Are your children mixing outside of school?

[NavyKitchen]

Ds3 (9) had an invite to go and play at his friend's house. They're in school all day together, they play sports twice a week together. DH seems to think it's ok. We're tier 3 though and I can't agree to it. Apart from the fact that it's illegal, I can't seem to rationalise my thoughts.
I've said no to mum and been honest but find myself over apologising and doubting myself.

No and I wouldn’t have apologised but reiterated its illegal.

Outdoors in areas it’s permitted with SD in place I would.

Tier 2 here and DD goes to clubs and sport activities as they are exempt from the ban of indoor socialising.

But I don’t allow her to see any friends inside or meeting in a cafe even if they are in the same bubble in school. I offered to make hot chocolate in travel mugs and they can chat on a park bank though.

I feel like I'm the only one in ds3's friends' parents group who feels like this which then makes me start to doubt myself! They're all usually perfectly sensible, well-educated people (quite a few are NHS professionals) I just wish I hadn't been out in the position of feeling I had to explain myself.

*put

Tier 1 here - not doing any activities or mixing with children outside class bubble, but we are having occasional 1:1 play meet-ups with children she's playing with every day in class bubble at school. Where possible, we're doing that outdoors.

You are legally allowed to form a childcare support bubble I believe. Look into this on the government website.

We did when we could and infection was very low.

I wouldn't now though

They go to their activities, but not to others houses.

@NavyKitchen

I feel like I'm the only one in ds3's friends' parents group who feels like this which then makes me start to doubt myself! They're all usually perfectly sensible, well-educated people (quite a few are NHS professionals) I just wish I hadn't been out in the position of feeling I had to explain myself.

And this is why areas like yours are in tier 3 I’m afraid op.

You did the right thing.

We are tier 2 and my DS is meeting his college friends in the park for football and they also play for the same team at the weekend but he is not meeting anyone else and not going inside with anyone

We’re tier 1 currently so yes, they’re having the odd play date but that will stop if/when we move to a different tier.

@TokyoSushi

They go to their activities, but not to others houses.

This is what we are doing too. Meeting outside too.

We are Tier 1 and DD has meet up with a couple of friends in her year and school bubble twice outside. DS hasn't met up with anyone but he's ASD so normal for him. Activities are currently all cancelled due to covid.

I wouldn't meet up inside if Tier 3 and would have said no.

We are Tier 1 and both DS meet up with school friends.

We are tier 1. DD is in year 6, at a large primary school. She has had an indoor play date with a friend from a different class (different bubble, but someone she goes to an indoor sports club with, so they breathe heavily on each other anyway as they partner for that) and we have a play date next week with BFF from her class bubble.

Most parents locally are being cautious and if they break rules only doing so in minor ways. Applying the Dominic Cummings approach, I cannot see him abiding by all the rules which are not always logical.

However OP you are doing the right thing, don’t feel bad.

We are in the lowest tier and we do allow the kids to meet up. We are in a small village and they meet with children in their class.

We’re in tier 3. Kids are going to their clubs, but we’re not mixing with friends or family outside of the guidelines even though there’s lots of cross over between school and clubs.

Yes, with the kids we share a communal garden with and separately with DD's best friend.

Meeting friends outdoors and still attending sports classes. It's going to be a very long winter

We are tier 1, and have been seeing their best friends.

We are tier one, ds plays out every day after school with lots of neighbors kids on our estate - there’s about 8 of them in their little gang. None of them are at his school. He also has play dates with school friends.

No indoor meet ups, but they’re going to their activities (some of which are indoors) and having music lessons indoors with SD when it’s raining or too dark to use the garden. Tier 2.

Tier 3 here. DD is still doing 2 sports type clubs which are allowed, and we occasionally find ourselves accidentally walking home "with" kids in her class, because they live along our walking route and because of staggered leaving times it would be impossible to avoid them without one of us walking in the road (dangerous) or hanging around fifteen extra minutes after school (prohibited). We space out as much as we can within the limits of pavements and other people walking. We do not do any unnecessary mixing like playdates, and have not even been to the park as a family since before we went into tier 3.

T3 and they're meeting up at the park only.

Tier 3 here too and I've said no, but I know others have had sleepovers...which then caused huge problems as the parent of one child caught Covid then child did and ultimately the other family did.
I teach over 400 children in a week and don't want to chance passing anything onto my family let alone anyone else's.
Your right saying no.

A little (in park and at church youth group) but we are T1. Wouldn’t if we were T3.