The MVAC team would like to politely remind parents and caregivers that Moss Vale Aquatic Centre requires children under the age of 14 must be accompanied and supervised at all times by a parent or responsible person who is 16 years of age or older.
Royal Life Saving Australia states that supervising means “constant visual contact with your child. You should be within arms’ reach and be in a position to respond quickly. It is not an occasional glance while you nap, read or undertake household chores, and it is not looking outside at your kids playing while you are inside.”
How can multi-tasking affect supervision?
Parents are busy and often try to do many things at once to save time. When you multi-task you can become distracted and do not give your full attention to maintaining the safety of your children. Distractions include:
doorbell, phone, meal times, toilet breaks etc.
Can older children watch younger children?
No. Parents leaving young children in the care of older siblings has been a factor in a number of toddler drowning deaths. Older children are not equipped with the skills to perceive and respond to an emergency situation, nor should they be given this responsibility. Our rules state that a responsible person who is 16 years of age or older.
To understand more about the supervision of children in and around water, please view Royal Life Saving Australia’s fact sheet here.
