Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think a five-year-old shouldn't be swimming without adult supervision?

32 replies

EnterStageLeft · 07/04/2009 16:08

Waiting to pay at the swimming pool when the lady in front asked for entrance for the four children with her to swim and her to watch.

"How old are the children?" asked the staff member

"10, 10, 8 and 5 - but he can swim"

"Sorry, no children under 8 allowed without adult supervision" - she pointed to the sign clearly saying this.

"But he can swim really well. Well for god's sake what'll we do now?" etc etc

She got on the phone to someone whilst I was paying then I heard her shooing them all off saying loudly "We've got to go to a different pool, this one won't let him in because he's only 5" "Where are we going?" asked some child "I don't know...." And off they went.

But AIBU to think she shouldn't want to send a five year old in to swim alone, however good he is? Maybe she thought the 10 year olds would look after him, but...

Would you?

OP posts:
Daffodingles2 · 07/04/2009 16:11

no, I wouldn't...
I don't even let my 7 yr old in the pool alone and he's an ok swimmer. It's just not worth the risk.

HotCrossMuff · 07/04/2009 16:13

I bet she was looking for some free childcare whilst she sipped her coffee.

Most places are 8 and over aren't they?

Reallytired · 07/04/2009 16:13

I think a five year old who can swim is more dangerous than one who can't. Certainly my son at the age of five thought he was invincible and had no concept there might be a limit to his swimming ablities.

I think the pool policy is quite reasonable.

noavailablename · 07/04/2009 16:15

It isn't just about swimming ability - it is about common sense and maturity and reliability in a potentially dangerous environment. Silly woman.

HotCrossMuff · 07/04/2009 16:15

And he might be able to swim but its the other stuff like not running along the edge of the pool, jumping in shallow end, weeing in pool etc that you need a parent around for.

oxocube · 07/04/2009 16:16

I have taken my 7 year old and a friend to swim and I have watched. In fact, I've done this quite a few times. I was poolside though, and in swimsuit and robe, not up in a gallery. Lots of my friends have done this too as long as the kids were good swimmers and had passed their swimming diploma.

Original poster
EnterStageLeft · 07/04/2009 16:19

I didn't think I was being unreasonable, but then OPs never think they are do they?

She said she didn't have a swimming costume with her so clearly never intended to be anywhere near her.

OP posts:
macdoodle · 07/04/2009 16:20

My 7 year old has a quick dip by herself in the big pool before her lesson - she is a very good swimmer and very sensible - it does make me a bit anxious though and at 5 no way!

HotCrossMuff · 07/04/2009 16:21

Its one thing being in a cossie on the side of the pool ready to leap in and save/tell them off, but another if you're going to palm them off completely at the age of 5 on a lifeguard.
Silly woman.

Blondeshavemorefun · 07/04/2009 16:22

silly lady

rules are there for a reason, esp with water and esp in a public pool

our private pool is fine with it, but does say on wall, that if a child is in difficulty then they expect the parent whether fully clothed or not, to jump in water and rescue

our local pool wont allow me to take my lot swimming as i have 3 under 8 - but i am willing to go in the pool, 6yr can almost swim, 3yr very confident in water or will wear bands and baby sits in yellow swim chair - but nope not allowed - hence why we go to a private pool

belgo · 07/04/2009 16:22

YANBU. An adult should be with the five year old. I know plenty of five year olds including my own dd and none of them could be trusted on their own in the swimming pool. Agree with her looking for free childcare so she could drink her coffee and read the paper.

MadamDeathstare · 07/04/2009 16:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ilovesprouts · 07/04/2009 16:23

no its not a good idea

moondog · 07/04/2009 16:25

I find whole idea of taking kids swimming and not getting in yourself weird anyway.

stuffitllama · 07/04/2009 16:31

yes poolside and not swimming is ok
swimming and cafe dreadful, dreadful, dreadful idea
it takes a second for a child to dip under and not come up
a big public pool, lots of children, who's to say the lifeguard would even see
it endangers other children too as a lifeguard would have to pay more attention to a five yo

dreadful idea.. she didn't know, she can't have thought about it or she wouldn't ever have come up with the idea

EdwardCullensWife · 07/04/2009 16:31

At the pool today there was a boy of 5 or 6 swimming on his own. His dad was on a recliner by the side of the pool but was asleep as far as I could tell. His son could have been dead in the water and he wouldn't have noticed.
I really do think young children need supervision whether they can swim or not.

Daffodingles2 · 07/04/2009 16:31

and we haven't even mentioned the fact it's the holidays which means the pool will be really busy with loads of teens!
Silly woman...

stuffitllama · 07/04/2009 16:32

I have heard and experienced too many horror stories of the dangers of water to ever think this could be a good idea. Somebody said it's more dangerous if they can swim, or think they can swim -- too right.

Original poster
EnterStageLeft · 07/04/2009 16:34

OH god, just remembered something else!! Sorry, not trying to be AIBU by stealth, just hadn't remembered. When she said the youngest was five one of the ten year olds corrected her "no, 4" "no, 5" she said

"4" said said 10-year old.

"He's 5" she firmly told the staff member

OP posts:
stuffitllama · 07/04/2009 16:38
mum23monkeys · 07/04/2009 17:14

YANBU.

However, I do have issues with our local pools. I have 3 dc - ds1, 6, who is an excellent swimmer, ds2, 5, who is a competent swimmer, and dd,2 who sinks without arm bands. I am not allowed to take the 3 of them on my own. Their rules are that under 3s need 1:1 supervision, and 3-8s need 1:2 supervision. So until ds1 is 8 I can't take the children swimming. dh can never go with me, and I can't get a babysitter to come. They love swimming but it's hard to go.

They have to have rules so that idiots such as those the op came across can't leave as many children as they like in the pool, but, as is often the case, indiscriminately applied rules with no flexibility makes life more difficult for many.

Blondeshavemorefun · 07/04/2009 17:39

MUM23MONKEYS i have the same problem and thats why i use a private pool - silly rule

you are the same as a woman i know and on my day off, i will go and work for her and we go swimming - its the only way she can as her dh works long hours and cant go with her

mum23monkeys · 07/04/2009 20:26

do you want to come swimming with me one day?
Most of my friends have at least 2 dc so they can't help me out on ratios either.

We were members of a private gym but at £100 a month it got rather expensive, and also the dc didn't like the pool as much - no slides, toys etc.

Still, only a year (and a bit) to wait, although last time I did manage to go to the pool the attendant told me that the council was thinking the rules were still too lax and they reckoned each child under 12 should need supervision on a 1:2 basis. I hope that doesn't come in, the rate my ds is going he will be swimming the Channel by the time he's 12.

FAQinglovely · 07/04/2009 20:28

how can it be free childcare if she has to pay to get them all in

(but no you're not being unreasonable)

Watchtheworldcomealivetonight · 07/04/2009 20:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.