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Original poster

I feel so sorry for the children.

20 replies

Gizmosnana · 19/04/2020 10:06

Our neighbour from across the road has a 9 year old grandson who has learning difficulties. He lives with his family at the other end of the estate.
On Friday he snuck out of his home. This wasn't noticed until the morning. He was found by our neighbour sitting on their doorstep. When she opened
the door not knowing he was there he threw himself at her just wanting a big huggy as he calls it.
Not just him but what damage is this virus causing to our children. Most children will understand why we are isolating. But what about the ones that can't through
no fault of their own.

OP posts:

Samcro · 19/04/2020 10:07

what an odd thread

Original poster

Gizmosnana · 19/04/2020 10:09

Why. Do you not think that some children might need emotional support.

OP posts:

UhKevin · 19/04/2020 10:15

What the absolute f is odd about this? Is it such a stretch to acknowledge and worry about the mental impact of all this on children?

Pipandmum · 19/04/2020 10:16

Well I think there are some people, not kids in particular, that need support. I think kids in general are probably quite enjoying not being in school, having parents around and not quite understanding the financial/global ramifications of the pandemic. And I said 'in general' because I am fully aware that there are very trying circumstances for many people.

SarahInAccounts · 19/04/2020 10:20

what an odd thread

Not as odd as this response.

nakedavengerreturns · 19/04/2020 10:27

They are off school, allowed to do whatever they want in their homes or gardens, with their parents around. Most have homes, clean running water, entertainment. I don't think they are being hard done by.

thecatsthecats · 19/04/2020 10:36

It's not odd, it just strikes me as imbalanced.

Some kids are having an absolute whale of a time, as are some adults. Some people - adults and children - are really struggling.

Lots of us will be somewhere in between, and even different on different days. I had a great start and now have hit a slump. So why the need to handwring especially about children?

Underhisi · 19/04/2020 10:41

Waiting for someone to start criticising the boy's parents.

My son's having a nightmare of a time of it.

TheVanguardSix · 19/04/2020 10:43

Bless him. It's a real worry that he snuck out (at night?) and it wasn't noticed until morning. No judgement. Just an observation. That must have scared the devil out of his family when they realised how far he would go just to get a hug from granny. And if he has special needs, he must be feeling extra vulnerable.

TheVanguardSix · 19/04/2020 10:46

Waiting for someone to start criticising the boy's parents.

I really hope my comment doesn't seem critical. It's not meant to be at all. But it must have given the family such a fright to think he'd snuck out and wandered out on his own while they were all sound asleep. It could happen to anyone. And it just highlights how out of sorts the poor lad's feeling.

ANoiseAnnoys · 19/04/2020 10:48

Aw, that’s really sweet but sad. It’s so hard to rationalise isn’t it? It’s my mil’s birthday today and we’re going to walk over there later to leave her present and I know it’ll be hard for the kids not to give her a hug (haven’t seen her for 3 weeks) and the rational part of my brain thinks “why not go and have a cuppa and let the kids hug her etc. As both us and her have been locked down for over 3 weeks so highly unlikely any of us have it.

Obviously I won’t though, but part of you can’t help feeling certain aspects of the rules are silly and maybe you should just use your common sense sometimes?

DaphneFanshaw · 19/04/2020 10:49

I think for the children who need routine and structure the shock of not going to school will have a massive impact on their emotional well being.
This looks like it will be going on for long enough for lockdown to become normal though, so hopefully they will settle in to being at home.
I know this is really hard on parents in this time to try and keep some level of routine and structure whilst looking after other dc and possibly working from home too.

Saz12 · 19/04/2020 10:52

Kids whose parents are wfh? Kids whose siblings are much different age/ only children? Kids with a hobby they absolutely love that they can’t now do? Kids who love school?
Plenty of parents are having to work really hard at trying to keep their child “just about managing”, which isn’t enough.

thebabessavedme · 19/04/2020 10:55

I dont think it an odd thread at all, it must be absolutly heartbreaking to try and explain to a child who does not understand, my little dgs made me cry the other evening on facetime when he said 'nana, when all the peoples is better we can do a proper kiss and cuddle', he gets it but its still bloody hard to tell a much loved little one who spends a lot of time with you that all of a sudden they cant come near you.

Lexijayde44 · 19/04/2020 10:57

It is sad for them. Yes they don't have bombs dropping on them and they are safe at home with toys, food and hopefully a good family. But it's a head mash for them. We are telling them that they can't go to school or see anyone. They can't even go to the local shop or do any activities that involve mixing.

Who knows how they are feeling about this. It's probably actually quite scary for them to think there's germs that are so dangerous and it's near everything they used to enjoy.

We all remember being kids and seeing the world through a child's eyes. We don't understand at that age and we can get the wrong ideas on our heads and scare ourselves.

It's awful for kids who are extremely close to grandparents etc. Some are raised by them half the week if their parents work. It's a very special bond. My DD school friend is walking past our house today so we can wave from the window. They are all starting to feel it and miss normality

ChainsawBear · 19/04/2020 11:03

They are off school, allowed to do whatever they want in their homes or gardens, with their parents around.

Many of them love school. Many of them desperately miss their friends and other loved ones. Many of them are penned up in small spaces with no garden. Many of them have parents who are stressed, running out of money, juggling a million things and don't have time for them. Many of them are locked in with parents who abuse and neglect them.

millymollymoomoo · 19/04/2020 11:08

I think people underestimate the impact on the children, even those without additional needs
My own two children, while they are ‘ok’ they miss their friends, the miss going to school, their education is disrupted , They miss the sports clubs and normality, they are actually a bit concerned about things without quite being old enough to really understand any of the implications. Most people are not having the lovely days of endless playing with mum and dad in the garden, baking etc that we see on social media - they have parents who are stressed and deeply concerned about whether they have a job or can pay the bills, or parents trying to work from home while managing their schooling too and are stressed.
I get that they are safe and loved and in comparison to many children around the world are still privileged but I can’t just dismiss the impact it is having and I don’t think we should

Eeyoresstickhouse · 19/04/2020 11:09

My 3 year old has been struggling on and off. She is missing her childcare friends, she is missing the family, she thrives at childcare and is used to being outside most of the day. We also do a lot most weekends and now we are in a flat with no garden and just 1 walk a day. She is struggling. She has become a lot more emotional, she has become a lot more insular. All of her normal routine has been thrown out and all she knows it's because of a "nasty bug".

Those who say this isn't affecting children are just wrong. Some children will thrive being at home, others will suffer, some will suffer far worse in an abusive household.

Mawbags · 19/04/2020 11:14

I worry a lot about my children mental health, it’s just not normal childhood in any way. Yes, imagine making them deal with this if they had learning disabilities! How awful. Poor lad.

user1493413286 · 19/04/2020 11:20

I do think it’s hard for them (not necessarily harder than for anyone else) but I think to say they’re off school and have their parents around so are ok is a bit simplistic. The vast majority of adults are stressed/anxious at the moment and we don’t know what will happen so children will be picking up on that and we aren’t able to offer them any real reassurance. They have had the experience of their lives being turned upside down in a matter of weeks and not having the family support they would normally have for such a big change. It will be having an impact on them in the same way it is on a lot of people’s emotional/mental health and will be something that we have to think about in the future.

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