Would you let your child go to this? - Page 3

[Jenne]

I responded with maybe but categorically once I read the rest of the information: NO.

Also a swimmer and water instructor here and what you have detailed is way too risky imo. I'm not sure I could in good conscience even chaperone my own child at the event. To me, there is a big difference in taking my own child somewhere and tagging along with a group event. The event your describing sounds dangerous. As a responsible adult I would have a difficult time only minding my child and not feeling responsible for the safety and welfare of the other children. I do not think I could provide the appropriate level of safety for these other children alone. So, that may be a day that dc and I do fun stuff apart from camp.

Are you going to help the adults/teens in charge see of the dangers involved here?

Jenne

[Oubliette8]

As a former camp counselor and a former lifeguard I would definitely say NO. In fact, I think the whole thing is a lawsuit waiting to happen. It doesn't matter if your kid can swim, even good swimmers can drown. On top of that, I'd worry about the other kids. Children often overestimate their swimming abilities and can quickly get into trouble. I'd hate to have my kid witness another child drown either. In my area several people drown every year. Its really tragic. Even as an adult swimming without adequate supervision makes me nervous. I would never take that risk with a group of kids. Its a very large group, of all sorts of ages, and none of the staff is trained. Absolutely not.

[loraxc]

FTR, this trip did happen and DH accompanied the kids, and of course it went fine. He says the area they had the kids in was very shallow and contained, and far from the (quite dangerous) deep parts. From his description, if you are GOING to do this, they chose a good place for it. However, I certainly hold to my opinion that taking a bunch of kids swimming without a a lifeguard in a camp setting is NOT a good idea.

[Hoopin' Mama]

Nope. I have an almost 6yo advanced beginner swimmer.

[minkin03]

my dd is 6 too and even though she's on a swim team and swims about a mile at each practice i wouldn't let her go unless i was going too. it only takes a few minutes for an accident to happen.

[BMG580]

Absolutely not. My 5 year old niece drowned three summers ago and she was being monitored by her mother and another adult. If a child is swimming in water that is not clear (meaning not a pool), it doesn't matter how deep it is, they cannot always be found quickly and they can drown in just a couple minutes.

No, no, no. Even kids who are good swimmers get into trouble.

[lucysmom]

No. My DD who is almost 6 is a strong swimmer. And as a PP said, I am NOT a particularly protective parent. But the scenario sounds quite dangerous. The issue is the likely inability of any of the supervisors to conduct a safe rescue, especially in the deep water areas.

[ann_of_loxley]

Originally Posted by mamazee

For me, it would entirely depend on whether my child could swim and had some level of comfort in the water. I wouldn't expect them to be able to watch someone who had no swimming ability at all in that scenario, but if my child could even doggie paddle with confidence, I'd personally be OK with it.

Same here. For us - this would a no. DS can't swim. Mind - he wouldn't want to go...he can't swim because hes not that fussed about water! lol

[kblackstone444]

I voted other. If my child was one of the youngest, didn't know how to swim, afraid of water, then no. If my child was older, a strong swimmer, loved the water, then why not? My kids? They both were water babies, part fist, and my son could swim at 3 1/2, my stepdaughter at 4 1/2, so I would have let them go. Of course, I would definitely check to see who's CPR trained in either case, because you just never know.

[zeldamomma]

I initially posted that I thought I would let my kid go, but having read the other responses, I think was wrong.

I'm glad it turned out ok!

[bluebirdiemama]

I would want to know there would be several adults there, and at least one person who knows cpr.
I would love to let my kids participate in something like that, because it sounds like a blast, but from your OP it sounds like the oldest ones going are teenagers?

[leighi123]

I would let my ds go, but only b/c I know he is a strong swimmer. If he werent a good swimmer, I would let him go but volunteer to help out and go along too!

[peaceful_mama]

I voted 'No'

I have a child about the same age as yours. He's starting to love jumping in water and trying to 'swim' but can't really swim. Or doggie paddle or anything.

I would want somebody with lifeguard training and CPR cert. And even if they are trying to keep the non-swimmers in the shallow end, someone could get a big idea and try jumping in the 'deep' end just because.

[LauraLoo]

I'm just going to link this current thread because it is scary how quickly things can go bad.

http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1238323

[hakeber]

I voted yes, because I am a certified lifegaurd and I would have volunteered to go, and probably given or arranged for a crash course on first aid and CPR to the staff and adults going (seems implausible that there is a day camp in business that has a staff that aren't certified in those basic childcare requirements...is that even legal?).

[travlr]

I have a 6yo DD. She was a Daisy Scout with other K and 1st Grade girls and at their end of year pool party 11 of the 12 girls had a parent stay. Maybe we're all over protective but I wasn't comfortable having her leader be responsible for the safety of my dog paddler. There very likely wouldn't have been an incident, but with a lot of inexperienced swimmers I wasn't going to take that chance. I think you made the right decision.