Building a Family Pool With Kids At Home

When you’re building a pool with kids at home, you want to make the final result as entertaining as possible. Inground pools can include many features that children and adults alike will enjoy. Let’s dive into some key considerations when building a family pool.

Pool Depth

The first feature to consider is the depth of your swimming pool. A pool designed to welcome children of all ages should include a dedicated shallow end around three feet deep, giving kids plenty of space to play games and enjoy the water safely. You should also contemplate whether or not you want your pool to have a deep end. Deep water is necessary to include features like a diving board or slide, but it comes with additional safety considerations.

Entry Steps

Pool entry steps are also a crucial feature to help introduce children to the pool water. There are several different styles to choose from. For families with kids, we suggest wide steps that descend gradually. Entry steps are a safe and enjoyable place to teach young children how to paddle and kick in the water without reaching the full depth of the shallow end.

Tanning Ledges

Even if your pool has a spacious shallow end, a tanning ledge is an additional opportunity for flexible play areas for young children and kids learning how to swim. Also called sun shelves or baja shelves, these structures are built into the side of a pool and resemble an extra-large entry step built about six inches underwater. This minimal depth makes a tanning ledge a wonderful space for small children to splash around in the pool or rest without getting out of the water.

Slides and Diving Boards

You can also add features to your pool that are not part of the structure itself. Although they may be considered old-school by some, diving boards are popular among energetic children and those who are athletically inclined. Pool slides are another great option and can be customized to accommodate a wide range of ages.

When installed correctly, these additions can provide children of all ages with endless fun. You can only put in a diving board if your pool depth meets the proper requirements, and a slide must safely allow for a waiting room, as well as deposit the rider into deep enough water.

Rock Grotto Waterfalls

While rock grotto waterfalls are typically built for aesthetic appeal, they also double as a kid-friendly play area. A grotto is a waterfall with space underneath for swimmers to move under a cascade of water into a cave-like structure. Kids love to hang out in the cave, as it provides many opportunities for pool games, such as Marco Polo. Some grottos also incorporate a pool slide for added enjoyment.

Build a Kid-Friendly Family Pool

Whether you decide to include one or all of the above features in your family pool, Pools By Design can help you design a backyard oasis that is fun for kids and adults alike. Building pools is our passion, and when you choose us as your custom pool builders, you are receiving the best in innovation, construction, and service.

Experience the excellence of our Master Pools Guild builders and designers for yourself and start a project with us today.