This post contains affiliate links, includes beach chair review. The views listed here are 100% my own. Read why I love these chairs!
Poolside Mama is the badge I wear all summer because we have an in-ground pool at our house. My three boys swim daily so they have become amazing swimmers! They are now fishes so I don’t need to hover over them in the pool anymore, however, I am always present. Sometimes I swim also, especially when it’s hot.
Having a pool is definitely work with the daily water testing, application of chemicals, and constant cleaning but our family loves having it. The fun overrides the work most days because the kids can swim, get off their beloved screens, and exercise. We periodically get family swim time and host many parties.
As a bonus, the kids have a creative outlet in their pool play.
I Love the Beach Chairs Around the Pool!
Sometimes I sit (in one of the chairs in the picture above! see the end of the post for my review) on the side of the pool to read my phone or work and soak up the sun and relax. Whether I’m in the pool with the kids or poolside, I love getting to be Poolside Mama for a bit each day!
Creative Pool Play
The latest fun they’ve dreamed up involves slipping a kiddie pool into the big pool and they sit in it like a boat because it floats.
Who knew!
It’s a great use of a small kiddie pool once the kids have outgrown swimming in it. The kiddie pool has a few holes, but they don’t care. It’s actually more fun with the holes because as it fills with water it begins to sink and they can pretend they are going down with the ship. My youngest always shouts, “Boat going down! Please remember me!” with a smile as his kiddie pool boat sinks. They pretend they are the Titanic going down.
Obstacle Courses in the Pool
The kids position the pool float rafts, tubes, and noodles overlapping each other to make wipeout bbstacle courses. Setting up two side-by-side courses is fun because they can have races. Someone always falls in along the way. It’s rather entertaining to watch!
Bucket-Heads
The kids invented creative play time called “Bucket-heads” which involves empty ice cream buckets. They put the buckets on their heads like helmets and call themselves “Bucket Heads” or “Bucket Men”. They march around the pool with buckets on their heads, then jump in with their helmets on. Once they are in the pool, they fling bucketful after bucketful of water into the air to see what shapes they can make with the stream of water. My favorite was when one of my sons flung the water and it flew through the air in a C shape. This activity gives them loads of fun as they make many different water patterns in the air.
Cheap toys just laying around the house are the best!
Hairdo Flips
Hairdo flips are a fun pool past time as well. The kids dunk their heads under water and fling their head back quickly. This causes their hair to fly up and stay like a Mohawk or new wave hairdo. This brings on many giggles. They have contests to see who can flip the craziest hairdo. They have so much fun!
Beach Chair Review
We have four beach chairs that we set right up to the pool edge or by the pool house (shed designed and built by my hubby, he rocks!). They are the perfect size chairs and come complete with a cup holder. The chairs can lay flat or the angle of the back is adjustable. We set them on the side of the pool so they are poolside to dip our feet in. We also prop them up in between the pool shed and putting green my husband installed.
They are easy to carry to the beach and fold flat so they are small. We have Nautica brand and Tommy Bahama beach chairs. We love them as each chair has its own personal cooler too. The Tommy Bahama beach chair has straps to be carried like a backpack. This makes it easier to bring to the beach and frees up your arms for other beach gear.
The kids like to sit in them after swimming in the pool. They ask for a snack and lemonade to have while sitting in the chairs after an active playful swim. I enjoy sitting in them also with a glass of lemonade or wine in hand while I watch the kids swim.
Their festive colors really brighten up the pool area!
More Creative Pool Play
We have pool plungers. Yes, I’m totally serious, we really do. Don’t worry, they are new plungers that never touched a toilet. We bought them to help remove wrinkles in the vinyl liner. But since they are in the pool shed, they of course become pool toys as well for my boys.
My boys have suctioned the plungers onto themselves just to be silly. They have put them on their heads or backs and swam under water to be a shark. The one that made me laugh the most was when my youngest stood on the side of the pool and put the plunger between his legs like he was riding a broom, and said, “I’m a little witch!” Then he jumped into the pool with his broom plunger. I never thought we would have plungers as pool toys! Every day household objects sometimes make the best unexpected toys!
Poolside Mama Time
A favorite swim time of mine is when this Poolside Mama gets in and floats about on a noodle all alone. It actually happens sometimes that I can swim without someone splashing me in the face, and what a gorgeous slice of heaven it is too! I love the sheer elegance and the cool refreshing joy of an alone swim with a glass of wine in my plastic wine glass on the side of the pool (I don’t want broken glass by the pool with kids running all about). Pool life so lovely and refreshing (after the work is done of course!).
It’s August and school is looming ahead, but for now, this Poolside Mama is still loving her summer at the pool with her family. A paradise resort in our own backyard.
You might also enjoy reading https://www.juliehoagwriter.com/2016/06/24/im-choosing-mom-play-dates-boys-clean-house/
This post contains products I like and I am recommending them on my own. If you purchase through this link I receive a small advertising fee. These views are 100% my own. These chairs make great Christmas gifts too. There are many awesome styles available.
Tommy Bahama Backpack Cooler Chair (Blue)
2 Tommy Bahama Backpack Beach Chairs/ Red + 1 Medium Tote Bag
Nautica Beach Chair Blue by Nautica
This is a favorite toy for my boys! It’s super fun!
Swimline 9058 – Sea-Saw Rocker
Read my post for a DIY float ring made of pool noodles! Click here: https://www.juliehoagwriter.com/2017/04/02/diy-pool-noodle-float-ring/
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Loved this! But now I REALLY need a pool. Mine are just old enough now that I get the poolside momma time and I love it!
Thank you! It’s so nice to not have to hover isn’t it! They enjoy swimming and as a mama, we can enjoy it too in a more relaxed state. Thanks for the comment!
What a fun time! My kids want a pool so bad! Maybe next summer! I’ll have to check out these products!
We LOVE the pool! But no lie, it is a lot of work for me. However I do believe it is worth it. The kids and my hubby and I have so much fun with it. We host lots of pool parties too. I really just love these chairs and we use them by the pool and I take them to the beach when we go too. Thank you!
You are making me wish that I had a pool! Next summer, I am going to have to find a friend to have a pool party.
Yes, it’s so much fun! Pool time is so fun for kids AND adults. Thanks!
My kids would love pool plungers! Great ideas.. pinning for later!
Great! Thank you! Who knew plungers could be fun pool toys, right!?!? Kids get so creative sometimes.