Pool Party

Before we even get into all the fun, there is one and only one key to a successful pool party: SUPERVISION! You need to watch the pool every second.  If possible, even hire a local lifeguard to come and watch the pool and also keep a close eye on things yourself.  Distressed swimmers go under quickly and it can be very scary.

In addition, at every pool party we had, I told parents they were welcome to stay if they felt more comfortable supervising their own child in the water.

To keep it safe, I also limited the number of kids we invited.  The one year I invited the whole class, it was way too overwhelming, and we regretted it.

Pro Tips

1. Keep the group small. Keep the duration of the party short.
2. Choose the kids wisely – kids who listen and are on the calmer side.
3. Invite parents to stay and supervise.
4. Start off the party with the pool rules, before a single kid enters the water. Tell them where it is safe to dive, if there is a deep end in your pool.
5. Have a whistle – there’s a reason lifeguards use them – and let the kids know that if they hear the whistle, they need to safely but quickly get out of the pool.
6. Designate at least one adult to always watch the pool (it can change throughout the party as long as the pool watchers know they are on duty). 
7. Invest in a red cross lifeguard tube so you can throw it to a distressed swimmer (remember to hold on to the strap when you throw so you can pull them to the side).
8. Keep some coast guard approved life vests handy in kids’ sizes so you can put one on any kid at any time.
9. Have some games outside of the pool so that kids can get a breather when they’re tired.
10. Have some pool floats, but not so many that you obscure the view of the bottom of the pool. You need to be able to see if someone goes under.
11. Speak with the parents of the kids you invite and make sure you know if they can swim and how well.
12. Wear clothes you’d be willing to jump in the pool in if you needed to (also, leave your phone out of your pocket).
13.  Ask one of the other adults to take photos so you can focus on the pool.
14. Have a set time for eating a snack or lunch so you can get everyone out of the pool and take a quick breather.
15. Be extra careful at drop-off and pick-up! Those are the times it is the easiest to get distracted from your lifeguard duties.

If this all sounds too stressful, I get it.  I’m sharing these tips from experience. We had one scary experience early on (everyone was fine, but Dave did not end the day dry) and it focused us (even more) on the importance of safety around the pool. Planning ahead and staying vigilant is the best way to make sure the day is fun for the kids. It will 100% not be fun for you…just go in knowing that ahead of time.

Lots of kids we knew did their pool parties at our local recreation center because the party comes with trained lifeguards and a separate space to eat and run around…so much easier!!

For more on how we got Mikey to become a competent swimmer, click the link below. Spoiler alert: we did NOT throw him into the deep end of the pool! He took Red Cross swimming lessons at our local YMCA.