13 answers

Birthday Party Right After School at Small Hotel with Indoor Pool

Would you be comfortable allowing your kids(4th grade) to travel from school to a local hotel with an indoor pool for a 2 or 3 hour birthday party that includes swimming indoors? You would have to pick them up at 6 on a Friday and it is maybe 10 minutes from school. There would be 2 moms or more supervising Also, a high school lifeguard would be on duty since I would hire him.

would this be a fun party? I could hire another teen to lead games in the pool. I would not be able to get in as I am having surgery and will have a brace on.
This would be the first party like this for any of us.

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So What Happened?™

I am fine with parents coming and even the whole family. These parents as a group have chosen not to stay at three of the four last parties. I have no idea who can or can not swim. The pool is 3-5 feet deep and really the size of a backyard pool. Two parents of kids would help me drive. We have now done 4 after school parties on Fridays with parents driving.

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Absolutely. I think this sounds like a great party! I would clearly state on the invitations that a lifeguard is present and that additional parents would be there to supervise. I would also give the option of allowing parents to stay if they wanted to.

I think by 4th grade, kids understand the rules of pool behavior, but to be on the safe side, I would take a few minutes before they all jump in to review the rules- most hotels have them posted.

I agree with T F., have other activities on hand just in case. You could set up a craft table or some other project. Have fun!

3 moms found this helpful

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Sure! And if any parents aren't comfortable, invite them to attend. But with a lifeguard and other adults supervising, it sounds safe to me. You probably don't even need to hire a teen to lead games. Kids are pretty good at self-entertaining in the pool. Give them diving toys, and they can race to see who gets their ring/stick first. Throw some pennies in the deep end and tell them to find them all. Keeps them busy for days! Good luck!

3 moms found this helpful

How do they get to the party from school? Parents drop off?

I would allow my child to go. Sounds like a fun idea.

Also, you sound very responsible.. let parents know you have hired ($$) a lifeguard and other parents are there supervising as well.

I don't know that I would hire another teen unless you jus wanted to make sure there are some acvitivies other than swimming just in case some kids don't want to swim.

Good luck with your surgery.

3 moms found this helpful

I had a bunch of friends that did this when I was a kid, and it was awesome! One year, 3 of us got together with parents and did it as well (we were turning 10). Hotel pool pizza party--it was a blast!

3 moms found this helpful

Absolutely. I think this sounds like a great party! I would clearly state on the invitations that a lifeguard is present and that additional parents would be there to supervise. I would also give the option of allowing parents to stay if they wanted to.

I think by 4th grade, kids understand the rules of pool behavior, but to be on the safe side, I would take a few minutes before they all jump in to review the rules- most hotels have them posted.

I agree with T F., have other activities on hand just in case. You could set up a craft table or some other project. Have fun!

3 moms found this helpful

Sure. My son (3rd grade) is a pretty good swimmer. Sounds like a great party idea!
But I do think you should allow parents to attend if they would feel more comfortable doing that.

2 moms found this helpful

Yep! Sounds fantastic!

2 moms found this helpful

you might want to check into having parents sign a release of liability. we use to have a local hotel that would rent out their pool until a child fell and the parent sued both the hotel and the party throwers. now the hotel doesnt let anyone but guests use the pool.

2 moms found this helpful

Of course, fourth grade is plenty old enough, especially with a lifeguard AND parental supervision.
I would confirm that everyone who rsvp's can swim, if not I'd keep an extra close watch on the kids who can't.
Honestly I think it's irresponsible parenting NOT to have taught your children to swim by that age, but that's just my personal opinion as a California "we are always near some body of water" mom!
(p.s. and yes,of course accidents can always happen, including a skating party, a ski party, a sledding party, a horseback riding party, a rock climbing party, a trampoline/indoor play place, a bounce house, a public park, playing team sports, cheer leading, dance, riding in a car, a boat, etc. the list goes on and on.)
I bet your kids' friends will love it and I'm sure most of the parents will be fine with it.

2 moms found this helpful

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