Still no toddler groups ...

[Springtime003]

So fed up that there are no toddler groups, no parks or libraries.
No one has even mentioned pre school settings other than nurseries briefly which are not being viewed as essential as school (mine has no space anyway)

I have a 24month old and a 14month old, I so feel your pain right now! Hopefully they'll be open soon.....

Most groups who don’t run from a school property or not ofsted inspected can’t open.

I know my LO has just started walking and would get so much more out of her baby groups and soft play now! Fingers crossed things resume soon!

I have a toddler and, whilst I feel your pain, I understand fully why these aren’t open/probably will be the last to open. Toddlers are little germ vehicles! They can’t social distance, they shove everything in their mouths (and everywhere else). They would just lick everything/everyone and touch everything/everyone, and whilst it’s nice for them to do rhyme time, it’s not something that can’t be recreated.

It’s better to find a friend with a toddler who you trust and who is being sensible, and do play dates together.

I would love to get mine in but I think toddler and baby groups and softplay will be the last things to open. Given we don’t seem to be any closer to opening parks, it could be months before there are things for the little ones to have some proper social interaction.

In Scotland the play parks are opening next Monday I think (unless i misunderstood, which is really quite possible these days). Unless I have got the wrong end of the stick, this makes me want to weep with joy.

Softplays will be last to open. Germfests though mine love them.

Toddler groups may reopen in September i reckon. A lot of toddler groups here are term time only as the runners are parents, so even if they could open via government they couldn't due to kids.

I hope they and baby groups do open in the next few months but i have my doubts.

I really do feel for people with toddlers at the moment. Absolutely everything that kept me sane with mine has been taken off you. It's not such a problem for the toddlers themselves, they're happy with just their adults until about 2.and a half/3, it's just so painfully dull and.lonely looking after them with no adult company and nothing to break up the monotony.

@crispysausagerolls

I have a toddler and, whilst I feel your pain, I understand fully why these aren’t open/probably will be the last to open. Toddlers are little germ vehicles! They can’t social distance, they shove everything in their mouths (and everywhere else). They would just lick everything/everyone and touch everything/everyone, and whilst it’s nice for them to do rhyme time, it’s not something that can’t be recreated.

It’s better to find a friend with a toddler who you trust and who is being sensible, and do play dates together.

Why are children, especially the youngest ones, getting the blame for this pandemic?

Last I checked there aren’t many toddlers kicking about in care homes or hospitals, where the vast majority of infections have occurred.

They also NEED to pick up bugs to develop their immune systems.

Absolutely crazy that kids are being treated so badly throughout this. From teens to babies there is all kinds of damage being done here. Over nothing.

I agree with pp, I think it could be months away before toddlers have any activities. I got fed up with it this week and signed my 2yo up to a nursery. The govt seem to be prioritising nurseries more than toddler groups, because they're essential for getting people back to work (unlike stay and play activities). It was quite harsh settling her in, I basically had to say goodbye at the gate and wait outside, because they won't let any parents into the nursery. But DD loved it, she's just the right age for needing more social interaction and she's been missing that a lot over the past few months. There's no social distancing within the nursery, as the toddler group is very small (lots of parents aren't sending their dc back).

Are you able to meet with any of your toddler group friends? I've met with a few in local green area picnic blanket bag of toys, bubbles balls etc picnic lunch. Certainly is nice to socialise and for them to play again!

Kids that need an education as well as the social element needed by older children aren’t open
Even secondary schools where social distancing would be easier to maintain, therefore I think it’s slightly u reasonable to expect toddler groups to open where toddlers are touching everything & putting stuff in their mouths!

I’d expect them to be one of the last of all services if I’m honest

My DC are long past toddlerhood, but I have been thinking about this recently as I am on the management committee of our local community centre and we are looking at plans for reopening.

I was reading some guidance the other day that sternly said that young children can't be relied upon to social distance. It made me so sad to think that our toddler group will probably be the last group to restart at our venue

@MrsCocoaJones8 where did you see that?

I hear you
I’m really stuck with my two year old I’m miles away from anyone we know (apart from his dad) as we had to relocate before lockdown and we are climbing the walls, sick of the same walks and same activities no matter how much I try to mix things up.

My dcs are well past that age but I totally understand your situation. Surely someone could come up with something to stimulate toddlers. I hated toddler groups but used to take dd to a music group which was fantastic. She used to sit at my feet or on my lap. There was no need to mix with the other children. Surely something like that could be done outdoors.

They aren’t socially distancing at nurseries though? So why would you expect it at toddler groups.

They don’t need to and shouldn’t be made to socially distance.

I help at a toddler group and I certainly don’t want to be opening any time soon.
There are a number of older volunteers who would not be able/want to help right now, which would leave us very low on helpers. Also, unlike preschools/schools etc, there will also be parents present, which will increase the risk of spreading the virus. Don’t get me wrong, I do miss our weekly group terribly.

@MrsCocoaJones8 29th was the latest date mentioned for swingparks in Scotland. We are counting down the days in my house!

I am so so missing toddler groups, library sing alongs, etc. Lockdown has really affected my toddler. He was used to going somewhere and mixing with other children and adults every week day. He's now so clingy, so fearful of other people, it's heartbreaking.

Young children need to mix! They need to interact, play with their peers, build up an immune system to minor illnesses, etc.

I wish they would at least open playgrounds. It isnt too difficult to take a fee disinfectant wipes, a bottle of water and some hand gel to keep play equipment and tiny hands clean.

I'm doing pretty well with my almost-2 year old, as we have some woodland we can run around in, with logs to climb on and muddy banks to scramble down, without that I would have been struggling. It's just people we are missing.

I've got him signed up to go to nursery in August as I'm so worried he hasnt had a proper encounter with another toddler since March.

I’m chair of a playgroup committee and there’s no way we’ll be starting up again until October at the earliest, we agreed at our agm last month.

I’m also a volunteer at a different group and it’s saying to not expect to be back before Christmas.

This is Scotland btw

@HathorX you can’t wipe down an entire climbing frame and platform before your child goes on though so what’s the point in wiping stuff down? Not having a go, just wondering

95% of toddler groups near me are run by volunteers, most with toddler children.

As someone with 2ds (2 and 3yo) I love the idea of meeting up with other parent friends.

As someone who runs a playgroup the idea of trying to deep clean every playgroup toy after every playgroup while supervising my 2 kids fills me with dread. We'd normally do it between 4 parents (all with toddlers) in each school holiday. It takes hours.

Add to that the worry that our group could be a source of transmission and there's no way we'd want to restart before Covid is properly gone.

I just don't think it's workable for the vast majority of toddler groups.

I have already resigned myself to the fact toddler groups won't reopen until next year 😭😭 I just hope play parks get to open sooner