"kenty" writes
I want to create a wildlife pond like in the link below
http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/2000_1...tcm3-23191.jpg

I am put off because i have a 5 & 3 year old.They would also love a shallow
wildlife pond,i dont think a shallow pond with long pebbled beaches would
trouble them.I know kids can drown in inches of water. i know you also need
a deeper centre ,i was going to go 18 inch deepest.Should i wait till they
are older , i could erect a cheap fence around the pond.My daughters school
has done this,but they have more space.I am trying to talk myself into doing
the pond ,but dont want to be constantly worried for them everytime they pop
into the garden.Have any of you combined pond & kids or is this a leathal
combination best left alone until the kids have grown up.What is a safe age
?
There's a reflex action to shut your mouth and not breathe when you find
yourself under water - i understand that very young children don't do
this, and open mouth and inhale ready to scream - hence drowning in a
puddle.

To stop you worrying, there's two ways 1) a fence 2) probably more
secure - a weight-supporting grid over the whole pond

The safe age is probably one you'll be best to assess yourself with
knowledge of your kids. If you would feel safe with them playing in a
fairly deep paddling pool without supervision, you are probably getting
to the age where they'd be OK with a pond - this is probably a fair bit
older than 3. You also have to think about other kids who will come to
play in your garden, and to what extent you want to supervise them.
--
Kay