What age can kids go to the pool alone?

[lustergirl]

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Something to keep in mind, but also think about this - SAB is the largest pool on site and they have the most lifeguards on duty as well. We were there last year and left our kids in the pool while we went to the room for a rest and felt comfortable with doing so. My oldest was 13 and youngest was 6. This was later in our stay and they "knew" the pool very well. The lifeguards aren't babysitters, but they watch out for everything. Just make sure that your DD knows what to do and who to talk to if she needs anything. If she's confident in herself and independent, she will be fine.

Me, personally, I would never do this. Leaving a six year old without adult supervision? Even if your other kids are there, anyone under 12 should have an adult present. Pools are for kids to have fun and I would be concerned that they wouldn't be paying attention to making sure they're all safe. Not bashing at all, just saying this would make me very uncomfortable.

How much smaller could you get for heavens sake? going to a crowded resort pool with families, staff and life guards?

Considering my 14 yr old was babysitting 2 little girls all day at the time she was 14 and taking them to swimming lessons and all around town on the bus and feeding them etc I hardly think going to the pool alone a massive increment!

I can't believe 14 yr olds don't go to community pools without their Mommies so why would Disney be any different.

It's fine to disagree, but I don't think you have to be rude about it (i.e, calling someone "small"). If you're comfortable with your 14 year old being all around town with someone else's kids and you trust her, great for you. Not everyone is as comfortable with this situation. Everyone is just giving a different opinion/perspective on the same subject.

 

[Withacy]

It's fine to disagree, but I don't think you have to be rude about it (i.e, calling someone "small"). If you're comfortable with your 14 year old being all around town with someone else's kids and you trust her, great for you. Not everyone is as comfortable with this situation. Everyone is just giving a different opinion/perspective on the same subject.

The poster wasn't calling the other poster small - the other poster had said to give their child responsibility in "small incriments", and the poster was merely pointing out that they thought this was a small incriment (how much smaller - of an incriment - could you get).

There's enough rudeness floating around without seeing it where it doesn't exist.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

How much smaller could you get for heavens sake? going to a crowded resort pool with families, staff and life guards?

Considering my 14 yr old was babysitting 2 little girls all day at the time she was 14 and taking them to swimming lessons and all around town on the bus and feeding them etc I hardly think going to the pool alone a massive increment!

I can't believe 14 yr olds don't go to community pools without their Mommies so why would Disney be any different.

I understand that you, personally, don't consider your 14 year old a child and that's your business and I didn't judge you nor the OP. Each child is different and each parent shoud assess each situation to see what is proper for their child, which I beleive the OP is. I was merely commenting on your statement that a 14 year old is not a child. Because, the fact is, physically, socially, mentally and legally 14 year olds are children and simply can not be held up to the standards of adults in regard to responsibility.

 

[morimoto]

I would not be comfortable with letting a 14 year old go swimming alone at WDW. While they may seem "smart" for their age, I just remember how easy it was to talk 13 - 18 year old "smart" or "good" girls into doing things they probably shouldn't when I was their age. (like if we went on a school trip or something, it never seemed too hard to get girls from different school to come to another hotel room for example). Not saying this would happen, just something to think about.

 

[dtum]

Kids on school trips are always in groups with chaperones. They aren't really "alone" at the pool. Most of them want to hang around with their friends. I'm not easy letting them go alone any place. Just because it's Disney doesn't mean there are not weirdos around.

 

[Withacy]

I believe the OP was asking for Disney Policy - not advice. I think she's made up her mind about what her daughter can & should be allowed to do. Which is a parent's right.

There's a fine line between telling us what you feel comfortable with when it comes to your own child, and telling other people they're bad or neglectful parents because they don't agree with you.

 

[wdw&sonny]

I think I would be more comfortable with two 12 years old going together without an adult than one 14 year old going alone. All water safety guidlines I have ever seen say you should never swim alone, even if there are life guards.

I agree, but not for the water safety alone, for the "predator". The key point is not her age, but that she is alone-she could be 16, 19 or 47. Women, by themselves, are a target for predators. Although, admittedly we are probably too paranoid, as a parent, I know I would want the peace of mind to feel totally relaxed knowing I wouldn't have to worry.

Yes, this situation is relatively low risk and, therefore, a good time to teach her the reality of responsibility. If she is outgoing enough, have her tell the lifeguard she is alone or you could go to the pool with her and do so yourself. Even just a "hey, is it ok if she's here by herself?" to one of the lifeguards, will alert them that she is alone. In fact, it would probably be a good idea to tell the front desk that your daughter will be alone for a while.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

The poster wasn't calling the other poster small - the other poster had said to give their child responsibility in "small incriments", and the poster was merely pointing out that they thought this was a small incriment (how much smaller - of an incriment - could you get).

There's enough rudeness floating around without seeing it where it doesn't exist.

Thanks for clarifying it for me. I mistook it to mean she was referring to the other poster as "small" as in "small minded". My apologies for the misunderstanding.

 

[bigbear]

I believe the OP was asking for Disney Policy - not advice. I think she's made up her mind about what her daughter can & should be allowed to do. Which is a parent's right.

There's a fine line between telling us what you feel comfortable with when it comes to your own child, and telling other people they're bad or neglectful parents because they don't agree with you.

 

[MoonFaerie]

Kids on school trips are always in groups with chaperones. They aren't really "alone" at the pool. Most of them want to hang around with their friends. I'm not easy letting them go alone any place. Just because it's Disney doesn't mean there are not weirdos around.

No, not always. Yes, we had chaperones on our band trips (which included 8th grade through 12th grade students), but they were NOT with us at all times. Or even most times, really.

