What age can kids go to the pool alone?

[Withacy]

I used to walk to the local pool - sometimes alone - when I was 12. Heck, my parents sent me away to camp with complete strangers for weeks at a time from the time I was 10. Granted, it was the 70's when people didn't know about all the dangers out there. Still.

My grandmother was orphaned at 13, and working as a domestic servant. My greatgrandfather WASN'T orphaned, and he worked in the coal mines at 12. In both cases their families (extended family & older siblings in my grandmother's case) couldn't see letting them waste their time not being productive & earn their keep.

I'm not saying that's a GOOD thing, but this idea that 14 year olds have to be wrapped in cotton wool is rather...new. Whether or not it's good for their long term self-relience is for someone much smart than me to figure out.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

What laws? 14 is hardly a child!

Um, with all due respect, 14 is still very much a CHILD. Sex involving a 14 year old is very much statuatory rape, espcially if the minor in question is a female.

Personally, even as an adult, I'd never go swimming completely alone. There is always a risk of drowning. I rarely go to the life guarded pool alone to swim, as someone pointed out, they are often teens themselves. Every year a child dies in my area in a drowning accident at a lifeguarded pool.

Beyond that, the law that popped in my head is liability. Disney has lifeguards, but you still use the pool at your own risk - of DROWNING. Anybody can slip and hit their head.

I think the risk of predators is pretty low at WDW, still - is your 14year old stronger than your average adult male? Probably not. If not, she could easily be overpowered. Happens all the time in this country. Has little to do with your daughter's responsibility level. If a cute guy approached her are you certain she wouldn't walk away with him?

Incidentally, I've worked with teenagers as a teacher for a number of years. I'd never chaperone a trip and let the kids go off by themselves. Wow! I'd let them tour a museum in pairs, but never completely alone. Wow! All I can say is wow. One word: liability.

Mind, I did have friends who did HFS (international study abroad for a year) so I suppose that's alone, but not the same as a field trip. Then the parnets KNOW what they are signing up their kids to do, and sign many forms stating the risks. A field trip, I assume is to be chaperoned, period. Yes, I also did overnight camp - but it was chaperoned and guarded. Anyone caught out of bounds was booted. Our activities were strictly regulated. This was a 4-H camp.


On the flip, in the town where I grew up, lots of parents left their teenagers alone inthe house over the weekends. Usually they also came home ot trashed houses, empty liquor cabinets, and so forth. Every weekend the teens in town would gather ina certain parking lot to find out whose parents had gone away. Where I live, parents are now held liable if that happens. Beyond bearing the FULL liability for any drunk drivers, the parents face steep fines if the cops are called to break up a party at your house.

 

[bigbear]

- is your 14year old stronger than your average adult male?
How many women are? At any age.

 

[JLTraveling]

Um, with all due respect, 14 is still very much a CHILD. Sex involving a 14 year old is very much statuatory rape, espcially if the minor in question is a female.

Personally, even as an adult, I'd never go swimming alone. There is always a risk of drowning.

Beyond that, the law that popped in my head is liability. Disney has lifeguards, but you still use the pool at your own risk - of DROWNING. Anybody can slip and hit their head.

I think the risk of predators is pretty low at WDW, still - is your 14year old stronger than your average adult male? Probably not. If not, she could easily be overpowered. Happens all the time in this country. Has little to do with your daughter's responsibility level.

Wow, I don't remember the OP asking anything about allowing her 14 yo to have sex...not sure where that came from!

I always thought the not swimming alone/drowning thing referred to secluded pools/lakes/rivers where there's a risk that nobody will see you go down...not likely at a Disney resort pool.

I'm with those who don't get why parents today wrap their kids in bubble wrap and refuse to let them grow up. I skipped a couple of grades and graduated from high school at 14. I lived at home the next year and went to community college, but my parents chose to treat me like a college student rather than a child. I moved out when I was 16...had a job (at Disney!), a car, and an apartment.

In high school (age 11-14), I went to weekend debate tournaments where the only chaperone divided us up by "Early to bed, early to rise" and "Up all night" rather than by gender. I went to day camp every summer from the age of 6, and the barely-16 yo counselors had no problem letting us go off on our own (at Disney!) at the age of 7. Which coincides perfectly with the age that Disney requires kids to be to go off on their own.

I survived, and I'm none the worse for wear. Same with all my friends. I feel sorry for kids today, who will hit college with absolutely no clue how to take care of themselves.

 

[PatsMom]

Um, with all due respect, 14 is still very much a CHILD. Sex involving a 14 year old is very much statuatory rape, espcially if the minor in question is a female.

Personally, even as an adult, I'd never go swimming alone. There is always a risk of drowning.

Beyond that, the law that popped in my head is liability. Disney has lifeguards, but you still use the pool at your own risk - of DROWNING. Anybody can slip and hit their head.

I think the risk of predators is pretty low at WDW, still - is your 14year old stronger than your average adult male? Probably not. If not, she could easily be overpowered. Happens all the time in this country. Has little to do with your daughter's responsibility level.

Sex with a 14 year old is statutory rape - don't think anyone would argue with that. But letting the 14 year old go to the pool is hardly a crime. Have you ever been to a Disney pool during the daytime? I've seen some fairly deserted at night, but not during the day. Do you suppose all those people are going to sit there while someone assaults a 14 year old? I don't think so. He would have to convince her to leave the pool area. Don't know about most 14 year olds but mine would have been screaming bloody blue murder at the very suggestion.

 

[Ktharee]

This thread is out of control now.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

This thread is out of control now.

