At what age would you let your kids swim alone.

[MnMomtoboys]

We were at a hotel with a small waterpark this past weekend. I took my 2 youngest sons swimming and there were 7 other kids in there without any adults. Now 3 of the boys were my ex sil's sons. We don't get along at ALL and her boys are trouble so there is no way I would be in charge of them. There were 4 other kids with the oldest being 12 and the youngest 4. I asked her how old she was.

After about 5 to 10 minutes I called the front desk and the lady there knew exactly who I was talking about without even looking at them. She called the parents and then came to the pool. Told the 1 family I didn't know that if this happened again they would be asked to leave. The boys from my ex sil were told they could not be in the pool again.


I can't imagine letting my kids off to the pool like that. I was nervous about leaving the almost 12 year old in charge of the 4 year old so I could call the front desk. There was a sign posted that there was not a life guard on duty. At the time they were there the slide was shut down and in the little kids area had the water shut off. There was also a hot tub.


Would you be comfortable being in charge of all these kids?

 

[Magpie]

No, not at all! I think you did the right thing. You are not a lifeguard and you had not agreed to be in charge of any of these kids.

 

[golfgal]

We always just went by what the hotel had for rules, usually 16-which was way beyond what we would do at home but whatever. For our city pool, the kids started going at age 9, which was the age the city had for kids being at the pool without an adult, but there are also lifeguards there too.

One hotel pool we were at wouldn't allow ANYONE under 18 in the pool without an adult present-we thought that was WAY over the top. Our oldest was 18 at the time and had to present his driver's license to get into the pool room.

 

[shortbun]

Just had this discussion Thursday night at a book club meeting. We decided 12 but some people thought older because water is dangerous. I think 12 but not to be in charge of younger children. We have a large, very crowded water park here in town. This summer is the first summer I've allowed DS to go unescorted. He just turned 16; if he's old enough to drive I guess he can take care of himself at a waterpark.

 

[mickeyboat]

My DDs are almost 11 and 12 and I would not allow them to swim without a trusted, supervising adult in a pool which did not have a lifeguard.

Our local pool allows children as young as 7 to come to the pool without an adult.

Several 12 year olds have drowned locally this year. A 10 year old drowned tubing down the river.

We don't allow the kids to get into a boat without a pdf.

I am not taking any chances.

 

[Minnesota!]

I would say 12.

OT - but can I ask what hotel you were at? We are going to one up near Brainerd next week and I am looking for reviews

Thanks!

 

[MrsSparrow..]

Maybe it's a culture thing, but I've been a strong swimmer since I was about 5/6. I swam on my own (with adults watching in a viewing area), and my step-sister who is 8, also a strong swimmer, is perfectly capable to swim by herself without someone in the pool. However, no adults nearby and no lifeguard on duty is a different story

I was really offended a couple of years ago when I was at a waterpark in Orlando, when a woman I didn't know said I wasn't old enough to look after my step-sister, who at the time was 6 and I was 16. I even told her I was 16 and we are both very good swimmers, and she still thought it was unacceptable. I suppose every person is different and depends on your children.

 

[clh2]

In a hotel pool with no lifeguard - my first thought on kids would be to follow the rules of the pool.

In a hotel pool with a lifeguard - my first thought would be to follow the rules of the pool.

For some reason - this brings back a memory when we went to PA for a wedding, and DD was 4 years old. For most of the time at the hotel, there were tons of aunts/uncles and older cousins. So - DD was in the water with someone. (She cruised the pool with a noodle.) And - regardless of who she was in the water with - DH or me constantly had our eye on her. DD has always been a water-rat.

At the end of our trip - after some of the relatives had left, and I just didn't feel like swimming, and DD REALLY wanted to go swimming. I let her, but I literally walked up and down the pool as DD was cruising around. The lifeguard even came over to talk to me - she didn't think I trusted her. I explained - "my child - my responsibility" but it was nice knowing the lifeguard was there too!

DD - is now 17 and is a lifeguard and swim instructor....still a water rat...

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I don't let my children swim without another responsible person with them.

I do let 15 yo DS and 10 year old DD swim in our pool without me out there, but only if I'm home. (eg might be inside)

I did let DD swim without me at a hotel pool with a 16 and 18 yo, but I knew they would look out for her. (There are adults I wouldn't trust my kids swimming with!)

In a waterpark situation (eg with lifeguards), I have let DS go off with a friend for a couple years now. They would never be swimming anywhere without a buddy, life guard or not. (scout training drilled into me!)

 

[Forevryoung]

My parents have a pool in their backyard- their rule until I was 16/17 was "no swimming in the pool alone"

Someone didn't have to be outside but someone else had to be home in case of emergency.

I NEVER questioned it and my sister and I (both strong swimmers) always followed the rule. I thought it was a good one!