On the bus, they were evenly distributed throughout the bus, with no boy/girl combos allowed behind the last adults. (Not that really stopped anything...) At the hotel, there were night patrol chaps that made sure no one left the room, and boys and girls were on different floors. At the parks, we were on our own all day, with the exception of parade day.

 

[supersuperwendy]

You know your child best! What time is your tour? Does your child intend to sleep in? If they are like I was at that age they will sleep in, go the pool and lay out listening to music (ipod vs. walkman lol) . Perhaps take a dip and back to their chair. Use your best judement!

 

[Boncho]

We all know what Disney's policy is, so here is my two cents worth. This year when my son and I were at Disney , if he was in the pool - I was reading my book down by the pool (not right by the pool, over on the chairs-you know, can't embarrass the all grown up teenager). My son is 14 y.o., 6 feet tall and around 145 lbs. so he is not small by any means. I know that as soon as he gets to the pool, he will be meeting any kids that are in the pool his age. My son is bigger than me, stronger than me BUT he is still my son and my responsibility - not the lifeguards.

 

[Hannathy]

I agree, but not for the water safety alone, for the "predator". The key point is not her age, but that she is alone-she could be 16, 19 or 47. Women, by themselves, are a target for predators. Although, admittedly we are probably too paranoid, as a parent, I know I would want the peace of mind to feel totally relaxed knowing I wouldn't have to worry.

Yes, this situation is relatively low risk and, therefore, a good time to teach her the reality of responsibility. If she is outgoing enough, have her tell the lifeguard she is alone or you could go to the pool with her and do so yourself. Even just a "hey, is it ok if she's here by herself?" to one of the lifeguards, will alert them that she is alone. In fact, it would probably be a good idea to tell the front desk that your daughter will be alone for a while.

Do you have a 14 yr old? Do you know how embarrassed a 14 yr old would be to do this or have it done to them? and many of the lifeguards aren't that much older than the 14 yr old and would probably get a good chuckle out of it. Why would the front desk need to know and what would you want them to do about it anyway? I'm really confused with this thread. The person in question is 14 not 8. Do you all get sitters for your 14 yr olds at home? Go everywhere with them? I guess I'm really having a hard time understanding this thread.

 

[princessmom29]

If you think she can handle it, let her go. I teach high school, so I come across a lot of 14 year olds. I would say that the vast majority of them are perfectly capable of going to a lifegaurded pool by themselves.

 

[PatsMom]

Kids on school trips are always in groups with chaperones. They aren't really "alone" at the pool. Most of them want to hang around with their friends. I'm not easy letting them go alone any place. Just because it's Disney doesn't mean there are not weirdos around.

How many high school trips have you been on? I've chaperoned a few - two of them out of the country. In Quebec City we had freshmen so a fair number of 14 year olds. They were allowed off on their own. They just had to buddy up but they weren't necessarily with a chaperone. In France we had an older group but they also were allowed to buddy up and leave the group.

I would have been perfectly comfortable letting my daughter go to the pool by herself at 14. By 14 many teens are babysitting and are responsible for younger children for extended periods of time. They go to school, they go to the mall, they go to friends houses. All of those places certainly have a risk that the nebulous "something" might happen. I believe that you can't keep a child under a glass cage - they have to grow up.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I'mm sincerely glad that most of you weren't my parents growing up... do you let your kids do anything alone???

 

[Boncho]

Do you have a 14 yr old? Do you know how embarrassed a 14 yr old would be to do this or have it done to them? and many of the lifeguards aren't that much older than the 14 yr old and would probably get a good chuckle out of it. Why would the front desk need to know and what would you want them to do about it anyway? I'm really confused with this thread. The person in question is 14 not 8. Do you all get sitters for your 14 yr olds at home? Go everywhere with them? I guess I'm really having a hard time understanding this thread.

There is a big difference between a 14 year old alone at home and a 14 year old alone on vacation. I would not even dream of going to the front desk or to the lifeguard about my son, he goes to places around the resort alone just as I go get coffee etc. alone in the morning (for example) - but we are only talking about short periods of time here. A half an hour or 45 minutes is one thing, a few hours is another when away from home.

 

[Boncho]

I agree!
I thought I was over-protective, but I guess not!

Aren't kids that are 14 in high school?!?

No, not around here. My son just turned 14 and is going into grade 9 - which is junior high.

How many high school trips have you been on? I've chaperoned a few - two of them out of the country. In Quebec City we had freshmen so a fair number of 14 year olds. They were allowed off on their own. They just had to buddy up but they weren't necessarily with a chaperone. In France we had an older group but they also were allowed to buddy up and leave the group.

Key words - buddy up - that is not alone. If my son had a friend with him or his cousin,I wouldn't worry about letting them go to the parks alone. It's this "alone" thing that bothers me.

 

[PatsMom]

No, not around here. My son just turned 14 and is going into grade 9 - which is junior high.

How many high school trips have you been on? I've chaperoned a few - two of them out of the country. In Quebec City we had freshmen so a fair number of 14 year olds. They were allowed off on their own. They just had to buddy up but they weren't necessarily with a chaperone. In France we had an older group but they also were allowed to buddy up and leave the group.

Key words - buddy up - that is not alone. If my son had a friend with him or his cousin,I wouldn't worry about letting them go to the parks alone. It's this "alone" thing that bothers me.

Some of these kids didn't know each other before they "buddied" either. In france we were mixed with a group from a different part of the country. I am willing to bet that most 14 year olds if they wanted to socially interact could find another teenager or two to hang out with at a pool. I know my daughter could. So the they aren't alone!