being able to swim 25 metres or perform basic lifesaving skills.

I know it's part of the curriculum that they should leave being able to swim but pools have been closing across the country and school budgets decreasing so it frequently doesn't happen.

Especially in deprived areas where parents can't afford private lessons or holidays with pools where there's more of a need/impetus to learn.

And no long lockers!

That motherland episode was brilliant, Julia requesting a Long Locker, and having to wear an oversized cossie.

I did attend 1 swimming party , dc was 5 iirc - it was ok.

In motherland it’s one adult per 2 non swimmers. And make sure they have long lockers!

We had great 9th and 10th swimming parties. No parents had to go in. Wait!

What’s the ratio ? My dd attended one and I didn’t have to get in as there was enough adults.

My kids had been invited to a few of those, why not?

People can decline and make up an excuse, but it's fun. AS LONG AS it's VERY clear on the invitation that parents are expected in the water...

People are stupid and don't read, but at least put it there.

I would support it if all the friends to be invited are able to swim, and you are confident the right number of parents will come to.

We started having pool parties from the summer term of year 2, so most kids were 7. However all the kids could swim well enough to be safe in the water without adults - there were lifeguards on the side and they had to do a supervised swim test (length of the pool) before they started. But this was in a class that had swum twice a week in school since nursery/reception. Unless I knew that all the kids attending could swim to this level then I wouldn’t do it - expecting parents to get in the pool is hideous!

I’m really surprised at the responses. We’ve had numerous swimming parties from the age of 5 for both my DDs. Always well attended then quite a few invites for swimming parties from their friends as they came along then wanted one of their own.

The ratio here is 2 kids to one adult so not all parents needed to get in but most parents were really happy just to sit around in swimwear and towels! The water is at 80-90cm depending on ability so no issues there, in fact we had a few younger siblings swimming too

I agree that you should shelve this one until the kids are old enough to swim alone. Small talk with school mums is already painful without adding swimwear.

My DD has seizures so swimming is tricky, she can swim but you have to stay arms length away for safety, even as an adult she only swims with someone very close despite being years since last complete blackout

I’d wait until they are old enough to go in the pool alone. Or invite a small amount of children and yourself/ your own family members/ friends supervise. I don’t think it’s fair to ask parents to get in.

This. Lots of six and seven year olds have younger siblings too, so by requiring full 1:1 supervision for each party guest you're asking quite a lot (both parents have to plan around ypur party because siblings can't be looked after together by one parent while the other works/ does something child free, whether chores/ gym or whatever - or indeed a babysitter would be needed for any siblings).

I'm not quite sure how much of a birthday party for the birthday child it is if every guest is 1:1 with a parent anyway.

Obviously if you're friends with the other parents just ask them though.

£140 for an hour in the pool plus the party room here. Capacity 50 people including parents and 2:1 so you can invite 30 easily.
its one of the cheaper parties around her so we seem to go to a few!

I think people are being a bit crazy about swimwear and safety - it's just a pool. Don't you ever go with your kids, outside of parties? I don't enjoy it either but it's nice to watch them have fun.
My son's had a swimming party for his 3rd, 4th and 5th birthdays. At 3 and 4 this was just family and family friends so cousins and their parents and yeah we all got in - last year for his 5th was the first time he invited a couple of nursery/school friends. One of them came swimming and one didn't, but she and her dad seemed fine with it. Why not? It's just a pool. Of course the 3, 4, 5 year olds couldn't swim, they just splashed around in the shallows with balls and ducks like always.

And Kevin can’t count as an adult as he is also a non-swimmer 🤣

I am a bit surprised by some of the responses on this thread. I agree with the majority that we all wince a little at the idea of a pool party where we have to get in, but surely you just get on with it for your child’s sake if you know they will enjoy it? Completely understand if disabilities, medical conditions and similar make it impossible, but those who just don’t like the idea of seeing people from school in swimwear? Surely you wear your swimmers in front of others when taking your kids swimming? I am overweight, pale and not at my best in a swimming costume but I would suck it up for the sake of my DC (and hope I don’t end up like Motherland’s Anne losing an earring and with my boobs hanging out!).

I would wait until older & they've had at least a term of swimming lessons at school.