Has your child played with another child?

[Thecovidblues]

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

No. He hasn't seen anyone of his age face to face, or even on screen since March

No and my DD has suffered horribly. She is lonely and depressed at 4 years old

Yes, my daughter plays with one of her best friends who lives a few doors away in our building. They have always played outside unsupervised in the communal garden anyway, so without locking them in the house it would be impossible to keep them apart.

They are 5 and 9 and both the only child in their household. Toddlers/preschoolers might be happy with their parents' company, and at least some teenagers might be fine just talking to their friends online, but children in between have a need to play with peers in real life.

I don't think it would make any difference to spread anyway as we a) live in the same building so both touch communal things, and b) shop at the same shops. They're the only people we've spent time with though.

I think it would have made complete sense all along for people with children (and maybe others) to pick another household to buddy up with like that, if they had someone suitable nearby. Then they can help each other with shopping and childcare, as well as minimising mental health impacts.

Yes, outside in the garden with my friends wee boy and I felt my DD2 really benefited from it.

Yes, for the first time a couple of days ago. DD’s mental health was starting to suffer so we met her friend and her Mum. We stayed outside and 2m apart. Neither family are out much- online shopping, all adults are WFH or furloughed. It did us all the power of good tbh and I’d do it again, especially after today’s governmental shitshow.

DD (11) has met a friend up at a distance in the park, and I trust her to keep that distance - like me she's not a cuddly child with anyone outside family, so it's not like she'll be rushing for hugs with a mate.

Haven't done any with DS (8) but might do soon in a park, but obviously with me there watching as he's not old enough to go alone plus I will need to remind him about social distancing now and then.

Absolutely not. It's all of the little rule bendings have added up to more deaths across the country.

Yes. The benefit to their mental health outweighed any risk of coronavirus. We dont have anyone vulnerable in our household and dont have contact with anyone who is vulnerable either. If they're talking about schools opening in a few days they cant very well deny other children of company. Its obvious the 2m rule is going to be impossible to sustain in schools.

No, toddler DD only had her much older SD to play with. It does make me sad for her as she was very social before and was quite confident and played well (well, as well as toddlers do ) with other kids and I hope it doesn't set her behind with her development in those areas.

No one came in our house. They met at a local park.

Nope. Not at all.
He's 20 months and not been around any other children since this started.

And it was just DS and his friend both aged 12.

Yes as my children go to school, I also had my brother and his child over last weekend, my brothers son (3yo) has autism and adhd and my brother was cracking up so they spent the day in our garden with us.

No, I haven't but it's a daily struggle with my youngest 14.

Yes. Visited cousins at their home a few times. Would have met friends too if any had been willing before last week. I think lockdown is really bad for children and meeting up with others is pretty safe if all have been mainly at home for weeks.

We haven't seen anyone else but I do think it's a bit ridiculous to make a fuss about this if you agree with kids going back to school in a week (not saying you do) I think people relaxing the rules stems from that announcement. I mean it's true that there's little point in being strict about social distancing among a small group of the same friends and then sending them to school.

Online lots and last week we parked outside dd2's best friend's house and they waved and chatted for 5 mins at a distance. They did similar with us a few weeks ago. That's the extent of our face to face meet ups.

It's all of the little rule bendings have added up to more deaths across the country.

There's absolutely no evidence to support this. All the evidence shows that lockdown has been effective in stopping transmission outside of hospitals and carehomes, hence deaths are due to pre lockdown social contact plus ongoing transmission in high risk settings.
Please make your own decisions within the spirit of the rules - don't sacrifice your child's mental health over this.

Yes, DD has had a friend around in our garden while I kept an eye on them. They kept their distance and you could see how much it cheered them up.

Yes had play dates once a week for the last couple of weeks.

Right now schools are busting a gut working out a safe way for children to return. Most are doing the same as my school are doing, creating bubbles of certain children and adults who will stick together and never mix with other bubbles. Each bubble will have it's own start and finish time, with break and lunches staggered so the bubbles dont meet. It's a logistical nightmare but the intention is that if any member of the school population should test positive then only that bubble is at risk/inconvenienced.

If selfish arsehole parents are going to completely undermine that system by breaking the rules of lockdown outside school then what's the fucking point?

Online, yes.

How is it breaking the rules when the rules say you can meet one person outside the house? Nothing in that says it's only adults.

We did a distanced walk today with a friend. They kept well apart. Made the world of difference!

No, not at all. But mine are close in age and get on well with each other.