To think it's pointless children being off school if you're going to take them to the park

[CatherineOfAragonsPomegranate]

So many people were urging the government to shut schools due to fears of children transmitting Corona Virus, even though it was pointed out that this would be very hard for some families, put the elderly at possibly more risk due to child care, force some families to stop working, and place Key Worker's under greater strain. Then there is the disruption to the education of the children themselves and the knock on effect to exams.

However yesterday and today, I see the local parks are full of children socialising and playing together. School aged children are now playing together amongst toddlers and preschool children and are also playing with new children not formerly in their cohort. Add to this groups of teens congregating together.

I also notice that whilst they're not going to the gym many people are jogging in groups, and doing large group fitness in the open.

So what is the point of children being off school? In fact is anyone really taking this self isolation business seriously? It does not seem that way to me (London)

AIBU in thinking they may as well have continued going to school, and Boris's original plan regarding only the immuno-compromised and elderly isolating was a more realistic idea?

I told the children that if we can’t do social distancing properly the government are more likely to put the city in lockdown (we’re in London) and then we won’t be able to go to the park at all. Not sure how truthful this is, but it worked when they were whining to go in the playground.

Not wanting to be rude, but schools only closed this afternoon. Expecting people not to go to the playground when schools are actually still open is just idiotic. Children in school are still wiping their snot on their hands, fighting each other, expecting staff to tend to their injuries (and take their temperatures when they say they feel ill) and touch them, and parents know that. Of course people cannot yet get their heads around not touching playground equipment - they haven’t even comprehended how fucking stupid it is to queue up together outside the supermarket first thing in the morning and push and shove to be the first to the hand sanitiser. It is not suddenly more dangerous today doing these things than it was on Monday.

Deputy medical director has just clarified to exercise or go outside with members of own household, that children should not exercise or play in groups, just play with own household. Not to share lifts etc.

She did say one slightly vague thing about a bike ride with metres in between each person and no touching others bikes, handwashing etc....sounded a bit unrealistic.

Our cat is most impressed with closing schools Tea and having DD at home all day. Just hoping they don't shut PetsatHome before we can get her renal diet cat food. Though she will be very pleased if they shut it so she can eat tuna

Glad they are shutting places, shame some people can't be responsible and it takes this but happened in every other country too. Loads of mixing with other schools at our school with all the sporting events for the county where all schools compete and this week DD and DS were supposed to have team maths challenge with 30 other schools, thankfully cancelled. And all kinds of visitors in for employer presentations etc. Plus kids have siblings at 10 different primaries and about 5 different sixth forms coming from an hour radius in.

That sounds like the Italian you can go to a bar or restaurant but stay a metre away from everyone Ink

I popped into the local Tesco today where they have taped waiting spaces in the queuing area, I left the requisite gap and a cheeky fucker used the space to try to push in.

We should all take note of this. www.insider.com/coronavirus-italian-mom-and-these-are-the-mistakes-we-made-2020-3?fbclid=IwAR0bGS16VQ3YygCZERKbjD61iNj7nVfZZr3eCVRaYvV-AOKGv77AHE2Fbcc

I hate the thought of people keeping kids inside, there are safe places to take them, parks are not one of them if they are full of other children. Take them for a walk in the woods, along the beach or local gardens but keep your distance from others. Not everyone has a garden and kids do need fresh air and sunlight but be bloody sensible.

Couldn't agree more. People don't seem to understand the rules. Frightening.

I also think it’s crazy how people are sending them to childminders! I’m in Ireland and my neighbor is minding a few kids, said parents were all “ we have to avoid playgrounds “ but I was thinking wtf?

I think it's different, in school, you would be in contact with hundreds of children who you know nothing about their back ground. Also no say about if you want children to be there or not. But in the park, parents chose to be there, and contact is way more limited compared to going to school. If you are worried, at least you have a choice not to go/send them there.
If the school is open, a lot of parents feel torn if they should/or shouldn't send them to school.

Took our DC out, but to a woods, not another soul in sight. I can see why people think the park is okay, personally I don't but up until now they've been told their kids are fine in school, stuck in small rooms with 30 other kids. I can see why they've not suddenly put them in lock down a few hours later.

Same here, we would go to the woods and have some stroll, but not to the park.
But I may go to the huge playground near us to play by ourselves. You can think and do things, without being in danger with kids. I still think school closing is great, looking at the stats from other countries.

Go outside but do not use play equipment. That's how it will spread. Keep away from other people.

My local woods were busy with parents with toddlers today when usually it is empty during the week. One parent screamed for her daughter to "come back, don't go near any humans!" It sounded so weird as if we were an alien species. I suppose if she had said people rather than humans it might have sounded okay.

I try to go for a countryside walk everyday and have noticed in the past two weeks how many more couples and parents with young children there have been at the start of routes and in the car park.

And it is utterly pointless if they then decide on family outings to supermarkets, DIY shops etc Retail workers are having to just get on with it, more customers than usual and many workers have people at home with health issues. They are playing Russian roulette with their loved ones. As are health workers etc.

kids dont understand so no point going in groups to the park where they still like holding hands etc

On the BBC 24 hour news channel a short while ago,the advice was that it's OK for your kids to go outside to play or to the park as long as they keep their distance from others.

Couldn't agree more. I live opposite a park and it's been heaving all day 😡

Cold, it's not pointless at all. At least other parents' choice to mingle with other kids/people wont affect other children if school is closed.

meonekton - until they 'mingle with other kids/people' then pop to the presently packed supermarket, for another shopping binge risking infecting poor Bill who is restacking shelves for MW whose son Ben can't risk getting infected due to health issues, but his dad can't afford to take unpaid leave, hasn't any AL to take so has to just hope to god he doesn't contract it and risk killing his own kid. Not far fetched at all. The whole point is to stop the spread , not give families impromptu holidays and that seems to be the way some, and I stress only some, are behaving.

We went to the park today and the children played together. Small village school and all children there from same school. We felt as they were all together today it made no difference. That will be last visit to park from us until advice changes.

outdoors is better but they should still distance them from other kids

Overheard a group of childminders at the school gates organising a playdate at the park for next week