Row with the gym over son in changing rooms...
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I posted this in the swimming thread but thought I would see if anyone else had a similar experience. I recently had a row at my local gym over my 8 year old son. I use the gym to take the kids swimming and they state that at 8 years old boys should use the mens changing room. I point blank refused to send my son, alone, into the mens changing rooms to get changed for swimming. I always take him in with me. What are your thoughts? I've not been back there since
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I'm not being rude in any way here, I have no experience of 8 year old boys, so I don't know what they notice
I do understand the point you are making but I think 8 is far too young to be sending a child on their own into a changing room. I would feel the same if it were a boy or a girl
Surely that would be better, and with the latter, He can have some other people his age to practise and learn with?
When I was an 8 year old boy I'd have been in seventh heaven to be in a women's changing rooms, which is good enough reason for him to go have to go into the men's!
My personal thoughts only, but I would say that 8 is old enough to go into the Men's on his own, but then again, its not too old to still have him in the ladies' if that's what you would prefer....
Not much help, I know, but he's definitely going to have to start using the Men's in the next year or two.
I think this is also something to do with the fact that 8 is the age at which children can swim unaccompanied.
I presume you have safety concerns, rather than worrying that he can't get changed on his own? He has to go it alone one day. Most women wouldn't be terribly happy to have an 8 yr old boy in their changing rooms, it is getting a bit old really.
I think you're being far too over protective. At 8 I used to walk the two miles to the local swimming pool and go on my own. I think the gym is right and if you can't abide by their rules tough luck.
This paedophiles are everywhere attitude is getting me down.
At 8 he should be changing by himself.
Would you be happy with your husband taking your daughter into the men's changing rooms with him?
Why dont you try changing in the mens area then? see how uncomfortable it feels for you, perhaps.
It is a difficult one. It's the same with public loos, do you send young kids of the opposite sex to you into the right sex loos or do you take them in with you and risk having them and others feel uncomfortable.
If available I'll use the diaabled toilets with my daughter as she is only two. When she is of school age I think I'll be OK sending in in on her own and waiting anxiously outside .....
My thoughts are ... you have exercised your right not to go there. They have their rules (right or wrong). If you go there then you need to abide by them. By all means, try to change the rules, but still abide by them while you are there.
If you can't abide by them, then don't go there.
I certainly wouldn't want an 8 year old girl in the men's changing area.
Thanks again for yout input