Do I need to watch my kid at a splash pad?

Splash pads are unsupervised by default. There are no lifeguards, no certified attendants, and parks staff aren't watching individual children. Active, eyes-on supervision is your job. For toddlers, that means within arm's reach at all times — slips on wet concrete cause head injuries every summer, and a startled toddler can run off the pad in seconds. For school-age kids (5-10), keep them in line of sight and establish clear meeting points if you have multiple kids. Older kids can play independently, but you should still be at the pad, not in the parking lot or running errands. Phone-down rule: keep the phone in a pocket and resist the temptation to scroll. If you need to leave the pad for any reason — bathroom, water, anything — take your kid with you or hand off to another adult who agrees to actively watch.