Best Pool Features for Children and Families

a turtle detail on a tanning ledge as great pool feature for children and families

A swimming pool in your backyard offers countless opportunities for relaxing, playing water games, and bonding as a family. If you plan to build one, including different pool features for children can benefit the whole family by increasing safety and fun.

Create your kids’ dream pool with these five features:

1. Diving Board

A diving board is a classic feature to add to your family swimming pool. Children often line up to jump off them at a public pool, but there is no wait when you have one in your backyard. They are especially favored among athletically inclined children. Before committing to a diving board, you must first ensure that the depth of your pool and the size of your deck will accommodate one.

2. Sports Equipment

While pools with a deep end allow for a diving board, shallow pools are also beneficial. Shallow ends are a prime location for pool games and water sports like Marco Polo or chicken fights. It also allows you to set up sports equipment, such as a basketball hoop or volleyball net, which is fun for kids of all ages. They are also a great addition to pool parties.v

3. Tanning Ledge

Another way to take advantage of your pool’s shallow end is to incorporate a tanning ledge. Also called a sun shelf or Baja shelf, these structures resemble an extra-large entry step and are anywhere from three to 18 inches underwater. It is the ideal spot for small children to splash around while being able to sit or stand with their heads above water. A tanning ledge also doubles as a bench, which is a kid-friendly place to play floating board games.

4. Deck Jets

Deck jets are fun additions to pools of any size. They are installed on your pool deck and shoot thin arcs of water into the air up to eight feet across the pool. They are often backlit with colored LED lights to enhance the night swimming experience. Deck jets also help circulate the water, keeping your pool cooler during the summer.

5. Grotto Waterfalls

Adding a grotto waterfall to your backyard pool is a beautiful focal point that doubles as a source of excitement for your kids. A grotto is a waterfall with added space underneath, similar to a cave. Children can play in the falling water or use the cave as a clubhouse or base for water games. As an added perk, this water feature provides a shady escape from the sun.

Safety Features

In addition to having a shallow end, you can incorporate a few other features in your family pool design to increase safety. These include non-slip surfaces along the pool deck, safety rails lining the entry stairs, and a fence around the area. These features help reduce the risk of accidents and give you peace of mind when your children are playing in the backyard.

Design the Pool of Your Children’s Dreams

At Pools By Design, we build luxury pools that can include many of these features. Whether you are interested in a grotto waterfall or tanning ledge, our team of experts will work closely with you to design and construct a custom pool that fits all of your family’s needs.