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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Are you letting your kids play out?

55 replies

Bananas17 · 06/06/2020 19:00

Lots of kids are starting to play out together on our street. Mine are nagging me but I'm not letting them play out yet. Are you letting your kids play out?

OP posts:

PhilCornwall1 · 07/06/2020 05:48

Yep, youngest who is 13 has been meeting up with his mates for 2 or 3 weeks now.

Popcornriver · 07/06/2020 07:36

No I'm not. They play outside in the back garden and the other children in our street are doing the same.

UnderTheBus · 07/06/2020 07:38

Yes my 3 year old has played with the neighbour kids of the same age. We organised activities which meant they didn't need to get too close - scooter rides, football, bat and ball, bubbles. They have got within 2m of each other occasionally but their need to socialise and play outweighs the risk IMO.

WOBNIARM · 07/06/2020 07:49

Even if my child was 21, I wouldn't let him play out with other 21 year olds, why would I let him play out with other kids as a kid? Just because he is a kid? I don't think so.

While I respect that not being able to go out and play with other children his age might make him feel disappointed or frustrated, it's better to keep him safe instead of increase the risk of him suffering from mixing with the other young people who's parents haven't even bothered listening to the distancing rules or anything else to do with Covid-19 since day one.

Meanwhile there's always fun activities like colouring in, dancing, singing, or even potentially giggling over hearing grown men rage-quit GTA 5.

PhilCornwall1 · 07/06/2020 07:53

Even if my child was 21, I wouldn't let him play out with other 21 year olds, why would I let him play out with other kids as a kid? Just because he is a kid? I don't think so.

At 21, an adult, how would you stop him? Could be an interesting conversation.

HeadSpin5 · 07/06/2020 08:05

If the children are socially distancing then why is there a problem?

WOBNIARM · 07/06/2020 08:12

@PhilCornwall1

Even if my child was 21, I wouldn't let him play out with other 21 year olds, why would I let him play out with other kids as a kid? Just because he is a kid? I don't think so.

At 21, an adult, how would you stop him? Could be an interesting conversation.

Where there's a will, there's a way!

Grobagsforever · 07/06/2020 08:18

Yes they are playing with the next door neighbours and one other child and have been for weeks.

They are children, they are outside and current risk of death from Covid for them is 1 in 5 million (combined risk of getting it then dying).

Children have paid a very high price this lockdown to protect others.

PhilCornwall1 · 07/06/2020 08:43

Where there's a will, there's a way!

Yeah, good luck with that one. Do you have any 21 year old children?

RitaMills · 07/06/2020 08:51

Yes my 10 year old has started to play out, There is a massive park that separates our house from two of his friends house, they meet in the park with their bikes and cycle around.
The two friends were also over last weekend for a socially distanced bbq.

DS knows to be careful, his friends parents are making them aware and we are all happy for them to see each other and trust they are keeping their distance so will continue to allow it unless they (are caught) breaking that trust.

Rowgtfc72 · 07/06/2020 08:56

Dd is 13 and has started seeing different friends separately.

WOBNIARM · 07/06/2020 09:11

@PhilCornwall1

Where there's a will, there's a way!

Yeah, good luck with that one. Do you have any 21 year old children?

I don't, hence why the post was theoretical, not literal.

I'm surprised you didn't pick up on that.

MissBaskinIfYoureNasty · 07/06/2020 09:25

Yep and our next door neighbours kids play out too. Neither household's kids are going back to school and we've agreed they can ride their bikes outside. Crucial socialisation imo.

TimeForLunch · 07/06/2020 10:01

Yes, it is good for them. The risk of them catching or passing on the virus is minuscule.

PhilCornwall1 · 07/06/2020 10:10

I'm surprised you didn't pick up on that.

I did, because you said "Even if...", but you never know on forums, always good to clarify.

I've got one a couple of years off, so can safely say, theory wouldn't work in reality, he'd just leave the house if he wanted to go out.

Chickychoccyegg · 07/06/2020 10:11

so how has mixing with one other family became letting kids out to mix with 2,3 or more friends, socially distanced or not, its still encouraging them to do what they like and not follow the guidelines .
whilst i agree socialising is so important for children , surely they could meetbup one at a time, easier to make sure theres some distancing too

CodenameVillanelle · 07/06/2020 10:15

@Chickychoccyegg

so how has mixing with one other family became letting kids out to mix with 2,3 or more friends, socially distanced or not, its still encouraging them to do what they like and not follow the guidelines . whilst i agree socialising is so important for children , surely they could meetbup one at a time, easier to make sure theres some distancing too

The guidelines are that 6 people can meet outdoors, not that two families can mix. The children are following the guidelines. You, it seems, are not

SandieCheeks · 07/06/2020 10:36

@Chickychoccyegg

so how has mixing with one other family became letting kids out to mix with 2,3 or more friends, socially distanced or not, its still encouraging them to do what they like and not follow the guidelines . whilst i agree socialising is so important for children , surely they could meetbup one at a time, easier to make sure theres some distancing too

I'm in England so they're allowed to meet outside in a group of up to 6.

HeadSpin5 · 07/06/2020 10:39

They don’t have to be from the same household 🙄

HeadSpin5 · 07/06/2020 10:39

In England at least

TakemetoGreeceplease · 07/06/2020 10:41

Yes. Not in a big group like he normally would, just one or two friends who live in our street. Yesterday he had a water balloon fight with a friend then they went for a cycle. He's much much happier since we started this a week or so ago.

Aragog · 07/06/2020 10:45

Dd is too old for playing out - she's a much older teen.

But we have lots of children on our estate and it's o ly in the past week we've seen more starting to play out, mainly on bikes and scooters. It's mainly 10+ age without parents. Have to say that they all seem to be pretty good at social distancing whilst out. Those at the field behind imaging football etc are all doing it from a distance too.

Dd and her friends have started to meet up in small groups - they'd done a couple of 1:1s before - again they seem to be socially distancing well, sat spaces out. I don't question Dd too much about when she meets her boyfriend but do know it's always outside and that, especially as he is in the vulnerable group, they are being pretty careful about distancing. She and he know the risks and we have iterated the need for washing hands regularly etc.

Aragog · 07/06/2020 10:50

Chickychochyegg

Are you in England or another part of the UK?

In England we can meet in groups of up to 6. They do not need to be from the same or just one other household. Those not in the household should be 2m apart.

So dd can legitimately meet with 5 friends at the same time, sat outside in the park with each 2m apart. Which they did.

WOBNIARM · 07/06/2020 22:00

@PhilCornwall1

I'm surprised you didn't pick up on that.

I did, because you said "Even if...", but you never know on forums, always good to clarify.

I've got one a couple of years off, so can safely say, theory wouldn't work in reality, he'd just leave the house if he wanted to go out.

Oh, thank goodness!

I agree that the theory would in no way work in reality, however this always hope that we raise them right.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 09/06/2020 11:26

YANBU as long they knows they shouldn’t hug theirs or sit too close together.

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