Agreed.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Wow, I don't remember the OP asking anything about allowing her 14 yo to have sex...not sure where that came from!

The person I quoted said specifically that 14 is not a child. In the eyes of the law, 14 is still very much considered a child. Not just in terms of sex, in terms of anything you can think of - except that some states will allow a child as young as 14 to be tried as an adult if they commit a horrible crime.

Ah, I knew this subject was sticky wicket as soon as I saw the heading. I know that my posting seem extreme to some, and I'm sorry. But I have seen tragedy involving teens all too often. Beyond the obvious things that show up in the headlines, my students write journals. I am regularly stunned by the things they write. That doesn't mean kids shouldn't be given some responsibility, they should. I'd certainly let a 14year old go to the pool with her best friend. I just wouldn't ler her go alone.

 

[ShannonMB]

14 is plenty old enough to wake up from the room and head down to the (probably) crowded resort pool by herself. I agree with the *not swimming alone in a secluded lake/river comment*. There are plenty of other people around, it's not a deserted parking garage at 1am we're talking about. I fail to see how a grown man could overpower and take a girl that age with lots of people around for her to scream for help.

When I was 14 I had been babysitting for YEARS already. I went to the pool, took the bus downtown/to the movies, walked to school, pretty much whatever. My mom had an infant at home and would never take me anywhere!

Those who are not okay with a 14 year old going to the pool alone, how do you feel about the OPs other option for her daughter -- touring the park alone for a while? Just wondering if that's a difference to anyone.

 

[Mrsjvb]

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.

 

[Colleen27]

I think the risk of predators is pretty low at WDW, still - is your 14year old stronger than your average adult male? Probably not. If not, she could easily be overpowered. Happens all the time in this country. Has little to do with your daughter's responsibility level.

I'm curious, since many (most?) women are never stronger than an average adult male, do you think an 18yo should also not go to the pool herself? Travel alone? Go to the mall or the movies alone? Caution is all well and good, but worrying over a 14yo being overpowered in a crowded resort pool in front of dozens of witnesses is a bit much. At some point, I think we need to take a deep breath and remind ourselves as parents how small these risks really are, rather than seeing demons and predators everywhere.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I'm curious, since many (most?) women are never stronger than an average adult male, do you think an 18yo should also not go to the pool herself? Travel alone? Go to the mall or the movies alone? Caution is all well and good, but worrying over a 14yo being overpowered in a crowded resort pool in front of dozens of witnesses is a bit much. At some point, I think we need to take a deep breath and remind ourselves as parents how small these risks really are, rather than seeing demons and predators everywhere.

 

[Withacy]

There's a difference between being cautious, and being fearful. And there's nothing wrong with learning how to deal with difficult situations - as opposed to being so overprotected that when you finally are set free, you don't know how to take care of yourself, keep yourself safe, or function.

Then again, some modern parents don't seem to ever want to let go. I hear there's a new thing at college called "helecopters" - parents who continue to hover. I can understand wanting to keep your children safe, but at some point they have to learn how to take care of themselves. If they're not allowed to go to a crowded, supervised public pool at 14 - will they be allowed to drive two years later at 16? Go away to college at 18? Move out of the house at 37?

I'm a woman, and I spent a semester in school in Mexico. I've moved to a new city where I didn't know anyone - twice. Travelled various places alone - even outside the US. But I wouldn't say I take chances. And I've never so much as been robbed, and certainly not assulted. I was taught how to be cautious without being coddled. I know how to be safe without living in fear or being a self-imposed prisoner.

If this 14 year knows how to act responsibly and cautiously at a public pool so that she keeps herself safe, or how to respond if she has a problem, I say YAY to her parents for doing a good job!

 

[KimiCoconuts]

Holy smokes to some of the replies here!

I think it is perfectly fine to allow your 14 year old to go the the pool alone if she wants to and you want her to.

 

[maxiesmom]

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.

 

[dhdozier]

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.

I agree. The OP asked the simple question of what age and asked for no flames, sadly there should be a fireman sent ASAP to put this thread out.

 

[Hannathy]

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.

Can you imagine the reaction to some on here if she had said "great my 12 yr old will have a great time" LOL I love the 92 comment because I'm not sure what age they do find adequate.

Disney obviously feels 12 is a fine age to take care of yourself at a pool so her 14 yr old is well over the Disney age and who's biggest problem will more than likely be forgeting her sunscreen! if there is a problem.

 

[Pats Dragon]

Lifeguards are good but they don't know which man is the "dad" and which is a predator. They also can be distracted and children have drowned with crowds and lifeguards. Even teens.

I watched my kids in an unobtrusive way. The choices are simple: yes let her have independence and fun and maybe meet some 14 y/o's or 18 y/o's BUT risk something terrible happening or swim close by and stifle her independence but make sure that she doesn't drown or have an emotionally painful experience. I always chose the latter and I still have my kids. 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.)

 

[KellyNY]

And then somehow we are surprised why someone "wants to give and get info and not argue".

It was such a simple question, really

I do not think OP needed all the Sex talk and so on...come on...

To come back to original question,

I was letting my DD to go to pool, food court, arcade by herself since she was 12.

I was still around hotel and I was calling her cell like every 15 min just to check if everything OK.

At 14 she was riding back to resort by herself because she forgot her camera while I was waiting at MGM, again constantly on a cell.

I feel extremely sorry for kids who was wronged at water parks, but I still feel that parks are pretty safe.

 

[Howellsy]

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.

I agree with the bolded bit, even with parents present bad things can happen.

But in answer to the actual topic, if the official policy is 12 then that's all you need to know