To suggest we storm the parks (armed with hand gel and cleaning wipes)

[TotorosFurryBehind]

Maybe light-hearted, maybe not. In the past week I'm increasing frustrated that children and their well-being are being left behind, as golf courses, garden centres etc open. But no timeline in sight for playparks, zoos etc.

I walk past the park most days on our walk and am increasingly tempted to snip the plastic ties holding the gate shut and take my daughter to play on the swings. I think the only thing stopping me is that is socially taboo and that someone will call the police.

I'm such a law abiding person normally. But I think the anxiety and depression of lockdown is really getting to me. I don't understand the logic of the way things are reopening.

Does anyone else feel like this?

No all the Govt cares about is getting the economy going in a safe managed way and to cut their furlough bill.
Garden centres, Golf Courses and pubs contribute to this. Play parks don't.
I foolishly thought that lots of mumsnetters want lockdown to end to get the economy going. Obviously only when it suits their narrative.
Incidentally I saw kids playing in one of our local play park so cleatly someone removed ties.

We have had a lot of pressure in our village to reopen our playground but it's not fair to put the responsibility on the parish council, who would probably be liable if anything went wrong. They're unpaid volunteers who have to follow the law, even though they hate it too and feel bad about locking the children out.

Kids play golf too btw.

It is quite possible for children to have good mental health without access to play parks and soft play btw
There are other ways for children to let off stream besides going to a play park
What about those with no garden? I'm sure people who make these kinds of statements have no empathy or understanding of life outside their own narrow view of the world.

I think it is crazy that golf club and garden centres whose clientele are often over 70 - the group we were all supposed to be protecting - are now allowed to open, but playgrounds, zoos etc are not. I can understand soft play places remaining closed though, those places are disgusting germ factories at the best of times!

The government are reopening businesses that pay tax.

What's wrong with that? It's tax that pays for public services, schools, the NHS etc.

I have written to my MP about this and I suggest you do the same. In our nearest park the kids are climbing the trees instead and you can hardly swab down a tree!

So given that the risks haven’t changed in terms of a contagious virus that kills, why do you think this is a good idea?

We can now meet in groups - we’ve done running races and gone for walks, even played a version of hide and seek. Cricket and rounders are possible safely if you have two sets of everything.

Play equipment isn’t the be-all and end-all and boredom doesn’t override risk - only perception of risk.

The rest of the outdoors is available Ceiba, just not the playgrounds, which I imagine will be opening shortly.

@CeibaTree but parks are open? It’s not like playgrounds are the only option for people to take their kids to if they don’t have a garden.

And you can’t compare eg a golf course to a playground - it’s much easier to enforce social distancing at a golf course. It’s impossible to do so in a playground - firstly because the kids will all touch the equipment and secondly because they won’t distance themselves.

The risks have changed.

1. We know they were lower than initially feared

1. Deaths and cases are way down

People here have been using them for the past few weeks, the police wander past now and then but don't seem particularly arsed. Honestly do you think if they fine you now they actually have any grounds to follow it up? Nope.

We know they were lower than originally feared

No we dont. Unless 470,000 dead and 1 in 20 long term sick is less than you originally feared.

If they cared about the kids they would have done a hell of a lot more to try and maintain some education for all. Instead they closed it all down and now a few “lucky” ones are in.

But then I still cannot get over how next years 10’s and 11’s have been massively fucked over. Mine and his peers are getting pissed off hearing about primary school kids. Year 10 here won’t be starting in September to welcome in the new year 7’s.

Mine has mh and is on the spectrum. His school have been amazing but cannot answer what he asks everyone - what about my year don’t we exist? Well he did, he’s given up in the past few weeks.

Completely disengaged as all he sees when he finally gets to the end of secondary, afterall they are there until 18 so obviously no rush for to get them started. He will be working to pay it all back for the rest of his live. What’s the point even finishing school?

Maybe someone on here can answer him because myself, support worker, school, psychologist and psychiatrist cannot give him an answer he can accept.

And the only way to prevent him from finding this stuff out would be to take away his access to the world and have him binge watch Netflix and amazon

Mine are all grown now OP but in my opinion YANBU

It must be so horrible for the small ones and for parents struggling with ideas . You are right in that they and their needs are being left behind.
Perhaps its social distancing though but I do understand your thoughts.

I don’t actually think it’s about corona any more I think it’s probably more to do with the fact that councils are saving a fuck ton of money. See also: taping bins in public spaces up/not emptying them, or cutting back hedges and trees.

Soft play places are unlikely to open for a while. They’re bloody germ fests at the best of times. I won’t be heartbroken not to have to sit drinking overpriced tea in one of them for a while!
I’m afraid I don’t get why they won’t open parks officially. In my area, lots of local parents have volunteered to be responsible for wiping down the equipment etc if the council agree to unlock the gates.
Some people are just using the parks anyway and have been for a good few weeks. We’ve not had a sudden spike in cases in our area...!

@WeAllHaveWings perhaps lockdown has mashed my brain, but no, I really can't see the doff between a zoo and garden centre. In fact, I'd rather take my chances at my local zoo, which is 100% open air and widely spaced out, with not much that needs physically touched, rather than my local centre which is about 50% inside, with lots of stock which will be touched and handled by numerous people

But please do enlighten me

Difference not doff!

@Nihiloxica It’s human nature to rewrite things to fit the way you feel, but the cases are lower because we stayed home to reduce transmission. So we succeeded (to a point) - that doesn’t mean it wasn’t necessary to do.

Plenty of parks are open. Children can go with a parent and ride their bikes, run around, even have picnic.

Whilst I agree it would be nice if children could use a playground, it is not comparable to garden centres and golf courses - at all.

In garden centres and on golf courses people are not clambering on the same equipment, a few centimetres from one another. They aren't touching and sharing the same items.

Parks are open - round here there are lots of open alsace's where the local children are running around playing, kicking balls, scooting, etc. I believe skate parks, etc are due to open this week or next.

I suspect things like playgrounds may well start to open in the next wave, as they are outside, especially if they still think children don't transmit to others to the same extent.

This is funny, I have already done this. What is the problem with playgrounds if you use hand gel before and after? Its fairly easy to distance too. Not enough is being said or done to push the re opening, it is pathetic.

You can’t see that playgrounds are a bit different to golf courses, garden centres and car showrooms? (I see a few of you parroting that particular line.)

I'm over it all. I don't give a shit. I want my children to get educated, to be allowed to play in playgrounds, to be happy. We've followed the rules for months now, I don't give a shit about McDonald's or Primark, I want something that benefits my children to open. Sick of seeing some Westminster twat banging on about shit that doesn't help my kids.

And where the fuck is our Prime Minister? Where is our plan out of this? They seemed to have completely back tracked from this alert system, "transitioning to phase 3" my arse.

My usually very chilled out son cried for hours last night. This has to end.

The cutting of hedges and trees is another one, nothing, absolutely nothing is being maintained, there is overgrowth absolutely everywhere.