What age can kids go to the pool alone?

[DISNEY FIX]

No flame here nor an apology for taking care of my most valuable possessions. ( Most people wouldn't leave a diamond watch at the pool unattended.)

Love it, well said.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

On previous trips we did not allow our children to go to the pool alone, however, on this trip we allowed our almost 13 year old and our 10 year to go to the big pool at CBR alone. They went together, stayed together, ate lunch together and even got back to our room, were showered and ready to go to the parks when we returned from DTD shopping and lunch. We have raised them to be very independent and self reliant, and to depend on each other. They had a cell phone and knew what to do in the event of an emergency. We were very proud of them, this was a good test for them.

Ok, now I'm donning my flame suit. Let me have it, but before you do, know that my kids go to the pools here at home alone, and stay at home alone.

 

[Pats Dragon]

Actually 2 kids, even that young, are much safer than 1 alone-especially if they stay together and tattle if one does something unsafe. I wouldn't have done that if I didn't know any adults at the pool but to me it seems its what people want to risk.

 

[Withacy]

No flame here nor an apology for taking care of my most valuable possessions. ( Most people wouldn't leave a diamond watch at the pool unattended.)

Yes, and someday your most valuable possessions will be 18 - and if you've never trusted them out of your sight, never trained them to be careful on their own without you looking over their shoulder, are you going to continue to guard your treasures at college?

Just because a child isn't watching like a hawk constantly doesn't mean they aren't taken care of.

And let's be HONEST here, since so many people keep insisting that a 14 year old has to be continuously guarded against some stray preditor in the Beach Club pool. The HONEST TRUTH is that most children who are molested are molested by someone known to their family - or even related to them. That's why it's probably better to teach your child to DEAL with situations on their own than to try to watch them every second in public.

 

[kappyfamily]

wow. Everyone chill out. Let's all just raise our own kids and let others raise theirs. I'm not saying it is a good choice or bad...

Bring on the "Damn, Crocs are ugly but so comfortable" and "Will my Pooh sized butt fit in the log at Splash mountain" questions.

I'm done with this thread. Care to join me somewhere less dramatic???????

 

[PrincessKsMom]

wow. Everyone chill out. Let's all just raise our own kids and let others raise theirs. I'm not saying it is a good choice or bad...

Bring on the "Damn, Crocs are ugly but so comfortable" and "Will my Pooh sized butt fit in the log at Splash mountain" questions.

I'm done with this thread. Care to join me somewhere less dramatic???????

I'm with you! Wanna talk about me reusing last year's resort mug?

 

[ShannonMB]

I agree with the PP who suggested this 14 year old could be as little as a year and a half away from being behind the wheel of a car. You simply can't watch them every second if they are going to become responsible adults. They need trust to prove that they can do the right thing in many different situations, including knowing how to stay safe in a populated resort pool. I know someone will say, "I trust her, but not the people she might come in contact with". That's life, and she needs to know how to handle herself in a variety of situations, which is especially appropriate in such a relatively safe environment.

I hate to say it, but my experience at the dorms in college were that the more over-protected kids were the ones who were really looking to cut loose and be free -- binge drinking and riding home with who knows? Now flame away, I know that won't be "MY" overprotected teen (perhaps only 3 years older than the OPs daughter), but it happens...a LOT! And IMHO, it's got a LOT to do with the topic at hand.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Disney says that you must be 12yrs old or older to be at the pool by yourself. However according to some on the forum you must be 92.

I joke because I don't think the OP was looking for parenting advice, but wondering what the Disney rules are. This thread has gotten way way way off track with all the talk about predetors and assualts.

Well, this thread broke down into two different topics when someone posted "A 14 year old is not a child." That is quite a blanket statement and goes way beyond spending a few hours at the pool by yourself at Disney World. Children do need to be given more freedom by the age of 14 so that they are prepared for adulthood, but to say a 14 year old is not a child, is ridiculous. And if you are completely treating your 14 year old as an adult and believing that they can handle all situations like an adult, you are mistaken.

