Birthday Party Right After School at Small Hotel with Indoor Pool

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!

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!

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!

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.

Yep! Sounds fantastic!

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.

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.

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" M.!
(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.

Sounds great.

Our daughter even attended overnight birthday parties at hotels when she was in elementary school. They had a blast.

If there was a lifeguard on duty, if my child was a good swimmer, and if I knew who would be driving my kid, since my work hours never allowed school pickups, then I'd consider it, especially if I knew you pretty well.

No. I would not allow my child to go to a party like this. There have been too many locally and nationally where pool incidents happen because of lack of supervision, parent to kid ratio was out of sync, etc. I just wouldn't do it unless I could be there watching my own child. I wouldn't host one either due to liability as someone else pointed out.
HTH,
A.

Can all the kids swim? How deep is the pool? Who is driving them and how many are attending? These are the questions I would be asking as a parent. It sounds like a great party but whether or not I felt comfortable would depend on these answers. And why couldn't parents come? Especially since you have to hire teens? Why wouldn't you just enlist the help of a few parents you are friendly with, especially since you can't get in. Lots of parents love to play in the water and might love to help out! If it is a large group of mixed ability swimmers, water over their head and you can't get in and don't know CPR I would want to be there unless I have total confidence in whoever is supervising. A few kids who can swim well and a shallow pool, I wouldn't worry so much. A lot can go wrong in the water without proper preparation and supervision. With everything planned out nicely it sounds like a lot of fun! It just requires a little extra work on your part. I would make sure you have an ADULT on hand who is trained in first aid/CPR.

Uh, no. Not unless I know you personally and know if you are an observant mo who would not be doing anything except watching the kids. Nothing. Not even setting up for the party.

I would only let them go if I was transporting them and staying at a swim party.