What age can kids go to the pool alone?

Status
Not open for further replies.
I just went and looked at a pic of a Disney pool sign. In part it states "Children under 12 must have adult supervision." No where on it does it say anything about having to have a swim buddy.


I did not say that there signs require a swim buddy. I said that children under 12 must have a parent or guardian. There sign does not address the common safety rule that you should not swim alone. I don't think the absence of the rule suggests they encourage the behavior, do you? See my other post regarding what the Red Cross says.

Granted, the risk is minimal. If something were to happen to your child would you want them to be cared for by strangers? I would feel very bad if something happened to my daughter while I was off having a good time on a tour, while I left her alone at the pool. How quickly would you be able to get back to her?
 
I have to wonder..

since the policy is that over 12 do not need adult supervision AT THE POOLS.. is the ASSUMPTION there by Disney that the Parental units are ON PROPERTY and close by just in case?!


as in shopping in the resort gift shops, having a drink at the resort bar or having a nap at their resort room?

Is there a stated age limit at which children can be left alone in the resort rooms?
 
Here's another thread just begun on the CB.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2266762

I bet they disappeared cause their parents didn't give them enough freedom at an early age. :rolleyes: (Sorry, I just couldn't pass that one up since those of us who shelter and protect our children are such bad parents).

Snarkiness aside, I really hope they find these girls safe and well.

I truly hope the girls are found as well. Soo, so sad -- and scary. May NONE of us ever be in the position of their parents, as I truly believe that is the worst nightmare of ANYONE posting on this thread.

I think your posting it here is sort of the point some people are making, though. I believe MOST people allow their 14 year-olds to be alone at some point -- either walking to school, hanging around outside in the neighborhood with some friends, staying home alone till the parents get home, going to the mall. I can't believe everyone doesn't do this, correct me if I am wrong. Now the idea that people whose kids ARE harmed or abducted because their parents don't keep an eagle eye on them every second more or less suggests that if the parents weren't such "RISK-TAKERS", the kids would be home and safe (ie, it's the parent's fault). For all we know, the parents of the missing girls are more overprotective than anyone, but the one simply let her 16 year old sleep over at a friend's house (who among us would not allow that???). I agree with Withacy that it is an incorrect assumption and insulting to suggest that those of us "non-overprotective-parents" just get "lucky" when our kids aren't murdered and left in a ditch somewhere. :sad2:
 

I believe Disney states that children need to be 12 without a parent or guardian, it does not say it is ok for them to be there alone. I contend that Disney would say nobody should swim alone.

Disney doesn't say that anywhere at all so there is no "would say".
 
I have seen the plastic pouches on lanyards, but havent been to the waterparks, so don't know what the bags are like. I would think on a girls swimsuit they would be uncomfortable. Don't they float, unless you can get all the air out.

They work perfectly well in water parks.


I have read many reports of people "accidentally" removing girls tops in pools. Teenage boys love to do this as a "joke".
And how mom sitting on a chair will prevent it? Do you think boys will actually wait for a lonely girl? They will play a joke on any girl around and they will get in trouble even if the girl is alone.

You are right, anyone can follow anyone. Which makes a lone 14 year old at greater risk. They are less likely to recognize the risks. Colleges recommend that coeds don't walk to gyms, etc alone, but it is ok for a 14 year old (or 12 year old) to go the pool alone? With parents off on a tour?Talking to a child abot being careful works a mirracle.

A person alone is more likely to have belongings stolen. It is easy for a person sitting nearby to see you are alone, and see you swim to the other side of the pool and grab your stuff. This is especially true at a crowded pool. Again true for anyone not just a child.

It is very easy to drown in 3 inches of waters, much less 3 feet. Granted in a public place it is not likely to happen in three inches, but in 3 feet it can and does. Do you think drownings never happen when lifeguards are present?

The lifeguards I have seen a Disney pools are often not much more than teenagers themselves. They get distracted. It only takes seconds to drown. If the Disney lifeguards are so attentive, why do children under 12 need a parent or guardian?

It takes more then seconds to drown, people usually splash around or panic which drow attention of lifeguard and people around. It is easy to get drown at ocean but not in a clear 3ft pool water. Very easily spotted. Lifeguards are pretty young but they do their job well, I hear them constantly interacting with even smallest, potential problems.

Granted, bad things only happen rarely, but they do happen. Obviously this is a personal decision as Disney will not know if you are there alone or not.

Here is a link to what the Red Cross says about water safety. Swimming Safety

If you notice the first rule is to swim in designated areas supervised by lifegaurds, the second rule is never swim alone. The Red Cross is in the business of training life guards.

Yes, it also said not to leave your child in your home pool alone for more then 5 min as well, it did not specifically said do not let children swim in a public monitored pool alone. Alone does not mean without parents, it literally means alone. This is open for interpritations..
.
 
This tread is so stupid. Everybody is going to do what they want to do no matter what you tell them. I personally would not leave my 14 yr old with hundreds of strangers. Not that I wouldn't trust her...I don't trust other ppl. THERE ARE BAD PPL OUT THERE whether you want to believe it or not. Leaving a 14yr old at a pool and leaving a 14yr old at a resort are two different things!! I guess there are parents out that care and love their children more then others! :rotfl:

popcorn::
 
Granted, the risk is minimal. If something were to happen to your child would you want them to be cared for by strangers? I would feel very bad if something happened to my daughter while I was off having a good time on a tour, while I left her alone at the pool. How quickly would you be able to get back to her?

