Question

[smurfboy]

I went swimming today and as I was leaving the changing room a man was taking his daughter in. She looked about seven to eight years old. The leisure centre has four individual family changing rooms. Perhaps these were all full, but my question is: was the girl too old to be getting changed in the men's changing room with her dad, especially when there was an alternative available? Should he have waited for a family room to become vacant?

I think from the point of view of both the girl and the male swimmers, the dad should have waited. If he got it into his head that one of the men was looking at his daughter he'd have been up in arms. Kids are also naturally curious about the human body and I wouldn't have been too happy to be gawped at. What does everyone think?

[goldencup]

I went through agonies with this situation (in reverse) when my sons were that age.  Do you just send them into the men's changing room (or toilet, depending on what the occasion is) and hope for the best, or take them into the ladies' with you?  If there were family changing room available, then certainly he should have waited. 

[smurfboy]

I know what you mean GC - my mother would often take me and my sister swimming as kids and I know she was in two minds about sending me off to the mens' alone. However, in those days you didn't really get family changing rooms (and at the risk of making myself sound old, it was a more innocent time then!)

[goldencup]

I think you're right in that people used to help kids with the lockers etc without fear of being labelled a paedophile.

[oldspice]

I think if family changing rooms are available he should use them or wait for one to become available. I used a family changing cubicle until my son was about 9 or 10. Then he went in the mens on his own but I was nervous about it the first few times.

[Forth Bridges]

I not sure but I do knwo in my local swimming pool male & felmale change areas

woman can legal taek up to 12 boys in to the changes Adn visa vera

[Cherry_Ripe]

I think the man with the young daughter should have used a family changing room. We don't have them where I swim but I think they are a good idea.

I learned to swim when I was in my early 20s  so I never had this problem as a child.

[goldencup]

Good for you Cherry, that's quite an achievement.  I think it's much harder to learn things like that as an adult.

[Cherry_Ripe]

Thanks GC. I had proper lessons where I work. Most of the people in my classes were older than me so it just goes to show it can be done!

[smurfboy]

My mother is 55 and has never learnt to swim. I did manage to teach her a bit on holiday a few years back, but I told her she would need proper lessons and I got 'but what if someone I know sees me in my swimsuit?'

[goldencup]

[oldspice]

[loulou]

I haven't been swimming for a long time. I worry who has peed in the pool.lol

[oldspice]

[Cherry_Ripe]

I haven't been swimming for a long time. I worry who has peed in the pool.lol

As opposed to the sea which is much cleaner