Advice re. Nervous swimmer Centre Parcs

[EvangelicalAboutButteredToast]

I have an eight year old who can swim but is nervous. I also have an older child that’s a very strong swimmer so could offer support and if need be.

We’re off to centre parcs and I know the eight year old will be keen to go on the slides and the wave area. I’m thinking about buying one of those buoyancy vests but I don’t know if that will help or hinder the situation!!! They are tall for their age but just a bit panicky if they feel out of their depth.

Any advice or reassurance? We are only there for three days but I’m sure they’ll want to swim each day.

Will an adult be in the pool with them? My eldest is younger than yours so maybe I'm being overprotective but I think I'd just have an adult in the pool nearby them and that would be fine? I think at 8 a buoyancy aid may make them feel a little embarrassed/babied no? Especially given the fact that they can swim anyway. Maybe a handheld float or woggle or something instead so at least they can hold onto/use that to aid their swimming if needed?

They have loads of the buoyancy vests around the pool so he can grab one if he wants while he goes on the rapids, and then pop it back if he's happy in the pool, etc.

Ah that’s perfect. Just what I was thinking. There will be adults in the pool but I have this idea they will disappear off without us.

I would say that I am a decently strong swimmer. At CP Sherwood I had a bad experience with my son in the waves. I was nervous about him getting into difficulties as I could see waves going over his head and he was struggling to keep up. He was about 10 at the time and had been having swimming lessons for 5 years. It wasn't a positive experience. Buoyancy aids would have helped and in hindsight I would have kept to the shallower end.

Just to say he almost certainly wouldn’t be allowed on the rapids if wearing a buoyancy aid. (I’ve been to longleat and elveden and that was the rules at both)

Yeah they have signs up too saying you have to be 8 and a confident swimmer to go on them at Woburn (I’m there now)

@FanofLeaves okay yeah they don’t have the age rule I don’t think (my 5 year old went down) but you had to demonstrate they could definitely swim before they’d let you on

Ah, maybe it’s different at this one, I went on yesterday and thought they were a lot choppier than the Elveden ones! Although they don’t have that deep pool drop off at the bottom here that gets really clogged up. Obviously no one is checking she’s though and the lifeguards are quite lax in their approach in general on the rapids 😅

If it's Sherwood make sure an adult accompanies them in the rapids.
I'm an ex life-guard & struggled to exit them as the current was so strong!