Do you home school your child? There's absolutely nothing wrong with it if you do - but if you don't, you're child's far more likely to be hurt at school than at Disney World. Does your child stay the night or go out and do things with friends? Go to camp? Or are you truly with your child 24/7 so that you can make sure you're there that 1 in 1,000 times when your child is actually hurt?

I cracked some fingers on a ride while I was staying a week with the 4-H at the small county fair when I was 12. When I was 11, a tornado hit the Church Camp grounds I was at, only 1/2 mile from the tent I was in at the time (have you ever been in a tent during severe thunderstorms?). My parents weren't there, and in both cases I was cared for/comforted by strangers. I lived. And remarkable, I wasn't scarred for life. Now maybe you're thinking my parents were wrong to let me out of their sight. All I can think is that I would've missed out on a lot of childhood they hadn't.

I lost an aunt & three very young cousins in a car accident with a drunk driver. (Another cousin & my uncle survived.) Both their parents were there and did everything right, but bad things still happened. There is a line between protecting your child and standing between them and life. And obviously we all have a different idea of where that line is drawn.

One last thing - in the real world I'm a regulator over areas having to do with health care. Ask any doctor/dentist or nurse who REGULARLY deals with children, and they'll tell you that most of the time children are easier to work on when their parents AREN'T in the room - because hysterical parents just make their children hysterical. Parents who tell their child "this won't hurt" aren't helping when the child might not have thought it would hurt in the first place. Parents who criticize or fight with their child, or try to micromanage every little things make the medical professional's job much harder. But they all think THEY aren't the problem - it's everyone else.
 
I guess there are parents out that care and love their children more then others! :rotfl:

popcorn::

:thumbsup2:lmao:

And I guess the only 3 people who have right to tell me I am a bad mom are,

1. My mom
2. MY MIL
3. Child protective services.:rotfl:

Anybody else just move aside pls.pirate:
 
If something were to happen to your child would you want them to be cared for by strangers? I would feel very bad if something happened to my daughter while I was off having a good time on a tour, while I left her alone at the pool. How quickly would you be able to get back to her?

Isn't the above true no matter the age of your child?:confused3

What your post is saying to me is that no parent should ever go off without their kids, cause you never know when something bad might happen. I think you would feel horrible if something happened to your child, no matter where or when.

People can choose to live their lives in fear of what MAY happen. Your child MAY get in a car accident, does that mean they should never learn to drive, or drive alone? :confused3
 
This tread is so stupid. Everybody is going to do what they want to do no matter what you tell them. I personally would not leave my 14 yr old with hundreds of strangers. Not that I wouldn't trust her...I don't trust other ppl. THERE ARE BAD PPL OUT THERE whether you want to believe it or not. Leaving a 14yr old at a pool and leaving a 14yr old at a resort are two different things!! I guess there are parents out that care and love their children more then others! :rotfl:

popcorn::

So you're saying my parents don't love me because they trust me and my maturity :confused3

I know for a fact that at 14, both my parents and I would've been completely comfortable with it. Of course there's bad people out there, but you can't shelter a child their entire life. You just need to take the necessary precautions. Cell phones, set time limits, teach how to handle situations, etc.

Perhaps this issue is different from the eyes of a 15 year old? :rolleyes1

Added: I'm actually extremely offended by this statement, and I'm the child. I'm so grateful I've proven to my parents I can be a responsible young adult, and I'm grateful for the privileges, not rights that come with it. My parents love me just as much as any other parent.
 
I think I would have been fine alone at a pool at 14, but the world has changed a bit since 1988 and I'm not so sure it's a terrific idea these days.

However, I also do not think I'd schedule an activity during a family vacation that would exclude just one lone person in my family, so really this whole thing wouldn't be an issue for me to begin with.
 
I think I would have been fine alone at a pool at 14, but the world has changed a bit since 1988 and I'm not so sure it's a terrific idea these days.

However, I also do not think I'd schedule an activity during a family vacation that would exclude just one lone person in my family, so really this whole thing wouldn't be an issue for me to begin with.

Actually it hasn't. Statistics haven't changed since then in fact in many areas it is safer than it was 20-30 years ago. WHAT has changed is 24 hour news channels and internet news sites. The 24 hour news channels are desperately looking for "news" to fill the space between the commercials- the only reason they are actually on-LOL so we hear about the minuscule amount of child endangerment stories over and over again because sensationalism journalism sells those commercial slots!

Kids are no more in danger now than they were 20 years ago.
 
actually it hasn't. Statistics haven't changed since then in fact in many areas it is safer than it was 20-30 years ago. What has changed is 24 hour news channels and internet news sites. The 24 hour news channels are desperately looking for "news" to fill the space between the commercials- the only reason they are actually on-lol so we hear about the minuscule amount of child endangerment stories over and over again because sensationalism journalism sells those commercial slots!

Kids are no more in danger now than they were 20 years ago.

ita.
 
Since this thread has turned into a debate on parenting skills, which is way off topic for the theme parks board, I'm going to close it now.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.












Save Up to 30% on Rooms at Walt Disney World!

Save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels when you stay 5 consecutive nights or longer in late summer and early fall. Plus, enjoy other savings for shorter stays.This offer is valid for stays most nights from August 1 to October 11, 2025.
CLICK HERE







New Posts







DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest

Back
Top