I also find it more than a bit ironic that the people who are reprimanding other people on this thread for giving parenting opinions, are themselves, giving judgemental parenting opinions.

 

[Boatingmom]

If the individual is under 18, they are legally considered children no matter how mature they are or how independent their parents push them to be. It still the parent's responsibility to provide appropriate supervision. and they can be held responsible if anything happens. Anybody here want to trust the health and safety of their child 6 or 16 to to the hired help alone? Frankly I cant even trust my DH to feed them right when I'm not hovering.

That being said, I agree with PrincellKsmom

Whats for dinner?

 

[CLR4321]

I would let a 14 year old go to the pool alone, definitely. By 14, most kids are out and about, walking around town, at movies, at concerts, at the fair, etc. I do not see why being at the pool at a WDW hotel would be any different. I would definitely give her some safety tips, such as letting her know what to do if she feels uncomfortable, and who to talk to. Be sure to tell her to keep an eye out when she is walking back to the room. Tell her to get in and close the door quickly when she is entering the room (the doors automatically lock when closed all the way). This is a safety tactic that all people should follow when staying at any hotel.

Oh, I would like to add. The kids who were molested did have parents at the park, within a reasonable, safe distance. This can happen anywhere, anytime, with or without parents. People don't realize that even if they are there, it can still happen to their kids, and it will have the same effect either way. Explain to your children what to do if this does happen (get out of the water, get a description of the person, and go immediately to a lifeguard. Report it so action can be taken, and have a cell phone handy to call the parents).

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

Hey i would still be watching my almost 20 year old at the pool while drinking my diet coke in my asmusic and movies Mug from about 5 years ago.......ha.ha

 

[Hannathy]

If the individual is under 18, they are legally considered children no matter how mature they are or how independent their parents push them to be. It still the parent's responsibility to provide appropriate supervision. and they can be held responsible if anything happens. Anybody here want to trust the health and safety of their child 6 or 16 to to the hired help alone? Frankly I cant even trust my DH to feed them right when I'm not hovering.

That being said, I agree with PrincellKsmom

Whats for dinner?

I'm not trusting the health and safety of my child to the hired help I'm trusting the health and safety of my child to my child! All I trust Disney to provide is a life guard to save her if she drowns and for Disney to provide basic security same as I trust my city to do the same at the local pool.

As far as you not trusting your DH that is another thread and if I was your DH I'd be very insulted.

 

[mickeymyfavorite]

Yes, and someday your most valuable possessions will be 18 - and if you've never trusted them out of your sight, never trained them to be careful on their own without you looking over their shoulder, are you going to continue to guard your treasures at college?

Just because a child isn't watching like a hawk constantly doesn't mean they aren't taken care of.

And let's be HONEST here, since so many people keep insisting that a 14 year old has to be continuously guarded against some stray preditor in the Beach Club pool. The HONEST TRUTH is that most children who are molested are molested by someone known to their family - or even related to them. That's why it's probably better to teach your child to DEAL with situations on their own than to try to watch them every second in public.

well said

 

[ShannonMB]

I'm not trusting the health and safety of my child to the hired help I'm trusting the health and safety of my child to my child! All I trust Disney to provide is a life guard to save her if she drowns and for Disney to provide basic security same as I trust my city to do the same at the local pool.

As far as you not trusting your DH that is another thread and if I was your DH I'd be very insulted.

I totally agree, but I will say to Boatingmom that my DH is really bad about feeding my DD when I'm not home, too!

 

[picktails]

I actually found most of these responses to be very level-headed. Most seem to understand that average 14 year olds are able to handle independent activities responsibly.
To the few that seem to think they are chaperoned continuously on trips - NOT.
Our middle school goes to amusement parks, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. They are ages 12 - 14, must check in at times but are allowed to tour without the adults!
Skiing in Vermont last winter I spoke with a chaperone from England there with young teens, and the same - they were pretty much free to come & go.

