To think parents should watch their children when swimming??

I would say any child under 8 needs to be supervised in a pool and that the person responsible should be over 16 years.

As a primary teacher, it was often my job to accompany children to the swimming pool for their weekly lesson. I spent the whole lesson counting heads, even though the children were in three ability groups each with their own ASA instructor. Sadly, swimming lessons were eventually stopped because many parents wouldn't pay the voluntary contribution for the coach hire (bus, not swimming coach) and the school made a hefty loss. Naturally, there was an outcry when the lessons stopped...

I know this thread is about swimming dangers for unsupervised children, but it put me in mind of a mother and toddler group I used to take my Godson to. So many toddlers were charging round causing mayhem and upset and wresting other childrens toys from them while their mothers or carers were staring into their mobile phones. Because I was one of the few paying attention I would find myself with a cluster of small ones around me wanting someone to be with. It made me feel quite sad and I was glad when I didn't have to take him there any more. If I ran such a group I'd ban mobile phones and the like.

What age do you think it's safe to allow children to go to the beach or the swimming pool on their own? Assuming they can swim.
I used to go to the beach after school most days in the summer, with some friends, but can't remember what age I was. Still at primary school I think.

There are rules for supervision now (as pointed out by Wheniwasyourage) which are supposed to apply at ALL pools. I can't believe that your pool are so lax :-( Or the parents. I never let my two out of my sight at the pool when they were younger!

I would be tempted to say in loud voice to little girl - where's your reckless Mummy can you point her out! Then add 'good job I was around to save you'. Then make it an establishment issue!

When we were in Lanzarotte parents were allowing their children to swim unsupervised in the hotel pool in the dark after dinner. Next year we are booking an adults- only resort. I was more worried about the children than their parents were.

we were recently in majorca and watched a father with two small children. no mother around. they were about 5 and 6 both non swimmers. the father lay on the beach, bags and other items obscuring his view of the sea, even had he lifted his head, which he didnt. he drank beer and the children were in the sea up to their necks at times. at one point the small girl came out of the sea to say her brother was in trouble and he lifted his head and gestured for the boy to come in closer. he then lay back down. at that point i walked down to them and tried to engage them in conversation (they were british) both stared but no response. it was 34 degrees they were very pale, but not wearing t shirts and cream was only put on once when they arrived. i couldnt relax and kept watch as others nearby did too. The tutting was almost audible. i knew i or someone should have said something to him, but he had been quite sharp with the children and had been drinking so knew anyone approaching him would get the same, or worse , so i kept a watch on the children until they all left. despite his harsh attitude towards them they constantly sought affection, something i have often seen during my career working with children. I know i should have said something, but he was a big angry man and i am short, not strong and dont run very fast. Its just unusual to see parents behaving like this these days, perhaps 50 years ago it was more common. What would you have done/said? If anything.

They are usually very strict, and rightly so. Glad you have emailed the authorities. You have done the right thing.

I took my DGS to an indoor pool last week that I hadn't used before. Although the lifeguard was watching the 2 pools on his own, he did not allow anyone in the shallow pool who was not accompanied in the water by an adult.

Incidentally I was surprised there were so few users of both pools, considering the schools are on holiday.

GS2 is 12 by the way not a tiny - so it would be even more imperative to supervise a younger child.

Took GS2 to beach today. He is the best swimmer in his year. The sea was rough and the waves relatively high for the Channel. Once I had to grab him as he became out of his depth with a wave and he had difficulty coping with the rough sea.

No I definately would not allow any child swim or paddle without proper supervision. In this case it meant going into the sea with him.

But with proper supervision he had a splendid time diving into the waves and trying to swim and outstrength them.

Sadly this doesn't surprise me. Recently a 5-year old child drowned near us at a campsite. He was in the charge of an older child only.

You're definitely right, N&G. Non swimmers or children under about 6 always need an adult nearby.
I was once swimming on my own at a public outdoor pool, had left DD1, aged about 3, in the care of our baby sitter. She saw me in the deepend, ran and jumped in towards me. She went down to the bottom and up again before I got to her and dragged her out.She had been able to swim before she could walk too.

I've emailed the manager and have noted the process to escalate my issues if I get no response.

There was no ratio's in force Daphne . Grampy and I only ever take 2 children if we go swimming and our 9 year old is a fish but we never take our eyes off them . I know I could never forgive myself if anything happened.

Hopefully the manager will take my concerns seriously.

I wonder if some of the parents can't swim themselves and have no real experience of water? Things go wrong so quickly. I was never happy to let DD out of sight until she was 11 and swimming in school galas. DS never learnt to swim and always kept well away from any water.

When GS1 was 7 they had a holiday abroad in a villa with a swimming pool and he was sent for private swimming lessons beforehand to make sure he was really competent in the water. (And she still didn't leave him on his own!)

I never felt able to even blink when mine were in the water. Maybe being raised by the sea has something to do with imy caution, as the OP says.

A child drowned in a private pool in the next compound to ours when we lived abroad, despite there being parents & families all around. It can happen so quickly.

Not unreasonable at all Nanaandgrampy. Several years ago DH and I were in Spain when a child drowned in our hotel pool. Child was 5 and on his own as his parents had gone to the bar and thought he would be fine as there was a lifeguard but it was a huge pool and very busy. Absolutely dreadful experience. Ever since I have been even more alert near water when we take our DGS swimming but I am always amazed at the casual attitude displayed by some parents especially abroad when they just want to sunbathe while their children are in the water. I agree with others that you should highlight the issue.

Is there not a 1-1 adult -child (1-2) ratio in force?
Any more children sounds like a recipe for disaster.m

Report it, and keep on top of it.
If anything happens there, and you didnt say something, you might regret it, even though it is the parents' and gyms' job and not yours.

Plain scary.
Please do bring this to the attention of the gym management they really need to address this before there is a tragic accident.
What on earth are the parents thinking of ?

That's awful NanaandGrampy. You should certainly complain. At our local pool it's compulsory to have an adult in with a non-swimming child too; you can have 2 under-8s per adult (wouldn't have helped me when I had 3 of them, but the rules were different then) and even competent swimmers of under 8 must have an adult swimming with them if they go to the deep end.

Surely there have been enough deaths of children in swimming pools (1 is too many, of course) that your pool needs to have a change of rules. Good luck!

nina, it's the same at my local swimming pool, hard luck for mums of twins or more than one child under 10!

Rules were more stringent years ago - my 3rd DD was a natural swimmer and was diving in and swimming like a fish and enjoying herself in the water by the age of 3. One pool we went to insisted that she must stay down the shallow end because of her age. She got a bit bored as I would not let her dive in there. The lifeguard could see how competent she was and that I was in the water with her, but he was not happy. I knew she was safe, but I can understand his misgivings.

Non-swimmers should always have someone in the water with them - and that includes at swimming classes.

Our local pool won't let you in if you have sole charge of more than one child under a certain age (not sure what the age is)
I don't understand the mentality of some parents "Oh, there's a lifeguard he/she will be watching them" No they're your children.
If my dad hadn't been at the seas edge with me when I was about four and a wave knocked me off my feet, I wouldn't be here. I still vividly remember him scooping me out of water.