Pool Party for My Son at a Friend's Apartment Complex
Updated on
October 26, 2012
M.P.
asks from
Tampa, FL
19
answers
I am struggling with an inexpensive idea for my son's 6th birthday. I have tossed around many ideas, but here's another one and please give me your honest opinion. You don't know me so don't worry about being polite.
My friend lives in an apartment complex with a pool. We live in the Palm Harbor, Florida and the weather averages 85 degrees this time of year.
They would let us host a pool party there. Everything is free except for the food and decorations we bring. Here's the only problem-Would you attend a pool party at an apartment complex? My son's school is located in a rich area and this apartment complex is not in that area. It's not a poor area but not a fancy place either.
Should I invite his friends from his class or is this not an ideal location? If I do it, is 4 days notice too little or should I give more? My kids have been invited to parties with only a couple of days notice before and we attended, so that's why I'm asking. Again, I don't want to have it at my house because my house is older (from the 70s) and needs a major cleaning. And decluttering. lol!!
Thanks for the comments. For some reason, people assumed this was going to be an unsupervised party. No! Not at all. Parents would be expected to attend and watch their kids in the pool. But I can understand others concerns and safety issues. The last time I swam there, my friends (not super close to this couple, but we've known them for a while) were not paying attention and their toddler daughter stepped off the edge into deep water. Luckily, I was there and yelled over to her Mom to get her.
**I finally made a decision! His family and kid party is going to be at a park that he loves. The park is a bit far- a 20-30 minute ride but we don't care. We planned on going there anyway and don't care if many or any kids show up. We'll just have fun anyway.
Featured Answers
L.F.
answers from
San Francisco
on
Yes to the pool. Don't worry about the location--if people are real friends, they will come no matter what area it is in. As far as notice--4 days is way too short. Most people know what they are doing weeks in advance so give at least 2 weeks notice.
2 moms found this helpful
Report This
K.I.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
Yes, we would go to a pool party,even if it was at an apartment complex... my kids LOVE swimming as do most kids!
No, 4 days is not enough time, IMO. I would do 2 weeks, if possible, if not get the invitations out as soon as you possibly can!!
1 mom found this helpful
Report This
More Answers
R.M.
answers from
San Francisco
on
Yes, kids love pools. If parents are worried about safety, maybe you can suggest they come and help supervise.
1 mom found this helpful
Report This
K.H.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
I live in a nice neighborhood in Los Angeles and this would not be an issue. However, I suggest dropping the idea with a couple moms at your son's school to get a feel for their opinion. Also, I suggest more than a few days notice. I would hate for you to buy decorations and plan the whole party but only get a couple kids...unless that's your goal ;)
1 mom found this helpful
Report This
S.B.
answers from
Dallas
on
I'd have no problem with a party at an apartment complex. Is it still open? Even here in Texas where we are still wearing shorts (it's in the 80s here too), the pools have closed down for the season. And our pool our back yard is just a bit too cool to swim in comfortably. So a test run of swimming in the pool may be a good idea. That would stop me from attending before the address would stop me.
And as someone who has thrown more than one pool party, I would state you would like all parents to stay and help watch the kids, even if they can swim. Otherwise make sure you have PLENTY of adults on hand that will swim with the kids. It will make the party a lot better and safer I promise!
1 mom found this helpful
Report This
M.P.
answers from
Portland
on
If they don't come to the party because it's at an apartment complex, they aren't the right ones to have as friends. Have the party. Do know that there will be other reasons for not coming and do not assume it's because it's at an apartment complex. I read all the time on this site about how not many turn up at parties. And if they only have a 4 day notice I would expect that several would have difficulty attending because of the date and not because it's in an apartment complex.
I suggest that you stop trying to please others and just be yourself. I also suggest that you're making assumptions about people with their own pools that may not be true. If you don't know these parents I urge you to volunteer at school so that you can get to know the kids and their parents. I suggest that you'll find that even tho they have money they're still just people like you.
1 mom found this helpful
Report This
E.T.
answers from
Albuquerque
on
We would go to a pool party in an apartment complex, but four days would not be enough notice for us. That would mean you're inviting people on a Tuesday for a Saturday party? Our weekend is already planned out by then. Whenever you send the invite - just make sure you make it absolutely clear that parents MUST stay. You do not want to be responsible for a bunch of 6 year olds who might not be able to swim well. That would be a nightmare.
