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AIBU?

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AIBU to ask for pool toy recommendations

15 replies

namechangeforanonymity · 06/08/2018 16:08

Heading off shortly for a villa holiday booked last year when family funds were in better shape than they are now.

We'll be spending quite a bit of time making use of the villa's good sized pool as 'entertainment' in order to keep holiday spending costs down and I'm looking to invest in some pool toys to keep the kids amused and they are all confident swimmers.

Does anyone have any suggestions of toys their kids loved using in the pool ? Thought I'd let them get over the novelty of having a pool to themselves again for a few days and then bring out new toy/game to keep interest from flagging. We will do other stuff but nothing like as much as we may have done on previous holidays.

Age range is 10-14

OP posts:

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CherryPlum · 06/08/2018 16:16

Just a couple of soft-ish balls to play catch in the pool, and a couple of lilos or float/doughnut-shaped. I'd just give them straight away, it's much more fun in the pool with a couple of floats to muck about with.

Mine also take goggles, and have a pack of those 'sharks' which they like to dive down to retreive from the bottom of the pool. Think we bought them at a leisure centre.

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CherryPlum · 06/08/2018 16:18

Oh and depending where you're going I'd buy the floats/lilo's out there. If you're near a resort there's usually tons of choice, and shops will blow them up for you.

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MissConductUS · 06/08/2018 16:19

The foam pool noodles are fun, but a bit bulky to bring with you. Perhaps you can get them there.

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THEsonofaBITCH · 06/08/2018 16:21

If not too crowded loads of kids at DC pool were using the dive torpedoes
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B015X471AY/ref=s9_acsd_top_hd_bw_bFqfJfr_c_x_w/258-7761398-4564143?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_p=d00260e9-b0d0-5ba5-a3c0-14107e535d6c&pf_rd_r=CNYCQM7QZDT83P5NR54B&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-4&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=14520209031&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21
And second the soft balls and maybe a hoop?

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ILoveDolly · 06/08/2018 16:25

Absolutely massive insane pool floats are all the rage at the moment and will look great on their insta Think flamingos, toucans, pizza slices, giant emojis

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Stompythedinosaur · 06/08/2018 16:32

Sinking hoops/sticks to retrieve.
Giant inflatables (pref 2 to race)
Scooba masks and flippers
Water torpedo
Inflatable beach ball

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Cakecrumbsinmybra · 06/08/2018 16:33

Have you checked if they’ve got any toys there?

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Trumpodious · 06/08/2018 16:34

Someone beat me to my suggestion; Toypedoes. Brilliant fun underwater for kids, teens and adults.

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Copperbonnet · 06/08/2018 16:38

We live in the US and have our own pool. The things most popular with our own D.C. and with visiting U.K. tweens and teens are:

Big pool floats to jump on.
Pool balls which bounce on water
Hoops for throwing/diving into the water for.
Pool shooters (not gun shaped, more like sticks you pump)
Poolside basketball hoop

You’ll also want to make sure you have plastic cups/glasses. Real glass and pools do not mix.

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moreismore · 06/08/2018 16:43

Giant inflatable beach ball (very cheap on amazon) and Waboba do neoprene covered little balls that bounce and float, they’re around £5/6. I agree things to dive for but if money is tight I’d just use keys/stones or stuff that’s around. Make sure they have goggles for underwater stuff.

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haggisaggis · 06/08/2018 16:47

Giant flamingo - definitely! (seriously - a ball / beanbag for throwing & catching and a basketball hoop got most use. When younger (my dc are 16 and 18 now) they liked the dive toys and some kind of water pistol type thing. Although ds liked trying to get from one pool float to another!

AIBU to ask for pool toy recommendations

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JurassicAdventure · 06/08/2018 16:51

Decathlon have some cool underwater hoop things and floor grippers. Have you got a Bluetooth speaker they can use near the water?

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piefacedClique · 06/08/2018 19:48

Inflatable goals or volleyball net. Beach tennis set. That funny game with a hat covered in Velcro strips and balls that stick to them... buthead? Diving toys.

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piefacedClique · 06/08/2018 19:49

Pool toys may be cheaper there than at home. I agree, decathlon has some great stuff.... subea masks

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namechangeforanonymity · 07/08/2018 10:44

A big thankyou to everybody for ideas.

The villa does not provide any pool toys at all, probably for safety/insurance reasons, but there is a selection of board games for a bit of downtime.

Definitely going to look into some sort of inflatable goals/poolside basketball hoop and the torpedoes look good fun plus the water bouncing/skimming balls. I have some un-used vouchers which should cover buying those and sun screen lotions. Probably get a cheap hoop/pool noodles when we are on holiday.

Last year's lilos are still airtight as are the inflatable beach balls so we are taking them and goggles we already have. I usually get the kids to dive for euro coins thrown into the pool which they can then keep to spend on expeditions to buy foreign junk food at the nearest shop or when we are on a supermarket trip.

We do have a butt-head type game, I'd never thought it might work when wet but I'll test it myself in the bath tonight.

I think we'll all be much fitter when we return this year as the villa provides very cheap cycle hire deals and we'll be walking or cycling unless we get a bus.