KaitieG Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 I've been playing around with the idea of doing an outdoor pond tub and moving some livebearers or white clouds out there, but the thing that's holding me back is having a three year old. Has anyone done these outdoor containers with little kids? What kinds of safety measures did you figure out? My first idea was to use an extra 300 gallon stock tanks that's sitting around at the farm. Then I quickly decided that would be a TERRIBLE choice given the human fry around here! 🙂 Maybe I'll snag it when they can all swim in a couple years. The older two swim like...well...fish. Other sizes/shallow options that would be safer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDukeAnumber1 Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 I put mine up on cinder blocks so they are too tall to fall into. That makes it easier to maintence and observe too. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 So, yeah, having friends who had pools, and having raised my kids while living on a boat, fencing is a good idea with toddlers. I am the parent of several genuinely gifted climbers, so raising the side actually almost scares me more. Teaching them to swim asap is the BEST, and then having step out ladders or rock piles so that they can escape is important. Kid-sized ones. Also telling them to yell like mad if someone falls in. We used to do drills into the ocean off the back of the boat to practice climbing out over and over. We even did it in cold weather so that they were prepared for the shock. No one ever did fall in. The adults were the irresponsible ones. But until you get to the point they can swim, I would stick to a shallow pond they can wade in and out of--like a kiddie pool. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 Actually the escape route method will save birds and pets also--a friend used to have a special floating dog ramp so his dog could get back up on the dock if he jumped in. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaitieG Posted April 16, 2021 Author Share Posted April 16, 2021 The neighbors would probably appreciate that for their dog who likes to visit. I wonder what our chickens would do with one in a kiddie pool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDukeAnumber1 Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 I agree with teaching them to swim asap. Going through that now with mine and teaching them how to handle themselves and be comfortable in the water is so valuable. Also I've employed chicken wire pond coverings before and if it's secured well it can also be a deterrent. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaitieG Posted April 16, 2021 Author Share Posted April 16, 2021 20 minutes ago, TheDukeAnumber1 said: I agree with teaching them to swim asap. Going through that now with mine and teaching them how to handle themselves and be comfortable in the water is so valuable. Also I've employed chicken wire pond coverings before and if it's secured well it can also be a deterrent. My parents have a pool, so she's been in the water, and the older two know how to swim, but I wouldn't trust the 3 year old alone--she still sinks! If I try anything this year, I think it'll be shallow, and if she's swimming by the end of the summer, I'll know I can plan bigger for next year...with the escape routes @Brandy described. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 Yeah we used to have stock tanks when I was a kid and one year kestrels nested in a tree by the barn, and I was excited, watching them all summer One day I found a drowned fledgling, and it was heartbreaking. He miscalculated and then couldn't get up the sheer side. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyFin Posted April 17, 2021 Share Posted April 17, 2021 Don’t mess around with kids and water. Take every precaution. There is a reason buckets have the image of a baby falling in them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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