How do you get around a pool that is "to deep" for the kids?

[aylad]

Hi, Firstpool, and welcome to the world of pool ownership!!

I'll have to think a little about your question--in the meantime, there should be other replies being offered as people see your post. My first two thoughts when I read your post were that 1)you'll need to be careful what you make the platform out of, because it's very easy to rip a hole in the liner, especially if whatever "platform" you decide on is capable of moving..for example, when the kids jump off of it, if it moves at all, you're asking for a liner rip, and 2) I am very leery of the idea of a platform with a child that doesn't swim well yet. The platform may very well lure her into a sense of security, but if she happens to accidentally step off the edge of it, she'd be in real trouble. I would think your time and money are better spent teaching her to swim. Just my $0.02, though.....

[PoolDoc]

Echoing some of what Janet said,

1. Do NOT allow a young or weak swimmer to play in a pool unwatched, no matter how shallow. Not ever. Not even for a few minutes. Under certain circumstances, a child can become unconscious in only 15 seconds of submersion!

2. A child old enough to be in a pool without having an adult in immediate contact with them, is old enough to learn to swim.

My 25 year old son didn't realize pools HAD bottoms till he was 8 or 9 -- he'd always swum in deep public pools, and being able to touch the bottom was something he'd never experienced. At that point, though, he was swimming 2 - 4 miles daily in practice, and did not WANT a shallow bottom. He taught swim lessons for years, and prefers to teach children in water that is over their head.

[Firstpool]

Thanks for the comments.
I have been thinking about this a great deal and it seems like unless there is something manufactured specifically for this purpose (which I have not been able to find) there is really nothing I can safely do about it.
To address some of the concerns about the kids.... My kids NEVER swim without an adult being in with them. Doesn't matter if it is a public pool, friends pool, neighbors pool. They are WAY to young for that. My orig question was in no way to sub for me being there. It was solely to help my daughter overcome her fear of the water being too deep which may keep her from getting in the pool at all. She loves to swim but will not use the neighbors pool because she can't touch bottom and is scared.
Thanks for your concern though.

Swim lessons are a good idea. Believe it or not I didn't really see that option. I believe that would go a long way in helping my daughter. I think I will do that.
Thanks.

[Firstpool]

Hi, Firstpool, and welcome to the world of pool ownership!!

I'll have to think a little about your question--in the meantime, there should be other replies being offered as people see your post. My first two thoughts when I read your post were that 1)you'll need to be careful what you make the platform out of, because it's very easy to rip a hole in the liner, especially if whatever "platform" you decide on is capable of moving..for example, when the kids jump off of it, if it moves at all, you're asking for a liner rip, and 2) I am very leery of the idea of a platform with a child that doesn't swim well yet. The platform may very well lure her into a sense of security, but if she happens to accidentally step off the edge of it, she'd be in real trouble. I would think your time and money are better spent teaching her to swim. Just my $0.02, though.....

Oh and thanks for the welcome! I am looking forward to learning and making the experience a joy for the whole family!