1 mom found this helpful
Report This
J.K.
answers from
Kansas City
on
Hi Mary, I wouldn't hesitate to send my child to this type of party but to be honest I would worry if they were being properly watched while they were in the pool. Do you have a plan for that? I'd probably be one of those moms that just hang out at the party to lend my eyes. Otherwise it sounds nice, don't be intimidated because it's not in a rich area. You are doing a nice and fun thing for your son, and most little kids just know they got invited to a party and they want to have fun with their friends.
1 mom found this helpful
Report This
C.B.
answers from
Sacramento
on
I would have a few problems with the pool party at an apartment complex where I didn't live.
First, these are 6 year olds. They will require vigilant adult supervision in the water. Several adults, in fact. What are you going to do if one child needs to use the bathroom? Are there restrooms near the pool? Will they need to to up to the friend's apartment? Who will accompany that child while everyone else is in the water? If you don't want to have the party at home, I would consider a park instead.
I would give more than 4 days notice. It will give you time to pull together all the arrangements.
Report This
C.M.
answers from
Washington DC
on
If it's not a bad area, then I don't see a problem with it. Just expect all the parents to stay so make sure you have enough food and drinks for everyone. I would not go to a party with only 4 days notice. I usually send out and receive invites for parties about 3-4 weeks ahead. Have fun!
Report This
J.W.
answers from
St. Louis
on
It really depends on whether I felt they would be safe. There are apartments within a mile of my house that there is no way I would let my kids go to a pool party there. Actually thinking of all the apartments with pools anywhere close to my house, no way in heck. I can think of a lot of subdivision pools I wouldn't have a problem with.
Okay I am just going to say it instead of dancing around it, we have a lot of section eight in our area, so no, I wouldn't let my kids go to a pool party at an apartment. It is not the people throwing the party or even where, it is that you cannot control who comes and goes and that is just not safe to me.
My grandparents lived in Clearwater, you couldn't spit without hitting a house with a pool. At least in the old fart areas. Do you perhaps have a friend of a friend who's grandparents live close with a pool?
Report This
T.S.
answers from
San Francisco
on
Six is a little young for a pool party, why not just have it at a park?
Even if all the kids know how to swim (are you sure they all do?) it's still pretty young.
Parents (rightly so) are concerned about their children being properly supervised around open water, why would you want that pressure?
Just go to the park, bring some balls and bubbles and sidewalk chalk and let the kids play and have fun. Throw some candy in the grass, give them baggies and let them have a scavenger hunt, so easy and no safety issues :)
Oh, and I always send out invites about two weeks ahead.
Report This
G.B.
answers from
Oklahoma City
on
Sorry. I would wonder what you were thinking. This age group is way too young to go to a pool party that is unsupervised by a life guard or every single parent. Plus it's hot and the parents don't want to stand around a pool watching their kids and not knowing anyone so they just stand there and stand there.
I think that something else might be a better choice.
Report This
L.M.
answers from
Orlando
on
My daughter has has a pool party @ an apartment complex before. No biggie! :-)
Report This
J.J.
answers from
San Francisco
on
i would do something small at the pool (no kids from school) & something special for his school class friends (cupcakes or cookies)
every time i think of a pool party i think of Tommy Lee & Pam Anderson
tragic pool party accident
Good Luck
Report This
A.H.
answers from
Chicago
on
I think this age is too young to have a group of kids in the pool, unless all parents plan to stay and supervise their own children. Not all six year-olds can swim, especially when the roughhousing inevitably starts.
The kids don't care if your house was built in the 70's. Do a drop-off party with five or so of your son's friends.
Report This
E.M.
answers from
Louisville
on
this is exactly what we are doing for my daughter then having a sleep over at our house (shes 8) maybe have the boys over for a camp fire then send them home not sure if boys do sleep overs
Report This
V.T.
answers from
Washington DC
on
If I let my kid go to this party, I would definitely stay. You have strangers around your kids, kids are crazy around a pool so supervision is a must. I personally don't think it's a good idea. Who's liable if there is an accident at the pool? You? Your friend? The complex? Something to think about as a broken bone can happen in an instant with a slip and fall.
I saw your other posts about the park. Personally, if it was my kid, the option would be park or nothing.
Report This
C.B.
answers from
San Francisco
on
IMHO, 4 days is not enough notice.
I don't think a pool party for 6 year olds is a good idea. It's just me, but I would be too worried about drowning. You can't watch all the kids all the time by yourself. If you are going to request that the parents stay also, the crowd might be too big for an apartment complex swimming pool area.