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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Has your child played with another child?

155 replies

Thecovidblues · 24/05/2020 17:48

Just curious, noticed a lot of people from kids schools on their friends drives and in one case, walking with a friend and parents.

So have you let your child play with another child from another household?

I’m tempted tbh. Kids are suffering massively. We have been so strict since the start but feel like taking them to see one friend won’t hurt and the benefits to their mental health will outweigh the risks? But unsure.

YABU - No I would not/have not let my kid see another child
YANBU - yes I have/I would

OP posts:
Dorris83 · 24/05/2020 18:26

Yes, with our neighbours 2 kids. We let them socially distant play but they kept getting closer every time we said not to so we decided that 8 weeks of lockdown for both families meant that it was low risk. The kids are now playing most days and in and out of each other’s gardens (via outside gates, no one is allowed indoors) and it is working well. If any of their family gets symptoms we will have to isolate too I expect and vice versa but it’s worth it for my child to have other children to play with.

DDiva · 24/05/2020 18:26

My dd 7 saw her best friend for 15 min or so to run around on some grass, largely social distancing altho not always the full 2mtrs. I felt we both needed a little normality and this was something we would previously have done most days......

MasterBruceBalloon · 24/05/2020 18:29

Yes the neighbourhood kids have played in the communal garden together for the last few weeks, generally well distanced. Then my friend brought her two over last week and they played together as they usually would. None of us are vulnerable and we were okay with it. It's been a very long time for them.

cosmicfriends · 24/05/2020 18:29

I was queuing to get in the supermarket yesterday and a women behind me was on the phone to her daughter saying that 7/8 of her friends could come round once she was home from doing the shopping! And from what else else she said that isn't the first time these kids have come to play!

DS2 has played with his cousins as I needed emergency child care so my sister in law had him for a few hours but other than that no not been near other kids!

Rhayader · 24/05/2020 18:30

Yep. Dropped our kids with neighbours at 2am when my waters broke and we rushed to hospital - picked them up the next day in the morning so they had a day of playing together.

beachbreeze · 24/05/2020 18:31

No I haven't. My friend's daughter has been out on her bike with a neighbour, apparently adhering to the 2m rule

PolloDePrimavera · 24/05/2020 18:31

Yes. A football kick around tomorrow for DS7 at the park with one friend.

1981m · 24/05/2020 18:32

Unintentionally yes. Friends popped round without telling us and I didn't want to be rude so felt like we had to go out to say hello. Kids immediately gravitated to each other and it felt awkward to constantly tell them to stay away.

Same situation whey we ran into a school friend of ds on a bike ride.

We went to a socially distanced VE Day street party, again adults kept away but it was awkward and hard to keep the children apart. In hindsight I do wish we hadn't gone.

Starlightstarbright1 · 24/05/2020 18:34

I didn’t know how to answer.

Yes online
I am a childminder so Keyworker children have still come but they are all pre school age so not his age group at all.

Today he is having a low day - he wants it all back to normal so we are watching a film eating cake .

Rosieredapples · 24/05/2020 18:35

Online only and with each other (siblings) at home.

Figgygal · 24/05/2020 18:36

Once predictably at the VE Day socially distanced street party
It started well enough but quickly descended into them being all over each other
Another parent there is a dr and didn’t stop it either
My ds at bedtime said it had been the best day ever which made me very sad as he’s been back to isolation since

He said today he Misses his friends I feel so sorry for them As he’s not in the 1st June return year groups

SpeedofaSloth · 24/05/2020 18:37

Once only, regretted it very quickly. A moment of weakness.

SpeedofaSloth · 24/05/2020 18:37

Mine was at the VE day street party too, oddly enough.

porktangle · 24/05/2020 18:37

Nope. Ds has no friends at all except those he is at his autism specialist school with (who live all over the county). Luckily, his school are returning after half term and they realise most of the children are the same - completely cut off socially and very fragile mentally. He cannot wait to see his friends again.

Stripeytopgirl · 24/05/2020 18:38

Yes. Personally I thought my eldest was Really suffering & needed it. Shes 3 & played outside with the neighbours (supervised obviously.)

We’ve also been to a friends & played in their garden.

Grasspigeons · 24/05/2020 18:38

Yes both my children have met with one person outside the household, in fresh air and socially distanced for a walk. As per the rules. They were fine distancing.

bestbefore · 24/05/2020 18:39

Yep my teen has met up with a friend; that's allowed

isitamapletree · 24/05/2020 18:39

Yes, since they said we could see one other person I've interpreted that a bit and had a few outside play dates. I've met with one friend at a time with their kids and mine a few times for a bike ride, walk and once in the back garden.

We've social distanced and the kids have as well. It's done them the world of good and me. We are all in a low risk category and we're not seeing anyone vulnerable. I'm not trying to flout the rules but I think it is at the stage where we should be using our best judgement to decide what is an acceptable risk for our own family's rather than blindly following 'the guidelines' which half the time don't make sense anyway.

PissOffStayAtHomeDogMum · 24/05/2020 18:39

Mine aren't the relevant age, but I would definitely let them play with friends if they were younger.

Herpesfreesince03 · 24/05/2020 18:41

My 3 children are playing out right now with the neighbours kids. We’ve not been in a situation where we can attempt to socially isolate. All of my household are still going to work in jobs that involve close contact with people. None of us drive so we’re all catching busy trains and buses every day. The children have to go to childcare. I’m looking after 3 elderly neighbours and doing their daily shopping. I don’t see the point in locking the kids in the house after we’ve been out interacting with people all day. I’m sure the neighbours have their own reasons why they’re letting their children out, it’s not up to me to judge

Theforest · 24/05/2020 18:41

They have been on voicechat/played online but not in real life.

squid4 · 24/05/2020 18:45

we had a friend for an outdoors socially distanced play since the lockdown rules were eased. my 7 yr old was brilliant at social distancing

my kids have also been going to school some days as I am a keyworker so I think they play there and not sure how strict the social distancing is

Deelish75 · 24/05/2020 18:46

DS 11, no
DD 5, we've bumped into a various friend's over the last few weeks, they've had little chats (distanced) but no physical interaction.

Healthyandhappy · 24/05/2020 18:47

Oldest virtually on face time. Youngest played with little girl over road on ve day

reluctantbrit · 24/05/2020 18:47

DD is nearly 13 and will meet one friend in the park this week, afternoon picnic with social distancing. The girls are old enough to follow rules and I will sit even further away to keep an eye on it.

After 10 weeks of not seeing anyone and only out for a walk DD is starting to get so anxious of being out, she needs some kind of normality and meeting a friend for a chat in the park is more than ok in my books.

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