How do you keep track of your kids at SAB?

[Jillpie]

We are going to the BCV's for the first time and this will be our first time at SAB as well. Our sons are 14, 10 and 9. Do you generally let your kids at this age (they are good swimmers) go off on their own and have a meeting spot? I plan on having one of us stay with our youngest, but this place looks so big in the pictures. Your thoughts? If you have a 14 yr. old, what do you allow him/her to do on their own at this resort and on the Boardwalk? thanks!

 

[SuAnne]

Last year when we went my DD was 9 and she is an excellent swimmer. We diecided to play hide and seek in SAB with a rule that you had to stay in the pool at all times. Well...I should have put a time limit on it that if we weren't found in x amount of time to meet back at our chair. When it was my turn to find DD, I couldn't find her for a half hour... I was frantic!! The little darling thought it would be fun to follow me around while I was looking for her. So much for that game...even though she thought it was great fun It is very large and I would not let her out of my sight again.

 

[The Chief]

Being a STRONG swimmer is a must, but also keep in mind that there are Lifeguards surrounding the entire Pool area. Very Safe!

 

[Gabrielle]

Hi Jillpie,

Your post is a good one - the layout of SAB makes keeping track of kids difficult.

Keep in mind that the entrance to the big slide is out of the pool and across the road - meaning your kids will be way out of your sight.

-Gabrielle

 

[Deb & Bill]

Actually, it is only across the sidewalk, not across the road. SAB is not as large as TL or BB. But the current is very strong and the pool is rather deep in some areas.

Walk through the pool area with your kids before you let them go off by themselves so you both can experience the pool together. Then if you see them having problems in any area, you can tell them to stay out of one area or another. The lazy creek area is deep for non-swimmers. There are several deeper areas that you should experience with your kids before you let them go off alone.

The sinking sands area is another area where you might want to try it out together. You can get very tired fighting the current or the sinking sand.

 

[Gabrielle]

You're right Deb&Bill - the slide is across the sidewalk.

 

[Momto8]

The lazy creek area is deep for non-swimmers. There are several deeper areas that you should experience with your kids before you let them go off alone.

This reminds me of my adult niece when we stayed there in '98. She didn't realize how deep it was and when she stepped off the stairs, she went right in over her head. Boy was she surprised! LOL!!

It is hard to keep track of kids at SAB, and I found that out the hard way. I took my 2 daughters and my 3 young nieces the first time, and they all took off in different directions at once. Luckily my DH was with me, and we rounded them up right away and told them they had to stay within our sight.

 

[Disneydenise]

Good Luck keeping the 14 YO within eyesight. They seem to have a mind of their own and are ready to try out feedom. It was interesting. My son has very pretty blue eyes and has a cute personality these cute girls who were too old for him were surrounding him and he of course was enjoying the attention. I thought I would die but well I know he doesn't want to be a priest so I guess I have to let him go. I had his sister go over and get him when it was time to leave. I find that it is difficult to have a family vacation at this age. We are going back to the Poly in October and DD won't be there so this is going to be really tough. DS friends are going and they are all 16 & 17 YO now. They are all good looking young men with their parents. I can't wait to see how they try to get away from us. They are all good kids so I don't think we are going to have a problem but I do love watching the creativity. I guess they really think we were born old geezers.

 

[jdwright13]

I thought the idea was to lose your kids so you could enjoy your vacation?

 

[soccer mom]

I'm with you, jdwright13! But mine keep finding their way back!

 

[Jillpie]

Thanks everyone. We will probably stay close by to the youngest ones anyway. Anyone else have thoughts on what they allow your 14 yr. olds to do around the Boardwalk by themselves? He usually likes to stick around us anyway, but now that we'll be there, the options are far greater than POR, where we usually stay.

 

[Disneydenise]

Does your 14 YO make friends easily? My DD didn't so there was never an issue about it with her. DS does make friends easily but he seems to want to stay with us. He wouldn't go walking around the BW without us. I am surprised but I was talking to him on the way to fencing and he thought I was nutty when I suggested that he hop a bus to DQ one night while we are there. He said he won't go unless one of the other guys from his team go. I am sure he will find someone from the team. He will be 17 by the time we go. My husband likes to try to play the video games but the kids are so much better than he is and it bruises his ego. He is so competitive. Enjoy your vacations I think when they hit this 17 -20 age range they don't want to do anything much with you and the only reason they do is because you are paying for it. I think this trip will be fun for us because he will have some of his fencing buddies there and this is a first time that has ever happened for us. We may get to go out to an all parent dinner. I think that if you trust the two other children in the care of your 14 Yo they might all have fun over at DQ. I don't know if there is all that much to keep them occupied at the Boardwalk. The game room at BC/YC is pretty good. The place is huge so they would all have to stay together or make sure they all have cell phones.

 

[Gretchen]

Don't want to be a downer, but it only takes 10 seconds to drown, and the lifeguards, no matter how good they are can't see everything. Keep your own eyes on your kids, and make sure they can see your eyes.
Gret