Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

to expect parents to make their young DC socially distance?

17 replies

WyfOfBathe · 21/04/2020 20:28

Our local lake has a path, about 3-4m wide. It can get a little busy but there's always plenty of space for social distancing.

A few times during lockdown young DC have come within 1m of me/my DC by the lake. I noticed but it didn't really bother me.

Today a toddler, about 18 months/2 years old was running ahead of her parents, very close to other people. They made no effort to stop her, just called out her name in a sing-song voice. We stepped to one side of the path (couldn't go further without falling in the lake!) and she came and grabbed onto DD2's doll. Parents still did nothing.

When the parents got nearer, I said "kids need to stay 2 metres away too". The dad picked her up without saying anything.

DH thinks I am BU for being patronising. I think the parents need to make sure their child is following the guidelines - the parents were both wearing masks so are obviously aware there's a pandemic going on!

OP posts:

x2boys · 21/04/2020 20:35

It's not just kids tbh, I walk my dog every day across some fields ,I social distance ,but the amount of adults ( without kids) who don't is ridiculous

ViciousJackdaw · 21/04/2020 20:35

YANBU, two metres for everybody. If you can't stop your DC from running off then use reins/one of those backpacks.

BogRollBOGOF · 21/04/2020 20:40

The good news is that toddlers are about a metre from your face anyway, even if they are pressed up against your legs.

No it's not ideal, but these are tough times to raise a young child and they need chance to run around and burn off energy.
Reins are great for safely controlling young children in places like supermarkets or by roads, but they need some chance to be free too. They can't even play in playgrounds at the moment.

Original poster

WyfOfBathe · 21/04/2020 20:44

The good news is that toddlers are about a metre from your face anyway, even if they are pressed up against your legs.

They're not a metre from my 3 year old's face, though.

Since I'm a key worker, I'm more worried about unknowingly passing the virus on than catching it on a walk.

OP posts:

Thehop · 21/04/2020 20:46

They were in masks but not the child! Ha!

YANBU

Mistystar99 · 21/04/2020 21:55

Enjoying lockdown are we?

Illstartexercisingtomorrow · 21/04/2020 22:01

Generally it is very hard to police a Toddler’s movements in such a specific way. However I think parents should be more mindful and nearby during lockdown.

Letting her touch your dd’s doll and not saying anything - I would be very annoyed.

Hadenoughfornow · 21/04/2020 22:09

I am getting fed up of me and my kids always having to get out of the way of others. We'll continue to do it of course.

But I've never understood why some couples can't walk in single file. We manage it.

I would hate to have a toddler just now. They are always a handful and we can't expect them to understand. I do think it would be chasing them though. And perhaps take to a field so they can run about and have them in buggy when you are on a pathway.

Mustbethewine · 21/04/2020 22:20

It's not just toddlers its adults too. I was in the supermarket the other day and a man stood inches away from me to get milk as I was grabbing some 🤷‍♀️ some adhere to the rules and some don't

Sindragosan · 21/04/2020 22:23

Toddlers don't understand social distancing, so unless you're on your own, buggy/reins etc. Especially at a lake!

1Morewineplease · 21/04/2020 22:35

The trouble is, unless you can shoot the child, there’s not much else you can do.
I have a dog that I walk every day and it’s disconcerting how parents seem to think it’s cute that their offspring can just run up and fuss my dog. It bugs me, irrespective of the virus, how nonchalant parents can be. I keep my dog on the lead and leg-shield it from passers by yet they feel that their little ones are exempt.
To hear that parents wear mouth shields but not their children beggars belief!
To be honest, I’d like a mouth shield for my dog, right now!

Original poster

WyfOfBathe · 21/04/2020 22:41

The trouble is, unless you can shoot the child, there’s not much else you can do.

I manage to keep my 3 year old out of people's way even though she doesn't understand why. If she wouldn't hold hands or stay close to us when told, I would dig the reins out again.

OP posts:

minionsrule · 21/04/2020 22:45

I'm more shocked the toddler had free run around a lake by the sounds of it (you said you couldn't go any further back without falling in the lake )

emptyplinth · 21/04/2020 22:46

The kid's not going to give you coronavirus from toddling near you but the parents sound like idiots for letting her run so far ahead when you're right by a lake.

Hadenoughfornow · 21/04/2020 22:50

I keep my dog on the lead and leg-shield it from passers by yet they feel that their little ones are exempt.

We've had a few dogs on long leads come towards us. Which is a nightmare at best of times as my kids don't like dogs.

To hear that parents wear mouth shields but not their children beggars belief!

We have bandanas for bikes especially. My eldest will occasionally wear. My youngest, no chance. His life has been turned upside down enough. I'm not forcing him- not yet.

M0mmyneedswine · 21/04/2020 22:53

I had a man step inbetween me and dc (walking single file) to get to his car rather than wait seconds for us to pass today. If adults cant manage to follow the rules themselves no way can they teach their children

Yesmate · 21/04/2020 23:06

My 6 year old socially distanced far better than most adults we pass on our walk.

Flip