Let's face it, children adore playing in water. From splashing in the tub to running through sprinklers, the combination of water and play is irresistible to children of almost any age. Water parks offer a thrilling, safe way to combine water play and plain old fun.
As you might guess, there's more to visiting a water park than just dragging out a hose and sprinkler. Taking your grandchild to a water park can be a wonderful opportunity to relax and play together. Advance planning can help make your water park experience even more enjoyable.
Water Parks 101
There are two types of water parks, indoor and outdoor. Outdoor parks typically have seasonal hours. Once fall begins in earnest, the park shuts down. Indoor parks can operate all year; some are independently operated, while others are affiliated with hotels, time shares or resorts.
Water parks come in many shapes and sizes. Smaller water parks may fill a large, two-story enclosed space, while larger versions are the size of a small theme park. Expect to find a variety of water slides, floating opportunities ("lazy rivers") and play areas for younger children. Well-planned water parks also offer changing facilities, lockers and refreshments.
Admission fees vary, often by age or by visitor height. Some water park slides are not suitable for children under four feet tall. You may be able to take shorter children on a water slide with you even if they are too short to ride independently; your presence indicates that you plan to help keep them safe.
Large water parks offer lounge chairs, gift shops and other amenities. Some even provide free sunscreen. You don't need these extras – after all, spending time with your grandchildren is your first priority – but they do make the whole experience more enjoyable.
Water Park Safety Issues
The first thing to consider when planning a water park outing with grandchildren is your stamina level. Active children may want to run from water slide to wave pool at an amazing pace. Young grandchildren may need you to float or ride with them. Teens might forget to check in with you, necessitating a search. Be sure you are prepared for a busy day before you invite your grandchildren to the water park of your choice.
You should also think about swimming abilities – yours as well as your grandchildren's – as you plan your trip. Very young children will need to be watched every second, even if they are wearing a life vest or personal flotation device. School-age grandchildren may or may not be strong swimmers; you'll probably want to keep a close eye on them either way, even if you don't accompany them on every water slide. Although your water park will have lifeguards, you'll still feel more comfortable if you know just how well your grandchildren can swim.
Before you leave home, make sure your grandchildren have been in good health for the last two weeks. If they have experienced diarrhea, vomiting, fever or an illness-related rash, you will need to reschedule your trip.
Know your own limitations. Exhausted grandparents cannot properly care for busy, active grandchildren of any age. If you think you will tire early in the day, discuss this issue honestly with your grandchildren and tell them what time you plan to leave the water park. Be firm; tell them your group will leave at the appointed time and that you expect complete cooperation.
If your group includes very young children, bring more swim diapers than you think you will need. Include some regular diapers for the trip to and from the water park.
Explain to all parties (grandchildren and parents) that sunscreen is a requirement, not an option. Be sure you have enough sunscreen on hand for hourly application. You may not need that much, but sunscreen does need to be applied frequently for maximum effectiveness. It's always best to be prepared. Consider asking younger children to wear rash guards or T-shirts, particularly if they dislike sunscreen.
Make sure all of your grandchildren understand that running is not allowed. Ever.
While you're at it, make sure all non-swimmers understand that they will need to wear a life vest every single minute they are in the water. Mercilessly enforce this rule; you want to see your grandchildren grow up, right?
Bring sunglasses for everyone. The glare of sunlight off of water and light-colored cement can be almost blinding. Make sure every person in your group wears sunglasses while moving between slides and pools and while relaxing or eating. This goes double for the drivers in your group.
Bring flip flops, water sandals or aqua socks for everyone, too. Hot cement and rough pool surfaces are uncomfortable for adults, and even more painful for small children.
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