 

[aprilgail2]

I was really offended a couple of years ago when I was at a waterpark in Orlando, when a woman I didn't know said I wasn't old enough to look after my step-sister, who at the time was 6 and I was 16. I even told her I was 16 and we are both very good swimmers, and she still thought it was unacceptable. I suppose every person is different and depends on your children.

Thats nuts--I think that woman was a bit overprotective!

For the past 2 years my friend and I take our kids to a water park- they are 11 now so at 10 we would rent a cabana and me and the other mom would hang out there with a book or just relax and the kids would go off on the water rides and come back when they were hungry or every few hours. The year before that when they were 9 we would let them leave the cabana, go on a ride, report back and then go back out on another ride etc..
For the past 2 years no matter whos house they went swimming at the parents don't sit outside with them anymore- the kids by that age should be looking out for each other!
The beach I am more nervous about- not ready to have her go to the beach without a parent there (not necessarily me). But she has plenty of friends who are already taking the bus to the beach with just the kids and no parents.

 

[golfgal]

My parents have a pool in their backyard- their rule until I was 16/17 was "no swimming in the pool alone"

Someone didn't have to be outside but someone else had to be home in case of emergency.

I NEVER questioned it and my sister and I (both strong swimmers) always followed the rule. I thought it was a good one!

Actually-to truly swim "alone" with NO ONE around anywhere, I don't think anyone at any age should ever do that.

 

[MichelleVW]

I once had a migraine at Disney and let my then 8 and 10 year olds go to the pool at All Star Movie by themselves. I was babysitting infants at age 13, so yes, I would trust a 12 year old with a 4 year old.

 

[NHdisneylover]

In a pool with NO part that is too deep for them to stand up and have their full head out of water, I have let my kids go as young as 8 with a friend or with each other. Same goes for wandering at a water park for an hour or two with a meet up time with me with the caveat that they could not go in the wave pool or the really intense rides.

In deeper pools, DD14 has been allowed since 11 with a friend. By then she was my size and a much better swimmer than I will ever be.

DS12, is a mediocre swimmer (like me)--fine but nothing great. I prefer he not go without a supervising adult or else his sister (with her being willing to WATCH him), but the school often goes to the public, outdoor pool in summer months and here in Germany the parents aren't really given an option to say no (there is no form to sign or anything). I have drilled into him to stick with his friends and to NOT try to keep up or show off and do anything he is not really, really comfortable with. Then I hold my breadth until school lets out and he calls me to tell me he is okay

 

[Forevryoung]

Actually-to truly swim "alone" with NO ONE around anywhere, I don't think anyone at any age should ever do that.

But by sending your kid to the hotel pool without an adult- you don't know who else would be around. So to me it's sending your kid ALONE.

If I'm going to take a quick cool off in the pool or laying on a float reading the chances of something happening to me are slimmer than slim- swimming laps or jumping off the diving board are a different story (should not be done alone- ever).

 

[cassandrap83]

My mom started dropping off me & my friends at the pool around 11.

 

[momof1princess]

personally, i could not allow my DD13 to swim alone, even if we had a pool at home. she's just not a good swimmer. she's taken several sessions of swim lessons at the local YMCA, it's just one of those things she doesn't "get".
i did allow her to go tubing in helen, GA, with the church youth group last month, but the water was only 3-4 feet deep, and our best friends were along on the trip with their two sons. i also let the pastor know DD doesn't swim well.

 

[miralys]

We were allowed to go to the pool on our own when we could swim the length of the pool twice without stopping and tread water for two minutes. That usually translated to 8 years old.

That being said, we always went with someone (with siblings, friends, etc).

 

[Tink888]

I wouldn't leave a 4 year old in a pool unattended but in a lot of ways age is irrelevant IMO opinion when it comes to swimming. Skill is what matters. I was a strong swimmer and was going to (lifeguarded) pools by myself with friends by 3rd grade (8 years old). Both of my boys were strong swimmers at an early age, though I was usually with them, they could swim better than a lot of adults. As confident as I am in their abilities we do have a rule to always swim with a buddy.

I think many parents falsely assume that shallow water is safe water.

Any person who can't float, tread water or is afraid to go underwater shouldn't be in a pool without supervision.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Our community pool allows 14 year olds with parental permission (provided at the start of summer when we get our pool passes) to go to the pool without an adult and that is with a lifeguard. Under that, there is no option. The child cannot go to the pool without an adult (I think that is defined as 16 and over, but I would have to look it up.)

Swimming skills are a must.

My girls are 8 and 11. I don't let them go to the pool alone, but I don't watch them like a hawk anymore. If we are at a "water park" type pool place, like the pool at AKL...they can go anywhere within the pool area since they have excellent swimming skills. But I still go to the pool with them. (I wouldn't do that yet at a place like Blizzard Beach--but because there is much more space involved. They would have to buddy with a grown up to roam.)

As far as swimming, it is well advised to teach that you should never actually swim alone.