Pool parties don’t have to be limited to family – you can invite friends from school or work or neighbors as well. When you decide to host a party, take a good look at your pool, and decide how many people you can comfortably invite. Both the size of the pool and the number of seating areas outside of the pool matter. If you plan on serving food, you need to be sure there are enough places for people to sit and eat as well.

Prior to your party, make sure the pool is clean and in good working order, and pick up some fun accessories. A few floats or inner tubes are always nice, but if you haven’t looked at the latest inflatable offerings lately you may be missing out! Try to find a few things to float on, and a few toys to dive for to have a nice selection of offerings. You can also invest in a volleyball net or a set of floating basketball goals if your pool is large enough for team play.

Swimming burns a ton of calories – so your swimmers will be hungry! Plan on food that is easy to prepare and serve (there is a reason that hot dogs and hamburgers are so closely associated with summertime cookouts!) You can either do the food yourself, or ask guests to brings something, potluck style. Either way, have paper plates and disposable cups on hand to make cleanup a breeze.

Make sure your littlest swimmers are safe by offering life vests-or insisting that non-swimmers bring them along. You can also keep party guests of all ages safe by making a “no running” rule for the pool deck area. A ton of frantic activity in and around the pool may make it more difficult to keep an eye on small children. It may be worth investing in a smaller, inflatable pool for the “baby pool” area – the smallest swimmers can enjoy a good splash while the big kids use the pool.
One of the nicest things about a pool party is that the biggest element – the pool – is already in place! Taking a little bit of time to prepare will ensure that your next party is a great success.

By: Denise Sanger

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