Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand clapping for kids

266 replies

VivienScott · 04/04/2020 11:07

Why are we now doing this? The premise I’ve seen is that their lives have been turned upside down, no longer able to see family or friends. Isn’t that all of us? And surely if they don’t understand why we’re on lockdown, they’re not going to understand us clapping?
Hasn’t this gone a bit far?
I do have kids, and they are most definitely affected, but I don’t feel the need to clap for them especially and they don’t want me to.

OP posts:
Whattheduck · 04/04/2020 13:24

I work for the NHS (not on wards but gp’s surgery) and I didn’t clap on Thursday night I did the first week but didn’t realise it was going to be a weekly thing but it doesn’t mean I’m not grateful for the commitment and dedication of the NHS and other frontline staff
As for shining a torch,dancing in the street and basically clapping for anything and everything no thanks

yossell · 04/04/2020 13:26

I'm all clapped out

GabsAlot · 04/04/2020 13:26

Catherine no i do feel for everyone but im not fucking clapping like a seal morning noon and night

Northernsoullover · 04/04/2020 13:29

I've seen the S club 7 thing. Utterly cringeworthy. How on earth would you get the music to run simultaneously for a start?

rc22 · 04/04/2020 13:32

I was really up for the first clap for the NHS but on Thursday did say to my husband that there was an element of “I just don’t want to be seen by the neighbours to be not doing it.”

Pelleas · 04/04/2020 13:35

you’d be a fool to think that this isn’t harder on the kids, especially the younger ones, to get their heads around

I really can't agree - I say again, it is hard for everyone. It will be hard in different ways, yes, but (aside from the NHS and other key workers) I don't think you can single out groups or demographics as being the worst affected.

Does it really make it easier if you have 'got your head' around the lockdown - i.e. to be constantly aware of the threat of death and the loss of your loved ones, to be in fear for your future, your job, the collapse of the economy?

Some children undoubtedly will be aware of all that to varying degrees, but those who haven't 'got their heads around it' and see lockdown as stressful/boring/lonely without being aware of the reasons behind it, are probably better off than everyone else who is also stressed/bored/lonely but can add to their troubled state of mind a full awareness of the danger we're in.

bodgeitandscarper · 04/04/2020 13:36

God its an awful idea! I won't be out clapping any more. As for kids sacrificing their freedom to save other people, if this virus runs riot we will have no health service, what happens if your child develops appendicitis or some other ailment? And there are children who die from this. Staying in in saving themselves and their families, not just old people.

wanderings · 04/04/2020 13:38

You know what this coordinated clapping reminds me of?

In the book "Room" by Emma Donoghue, where 5-year-old Jake and his Ma are kept prisoner in a garden shed, they do "scream" at a certain time each day, where they scream as loudly as they can, at the skylight, hoping that someone will hear them. Jake doesn't know why they're doing it, it's just part of their daily routine.

TheLadyAnneNeville · 04/04/2020 13:39

Ridiculous. We’ve ALL had our lives and livelihoods turned upside down. We could clapping for months.

TakeMeOn · 04/04/2020 13:40

I won't be clapping, hadn't heard of it. Think it's nice for the people who take part in it and fair enough if people who want to join in do, and get some happiness from it. I'm sure some children will enjoy it. I don't think anyone should be shamed or pressured into taking part in these things though. I've not joined in any so far, I see it as a nice morale boost for some. I think it can give a psychological uplift and feeling of togetherness but I don't really need those things.

My own five year old is incredibly anxious at the moment, but she wouldn't benefit knowing that people are clapping "for her". I've tried to keep things as normal as possible and tried to keep a routine and some structure in our day, but she's a sensitive child and she's got nervous tics which are out in full force at the moment.

okiedokieme · 04/04/2020 13:41

Mine are still in bed, house is a tip no doubt - they are adults though

bez91 · 04/04/2020 13:41

I agree OP - totally pathetic
Nonsense that children are the "real heroes" in all this. Our nhs workers are the ones saving lives

Crinkle77 · 04/04/2020 13:42

I have literally just seen this on Facebook. It's pathetic.

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 04/04/2020 13:44

Interesting how the Clappers are almost bullying anyone who declines, by saying things like we are all sitting with "faces like thunder" while simultaneously making a point of themselves publicly showing everyone what Good People they are.

I think most of us are just getting on with our lives, supporting who we can, as best and as much as we can, without feeling we need to prove it.

DisorganisedOrganiser · 04/04/2020 13:44

Well I am an NHS worker who thinks kids are the heroes. I actually think everyone staying at home are the heroes and so do a lot of NHS people I know. We aren’t all making those ‘we go to work for your videos on Facebook.

DisorganisedOrganiser · 04/04/2020 13:45

‘We go to work for you’ videos that should say.

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 04/04/2020 13:47

@DisorganisedOrganiser

I DO have teenagers and they're not able to go to their clubs, do their sports or see their friends. They both enjoy school and of course are missing everything. They've both been amazing and coped brilliantly with it. To think they need strangers to stand and clap for them because they're doing what they know needs to be done is ridiculous. They have social media, they're still communicating with their friends, their schools, their teachers. They're happy and relaxed knowing this WILL end at some point and they can get back to some sort of normality. I find it bizarre that you think they need praising for doing what everyone is having to do

DisorganisedOrganiser · 04/04/2020 13:51

Well I didn’t want to make it about specific ages but teenagers still in full contact with their world on social media are not really who I am clapping for. Plus we have absolutely no idea how long this will take to get to normal. This will end at some point but if we are telling our kids it will be soon then we are lying to them.

My children are under 10. They do not have social media, except if they borrow my phone to FaceTime etc. Toddlers and preschoolers find it hard to do even that. They are certainly not in contact with all their friends. Barely with their schools and teachers. It is absolutely not the same as a teenager glued to their phone.

The teens I have a huge amount of sympathy for are those with cancelled exams.

Leighhalfpennysthigh · 04/04/2020 13:54

What fresh madness is this? Kids are not heroes ffs and their lives are disrupted much less than some adults who are suddenly unemployed or in danger of losing their jobs.

Leighhalfpennysthigh · 04/04/2020 13:57

Oh hang on what about a clap for all the poor cats who are now having to put up with their servants in the same house as them all day?

Ferfooksek · 04/04/2020 13:58

I don’t even clap for the NHS never mind kids

ilovemydogandmrobama2 · 04/04/2020 14:01

Is this the same as getting dressed up to put the bins out to cheer kids up?

My kids aren't even awake when the bins are taken out so don't get the point of dressing up as a mermaid or pirate Hmm

Sunshineafterrain24 · 04/04/2020 14:01

No. That's a step too far.
I haven't even heard this one.

Recoverandthrive · 04/04/2020 14:05

It's completely ridiculous

Butchyrestingface · 04/04/2020 14:06

I'd like to see the Ven diagram for people:

  • clapping like seals "for the kids"
  • who filmed & Youtubed their kids reaction to being told "Stay Home" was all a big April fools gag.