11 year old at town pool Alone

Do you think it is ok for an 11 year old to ride their bike to the town pool without an adult and then go swimming?

11 year old at town pool Alone

I guess if he or she was going with a friend, then maybe. Definitely not alone, IMO. I do see kids in our pool that look like they were dropped off by someone. My DD is almost 10 and I'm not comfortable doing that yet. But maybe in 2 years? After all, the pool has a lifeguard, so technically someone is watching them.

11 year old at town pool Alone

No sorry IMO 11 is too young.

Re: 11 year old at town pool Alone

No, I don’t think it’s OK for any age to go to the pool alone. Drowning can happen so quick, and I especially think that younger ones really need an adult there to watch them.

I’m 40 and recently had an experience where I was under the water and it was so scary. I posted about it a few weeks ago. I wouldn’t even go alone.

Re: 11 year old at town pool Alone

DS is 12 and I wouldn't feel comfortable at all with that situation.

11 year old at town pool Alone

Is the kid meeting a friend with their parent/chaperone? If I trusted the adult, then yes. But I would honestly be a nervous wreck the whole time, lol, the water makes me so nervous.

Message edited 7/7/2018 6:24:49 PM.

11 year old at town pool Alone

At our pool you can be there alone at 10 if you pass a swimming t st.

I do feel it’s too young though.

Re: 11 year old at town pool Alone

Too young. Our pool requires anyone under 18 to be with an adult.

11 year old at town pool Alone

Absolutely not... my kids are still so young but I already know that I will be a hawk while they are in the pool until like 18... oh well if they don’t like it!

11 year old at town pool Alone

I don't think I'd be ok with an 11 year old going anywhere alone, let alone swimming.

Re: 11 year old at town pool Alone

If there's a lifeguard, it depends on the kid. I know a 12 year old, and last year he was on the Jr. Olympics team, took a week-long Lifesaving course, and this year is a certified lifeguard.

I also know people in their 30s who should have a lifeguard with them when they take a bath!

11 year old at town pool Alone

i think that's fine. I was a lifeguard for 7 years and saw kids around 10 years old get dropped off all the time. Many of the swim team kids would come early in the morning by themselves and hangout all day.

I personally spent all day at the pool as a kid... I would walk there every day and meet my friends there

Re: 11 year old at town pool Alone

Posted by GoldenRod

If there's a lifeguard, it depends on the kid. I know a 12 year old, and last year he was on the Jr. Olympics team, took a week-long Lifesaving course, and this year is a certified lifeguard.

I also know people in their 30s who should have a lifeguard with them when they take a bath!

Re: 11 year old at town pool Alone

I went by myself at that age. I would ride my bike in the morning by myself to swim practice or just go to the pool with friends on our bikes. I was a good swimmer and the lifeguards at the pool watched the water very well, much better than at the pool I belong to now. And, it was a different time. I probably won't want my DDs going to the pool alone that young. It will depend on many factors.

Re: 11 year old at town pool Alone

Posted by mommy2be716

Posted by GoldenRod

If there's a lifeguard, it depends on the kid. I know a 12 year old, and last year he was on the Jr. Olympics team, took a week-long Lifesaving course, and this year is a certified lifeguard.

I also know people in their 30s who should have a lifeguard with them when they take a bath!

you know a 12 year old who is a certified lifeguard? You need to be 16

Message edited 7/8/2018 8:24:50 AM.

Re: 11 year old at town pool Alone

My son is 9 but most of his friends are 10. The town pool by me is 10 and I have friends who do leave their kids. I am personally not comfortable with it!
Ets: my son is a great swimmer and on the swim team. At 11 he will do jr. lifeguarding. I don’t know if I will be comfortable with it even then. It’s not a big deal for me to be around in the area reading a book or something.

Message edited 7/8/2018 9:28:33 AM.

11 year old at town pool Alone

Totally depends on the kid and who their friends are. Your child might be the safest swimmer in the world but could still get in trouble with their friends. Personally for me, it would be a no.

11 year old at town pool Alone

Depending upon swimming ability, I would feel comfortable around 13. (8-9th grade).

Re: 11 year old at town pool Alone

I'd rather the kid be at the town pool with other people and a lifeguard than at a friends pool where there may not be a parent home (I live in an eastern beach community and this happens a lot with teens).

11 year old at town pool Alone

Depends on how good a swimmer the kid is. If the kid can't swim, absolutely not.

Re: 11 year old at town pool Alone

If the kid can swim and there are lifeguards on duty then of course. Why not?

11 year old at town pool Alone

I don't think anything replaces parental supervision to be honest. Lifeguards don't see everything. In fact, there are many instances of kids drowning at public pools with lifeguards on duty. So many things can happen. Wouldn't be comfortable at all sending my good swimming 11 year old to the pool alone!

Re: 11 year old at town pool Alone

Re: 11 year old at town pool Alone

No. But I am very overprotective. I wouldn't even want my 11 year old riding a bike alone to town if swimming wasn't involved!

Re: 11 year old at town pool Alone

my DD swims - has done Junior Olympics, swims for a team - has for years and I would not be comfortable with it. She is now 14 and I'm still not sure I would be ok with that.

I know she would be fine swimming and there are lifeguards, but like someone else said there is- most of the time- no one who watches closer than the parents.

The other thing that would make me nervous are predators. What if they got accosted in the bathroom or something. I'm bad - I trust no one. I'm sure these people go to these places looking for kids that are alone - easier targets