to think that if there are two pools, that the small, shallow, warm one could be restricted to small children and non swimmers ?

[CMOTdibbler]

DS (3) wanted to go swimming yesterday afternoon. Usually we go to our local pool where they can make the usually deep end v shallow and separated from the rest of the pool. But DS has been put off it as there are always teenagers running around in it and pushing into him etc.

So, decided to try next nearest pool which is v new and has a main 25m pool plus a studio pool 'perfect for children' which is adjustable floor. Got there, v nice, and studio pool is in a totally separate bit with doors to it from main pool. Lots of under 5's in there.

But still lots of tweens/teens coming in to muck about, racing up and down the pool, diving under the water without looking at where the little ones are etc. Plenty of room in the main pool to do this

So, AIBU to think that maybe this pool could be restricted to those that need a bit of a quieter enviroment to enjoy swimming ?

No one wants the playful teenagers though. The swimmers who manage to keep their hair dry doing breast stroke up and down the lanes don't want them in the big pool either.

I expect it's a better experience when the older children are at school.

demonising of teenagers...again!

did the pool have signs up to say who goes where?

what were staff doing?

Most pools that I have been to have sessions where the small pool is restricted to young children. We have one on a weekday morning and also at certain times on a sunday. Its possible they DO restrict it at certain time, perhaps call them and ask.

Yes go in school time if you want quiet time. Our pool has a seperate lanes for people to swim up and down but they still insist on doing it in the main pool then get upset if children get in the way.

At our pool they divide it up. Shallow pool tinies only. Left side of main pool - people who want to splash around and play. Middle section - lane swimmers, right side- classes for learners etc.

Seems to work reasonably well. But bring it to the attention of the lifeguards, its their job to sort it out if people behave innappropriately.

THe pools I worked at had a no over 8s rule for the learner pool and every child needed an adult in the water. THe over 8s bit was fine to enforce but the parent IN THE WATER bit was harder

wel at a pool near here they do hour long sessions so you have to always start on the hour
( this is weekend afternoons)

when questione about the near empty pool they said "well if we dont haev sessions then people stay in it all day"

well dur

I've never experienced this but I won't take charge swimming on a weekend as I hate how busy it gets.

The only restricted to small children times are in the week when I am working, at either pool. In fact there is only one family swim session at the weekend where there aren't big inflatables etc

I have no problem with the teenagers/older kids mucking around in the main pool at all.

Any lane swimmers could have gone during the daily sessions where that is all you can do - and there weren't any up and down serious swimmers in the big pool.

There is no designation of who can go where - lifeguards were around, but do not crowd control.

I was going to contact the pool and suggest that maybe as there is plenty of space, there could be some time at the weekend where the small pool is restricted

at same pool mate went swimming while his son was at a sport hting
went in
" tis a familt session"
he was alone
" oh its ok we can find you some kids to have"
so he had to pretend to be with kids ( but obv wasnt) as he did his lenghts

Nothing to do with demonising teenagers - the ones you describe are simply behaving badly and should have been stopped by the lifeguard or told to leave the pool. YANBU - of course it should have been restricted to non-swimmers and young children - I know our is, and it works perfectly.

At least those teenagers were out swimming rather than hanging around on the street in hoodes stabbing each other

I only ever take / took my preschoolers swimming during school hours. In this instance you should ask why the baths doesn't have a clear policy rather than blame it on the older ones.

small shallower pools are generally meant to be learner pools. They should be restricted at least some of the time, and have clear signs up stating who can use them and when.

Otherwise what is the point of having it?

our local pool has signs up with an age restriction on the learner pool. during the summer the council allow all under 16's free entry, which means the learner pool always has teenagers jumping in over the top of very small children despite the signs being very clear and visible. (and its only about 1m deep). the lifeguards arent bothered either, they just look the other way, the last time i was there a mum had to go up and point out the notice and told him in no uncertain terms to do his job properly.

and maybe restrict the larger pool to older children so they don't have to swim in diluted pee or skip round small children who complain if they get splashed - my children are now teenagers hence the chance of opinion.

nothing worse than annoying,incontinent toddlers who get in the way....i mean,cant they go during the day??? they dont have go to school so have all day long.

Our little pool is parent&child only, except I think sometimes they use it for relaxation during antenatal session (well, I suppose there are babes in there! )

And the big pool nearly always has lanes except when its the 'fun' session with inflatables etc.

I put my head under the water when I swim breaststroke thank you!

But I hate cavorting teens, incontinent toddlers, slower swimmers, aggressive swimmers, you name it swimmers to come anywhere near me. I want the entire lane to myself. Who doesn't? Personally though I can't see what bigger kids are doing in a small shallow (and yes no doubt full of wee) pool. unless of course they can't actually swim. Might be impossible to send them into the main pool for that reason alone - elf n safety.

Ah, so now I know. Working parents are being V unreasonable to want to take preschoolers swimming at the weekend.

I must have really pissed off the swimmers last week then, the small pool was closed for swimming lessons so I took 2.2 year old charge into big pool.

And this was during the day

Yes this is definitely a working/stay at home parent issue .

Kids happen, big kids happen, little kids happen and all of them are a PITA in some way.

My local swimming pool is only open to schools during the week day so weekends/evenings are the only times to go. There is one specific under 5s session between 10 and 12 on a sunday morning, otherwise you have to take chances with all other pool users.

I think you are entirely reasonable.

"Ah, so now I know. Working parents are being V unreasonable to want to take preschoolers swimming at the weekend. "

No it isn't I worked full time until ds was 8 months and went part time because I wanted to do things with him that aren't available at weekends.
If you go at weekends you need to realise there are older children there who have just as much right to be in the pool as you are.
In our local pool there is very little fun swimming time even after school and the only time they can go is at weekends.
The bigger they get the more things they are barred from

Personally I think that at the weekends, kids should take priority - generally adults can go earlier or later in the week, when pools tend to have quiet / lane swimming times. I think its unreasonable for adults to expect a pool to be quiet when there are any age children around, but with the little ones its a question of safety and confidence, particularly when they're learning to swim

Our local pool lets older kids in the small pool but I've never seen teenagers messing around, and if older ones are a bit rough they are asked to get out of the pool. Works well there, and the small pool stays for little ones and siblings, even though I don't think there is any rule.

We sometimes take DS into the big pool but wouldn't think it fair to complain if older kids / teenagers are being rougher.

Most pools have toddler only sessions ours is called Tadpole Splash