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Original poster

Child out of sight on holiday - how do you feel about it?

29 replies

WantingMoreCareer · 25/04/2025 18:34

We have an 8 year old son.

Going abroad with him for the first time in ages in August. Turkey. All inclusive resort.

It’ll be me and a friend (female), no other children. Dad isn’t coming with us on this one due to family/work stuff hence a friend joining me. She’s happy to do her own thing and we get on very well, I don’t expect her to stick around with me and my son all the time by the way!

How does it work with your children going off to swim or do activities etc?

I feel really nervous about it. At home he has lots of friends and does clubs etc but with holiday horror stories of snatched children or unguarded pools or whatever I feel really on edge for some reason.

I travel a lot for my work so feel savvy but feel anxious about taking him. I don’t really know what I hope from this post, maybe others to tell me I’m not loopy?

Theres lots of pools and slides where we are going and although he has lessons and can swim in can’t see me letting him go off without me - or perhaps at least stay in a shallow pool where I can see him. Is that what you do?

….and what about clubs - apparently there’s tennis and football and other things I expect he’d enjoy but do parents just leave their children and just have an hour or two to themselves? I can’t see myself letting him wander around the resort by himself.

If anyone can tell me how it works on holiday and how you feel about it I’d be really grateful. Thanks.

OP posts:
cestlavielife · 25/04/2025 18:35

A club will be supervised

cestlavielife · 25/04/2025 18:36

Otherwise just follow him around everywhere

modgepodge · 25/04/2025 18:37

yeah when I was at an all inclusive resort the club was in an enclosed area with staff and drop off/collection was carefully monitored. They aren’t left wandering.

i wouldn’t be happy with my 8 year old being left unsupervised in this country, and definitely not abroad.

Espresso25 · 25/04/2025 18:39

Club fine. Swimming absolutely not.

Last year my DC made friends with a delightful 8 year old who’s parents left him totally unsupervised (Dad would be off for a walk and Mum doing yoga for example). I was horrified. I’ve had a close friends child drown and cannot think of anything more irresponsible. There wasn’t even a lifeguard.

Hollyaddy · 25/04/2025 18:41

Clubs are supervised.

At pools you just watch them. Me and dh took turns to keep eye on dc when little. You sit by a pool or slides where he is and keep an eye on Him

Hayley1256 · 25/04/2025 18:56

The clubs should be supervised. As for swimming and stuff we always make sure we can see DD9. She often makes a friend on holiday so we take it in turn with the friends parents to supervise if they want to go away from the main pool area.

Original poster
WantingMoreCareer · 25/04/2025 19:53

Thank you so much. That makes me feel a lot better. I felt like I was worrying unnecessarily but I can see it’s normal to follow them about especially around the water and I’m not paranoid! I’ll check the club situation out when we get there. If there is a strong sign/in out set up I might see.
thanks again for the speedy and helpful replies.

OP posts:
Hayley1256 · 25/04/2025 20:01

The kids club in Turkey when we went in 2023 felt really secure. They took all you indo including mobile number and a lot of the activities were done in the kids clubhouse or in the garden bit. Once she made friends she didn't want to use it though as just wanted to play in the splash parks with them. We did always have eyes on when near pools or water and then took turns with the friends parents if they wanted to go to the indoor pool etc

Darkambergingerlily · 25/04/2025 20:03

Kids club are usually v closely monitored. I’d sign him up for that

Clearinguptheclutter · 25/04/2025 20:06

It will be fine. Clubs will be supervised. You need to sit in the right area and keep an eye on him in the pool, provided he can swim, but it’s not like when they are 3 and they have to be watched like an absolutely hawk.
at 8 I was fine with mine going back to the room by themselves, going to get an nice cream etc so they weren’t watched the entire time. But I always watched in the pool.

Original poster
WantingMoreCareer · 26/04/2025 08:15

Thanks for sharing your stories. I feel a little more normal now and reassured. Thanks again everyone.

OP posts:
WonderingWanda · 26/04/2025 08:21

Mine were never keen on kids club. I supervise them. By 8 if they can swim I think it's fine to be watching from a sun lounger but if I can't get one close enough then I often sit on the side of the pool with a book. Mine are teens now so I am a little more relaxed but at 8 I was with them.

meevee · 26/04/2025 08:33

I would not leave my dc unsupervised. Clubs, not sure at 8 abroad.

Rocknrollstar · 26/04/2025 08:38

Young children should not walk round hotels on their own. You have no idea who else is staying there. This is is why I now only go Adults Only as otherwise I spend my time watching and worrying about unsupervised children

Pyjamatimenow · 26/04/2025 08:43

Personally mine don’t go out of sight on holiday. Kids clubs are run by young twenty somethings usually. I wouldn’t trust them to supervise my child. Before I had kids I remember a woman running wildly round the poolside screaming her child’s name because the kids club had lost him or rather he’d wandered off.

Twilightstarbright · 26/04/2025 08:43

the hotels I’ve been to have had sign in and out procedures- pretty sure we had to have a photo of ourselves taken at registration and a code word to pick up DS, just like holiday club here.

DS is a strong swimmer so I sit by the pool and supervise him in the water but DH is
generally in with him. He’s not allowed to wander off by himself but can go to the bar for a drink (all inc) if he tells me first.

DS is 8.

Tumblingthrough · 26/04/2025 08:44

At 8 I would leave him at the club but not on his own to wander the pools and slides

Trolllol · 26/04/2025 08:49

This reminds me how much harder it is for parents who have children with SEN and never get past the hawk phase.

Maybe one day!

NewDogOwner · 26/04/2025 09:12

A supervised club, yes. Wandering about at 8, no.

Bigfatsunandclouds · 26/04/2025 09:40

Kids clubs are supervised heavily - you have to sign them in and out usually on an app these days with a picture of who is going to pick them up! Swimming wise, I usually sit alby the pool and supervise - I get dragged in some times. Water slides etc. I just follow them around holding bags.

foreverblowingbubbless · 26/04/2025 09:52

There are usually pool rules which state that children under the age of x must be supervised by an adult at all times.

Original poster
WantingMoreCareer · 26/04/2025 18:34

Thanks again for the further responses. It’s reassuring that I’m not being overly clingy and it’s normal to be feeling like I want to keep him in sight. I’ll check out the rigour of the kids club and see what the set up is there. And it looks like I’ll be doing a lot of water slides which is totally fine with me!

OP posts:
eurochick · 26/04/2025 18:47

At a kids club absolutely ( as long as nothing gave me reservations about it). We left our daughter at a kids club from age 5 and she loved it. Around the pool I would be watching like a hawk.

Katieweasel · 26/04/2025 22:03

This reminds me of the year Next started selling rash vest swimming tops. All the kids had them and I spent the whole holiday accidentally watching other people’s kids in the pool instead of mine! I was always happy with the clubs although DS very rarely wanted to go as he preferred to be in the pool. Never trusted life guards though. I spent a lot of time in the pool or sitting on the edge. Occasionally watched from a sun bed if there was one available with unobstructed views

FoodieToo · 27/04/2025 13:52

Other than at a club, I would never allow an 8 year old out of my sight in a hotel. Swimming in pools with adults full of cocktails !!
I would ensure I was in the pool with him , not watching from a lounger .
In fact my kids are older and would still be watching them . 8 is very young.