Garden play date and corona

[OverTheRainbow88]

So... got 2 boys, older ones pre school only opened for those starting school in sept, which I understand but means he can’t go. If he could go and play outside with friends at preschool why not at home in our garden? So we have a side gate to the garden so they wouldn’t need to come through the house. I know there are worse things happening but a nearly 4 year old not seeing another child to play with in 12 weeks ( we had to isolate a week before lockdown) is getting a very long time! I know the kids wouldn’t socially distance but surely they wouldn’t be at pre school anyway? What do you think?

[OverTheRainbow88]

The younger boy is 16 months so won’t “play” with his brother... in fact he likes to ruin the older ones games 🙄

[SapphosRock]

It's your call. Depends how many people you have been in contact with and the other child's family has. If both families have been isolating or near enough then the risk seems very low.

[OverTheRainbow88]

Yea that’s what I’m thinking. We’ve been following the rules, haven’t seen anyone bar the GP last week, go out about twice a day on bikes etc but keep to the 2m rule, but lots of my friends with kids similar age are key workers so their children have been at nursery the whole time. It’s a hard decision to make! If only we knew the end date so could count down, I find the not knowing hard and pre school won’t say their plans for further opening!

[Playdoughcaterpillar]

6 people can meet outside in garden or park so sounds fair enough to me. Kids need to play.

[Khione]

Sounds like an excellent idea to me. Children having contact with others their age is important for the social and emotional health.

[OverTheRainbow88]

Fab! Thank you, will give it a try! I wish they would introduce that exclusive bubble idea! As they say 6 people but have to keep 2m whixh kids won’t, get kids are allowed to go to nursery! Very confusing!

[LilyPond2]

With the huge number of people abandoning social distancing and R already above 1 in some areas, I think it's likely we will see a huge increases in Covid cases shortly. OP, you know whether your DS's mental health is really suffering or whether having a friend round is just something he would like but can happily manage without. If your DS is really suffering with no one to play with, make it just one friend and strictly outside only, whatever the weather.

[OverTheRainbow88]

Yea the R is above 1 in our area. I feel it’s unfair we are going to be punished and stay in longer because others are doing whatever they want! I guess by having a play date we will become one of them 😬! I don’t think his mental health is suffering but do wonder why he could socialise with other kids at pre school but not 1-1 in a garden with no one else around!

[UnderTheBus]

We have done this. My DD aged 3 was planned to go back to preschool but, same as you, they're only opening for school starters. She played this morning in our garden with 2 other girls in the same position who she knows from preschool. Had they been allowed to attend, they would be playing together and it would be "allowed", so why not allowed in a private garden?

[lockedown]

@OverTheRainbow88, I understand your concern. But please understand that the government's decision to open preschools is for child care and not because it's safe. We have a child in reception but we aren't sending her to school. The same government had said that they won't open if the risk level didn't reduce but it hasn't and they are still opening.
Our daughter is young and is an only child so I understand that she has needs for play with children. But it's not normal circumstances so we are at home. And seriously she is fine. She misses her friends but understands that we can't meet up just yet.
If you have followed the rules till now, please don't make a decision based on schools reopening.

[Lemmings123]

I've let my only child play with the neighbours children this week, and I don't feel guilty at all. It's time we started getting back to some normality and it's hard enough as it is.

[OverTheRainbow88]

Thanks all. Will have a chat to OH about it! I guess it was easier when pre schools were closed and couldn’t meet up to 6 people as that was the rules and that was that! Also I know as an adult I shouldn’t get FOMO but now I know other kids are playing together and like my NCT friends have started to meet up it makes it harder than when no one was doing it. My mum keeps offering to have my kids as well which makes it hard to think could have a couple of hours kids free, and she did a PHD in virology! Hmmm !