OP had to know her question would open a can of worms.

I do feel sorry for kids with "helicopter parents." They will likely always have less confidence.

 

[hpkalika]

I can't say that I have read all of the posts. But for what it is worth, the answer has to be a personal one. I grew up in the country and by 14, could handle more than most. I now live in a big city and will be keeping a much bigger eye out than my parents had to with me.
Every kid is different, just like when they are babies, some will sit, stand, walk and talk earlier than others. At 12-14, different kids need different levels of parenting. I was one to believe that by 13, a child should have a good idea of right and wrong. Then in Philadelphia, a 13 yr old child, broke into a subway drivers cab and stuck his head out of a moving train. So my thought is until your kid can prove the sort of responibility needed to navigate through Disney and life in general, then they need to be with you.

On the other hand, why on earth am I going to take a kid on a family vacation so we can spend it apart?

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I actually found most of these responses to be very level-headed. Most seem to understand that average 14 year olds are able to handle independent activities responsibly.
To the few that seem to think they are chaperoned continuously on trips - NOT.
Our middle school goes to amusement parks, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. They are ages 12 - 14, must check in at times but are allowed to tour without the adults!
Skiing in Vermont last winter I spoke with a chaperone from England there with young teens, and the same - they were pretty much free to come & go.

OP had to know her question would open a can of worms.

I do feel sorry for kids with "helicopter parents." They will likely always have less confidence.

Which is worse "free rein" parents or "helicopter parents?" You have to find a balance between the two.

Parents musn't smother their children, but they must give guidelines, rules and disipline throughout the teen years and not just trust them and turn them out into the world, simply because they are teens and "should" know the difference between right and wrong.

 

[Took]

I think the big issue here is the recent assaults.. in the most recent one.., DAD was IN THE AREA and it STILL happened.

so while this particular 14 year old may be mature and responsible enough to be left alone, there is NO WAY to Guarantee that nothing will happen to her while the rest of the family is nowhere on property.

of course there is no way to guarantee she will be perfectly safe if Mom and dad were keeping an Eagle Eye out, either.

Actually, based on the incident reported (when Dad was in the area), it doesn't really seem to matter whether mom and dad are around or not.

I say, 14 is plenty old enough to go to the pool, OP. Certainly, WDW allows it.

 

[MariDisney]

I think the big issue here is the recent assaults.. in the most recent one.., DAD was IN THE AREA and it STILL happened.

so while this particular 14 year old may be mature and responsible enough to be left alone, there is NO WAY to Guarantee that nothing will happen to her while the rest of the family is nowhere on property.

of course there is no way to guarantee she will be perfectly safe if Mom and dad were keeping an Eagle Eye out, either.

So, even dad couldn't stop it. (which is horrible) It implies that are if mom or dad are at the pool with the 14 yo it's a possibility they wouldn't be able to stop something either. I think the case in question had someone groped in the water. A parent could be sitting on the side of the pool and it could happen.

I believe in protecting my kid as appropriate. She's 9 now. I wouldn't let her stay at the pool alone. I do let her go into public restrooms alone, and I even let her go to the foodcourt and refill her mug at POFQ last year when our room was opposite the food court. Now, she stays home for about 20 min. by herself. As time goes on the freedom gets to be a bit and a bit more. I believe that by 14 she will be allowed to lay out at the pool during the day by herself if she chooses. When I was 14 I babysat numerous kids and took them to pools myself. I don't think things have changed that much. I think people's awareness and sensitivity has changed. In some cases this is good, but I do believe it has made some people over protective. Of course, it's your kid, your rules.

 

[Colleen27]

No flame here nor an apology for taking care of my most valuable possessions. ( Most people wouldn't leave a diamond watch at the pool unattended.)

I don't know about yours, but my watch isn't capable of being aware of its surroundings, seeking help if a situation seems sketchy, or otherwise protecting itself, and I'm not concerned with teaching my watch the things it will need to know when it heads out into the world without me.