Swimming party for 5 yr old - anyone had one

[mummydear]

I'm considering having a swimming party for my 5 yr ols boy, alot of his frineds like him have swimming lessons and are Ok in the water. The local pool provides life guards and they must be a three to one ratio of adults in the pool with the kids . they will be in the learner pool. Anyone else out there have had a swimming party and how did it all go ?

Any advice ?

we had one for DS's 3rd birthday and it was a huge hit with everyone (except some of the mums perhaps whose DH's couldn't/wouldn't come so they had to get in the pool). Our pool insisted on 1-1 but they have been because of their ages. We've been to 2 more this year (DS now 4) and again, the children have loved it. The second party was held a bit too late I think and the children were so tired because of the time and even more tired because they'd been swimming for 1 hour that the 'birthday tea' afterwards was unbelievably quiet and a bit fretful.
I would do it again for sure.

We have had 3 swimming parties (one was a freebie!) and they are fab, especially if you get inflatables etc.

We had one where DD was 8, so not too many under 8's, got away with Me, DH, Brother & friend in water.

Best one was when DD was 11, (the freebie), invited almost the whols class plus odd friends & as the party was free we had kids fishnchips delivered to the Sports centre afterwards (about £1.50 per head for sausage/fishcake n chips). Took longer to eat so no organising required.

The lifeguards organised races, threw kids in water etc. DEFF recommend them, no organising & no clearing up!