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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Are your children playing with other children?

114 replies

HardHatOptional · 22/06/2020 18:01

I know Iprobably ABU but I was just wondering if anyone else has started to let their children play outside with other children yet?

My DS is 4 and since last week I've let him join in and play outside on the street with the other children who live in our cul de sac (3 other households). They aren't social distancing as you can imagine which I don't expect them to.

Since this, DS is a much happier child. He is no longer grumpy and teary, he's sleeping much better and honestly its just so nice to hear him have fun again. He has no siblings or other children in the family and he's been really lonely and missing social interaction.

They difference in him is unbelievable.

It may be selfish but I believe the chances of catching Covid 19 are so low and keeping him isolated was really damaging his mental health.

So are your children playing with others?

OP posts:
GabriellaMontez · 22/06/2020 19:29

One is back at school . The other is now having friends over and being a but careful but not strictly.

She was displaying some concerning behaviours. Shes much improved now.

Flumo · 22/06/2020 19:34

Mine play out most days with a couple other children, they've been alot happy since.

WutheringTights · 22/06/2020 20:02

My five year old is in school and not social distancing within her bubble. My seven year old was really struggling, so we have been meeting friends in the park to run around. Not strictly social distancing, but the nature of their play means that they're not breathing all over each other so minimal risk, particularly as we've checked that none of them or their families are symptomatic. We'd reached point that the risk from Covid was so much lower than the mental health risks of keeping them isolated.

dicksplash · 22/06/2020 20:04

No. Some kids on our street never stopped. My two can play with other children when social distancing is stopped or we are allowed in others houses.

Miseryl · 22/06/2020 20:06

My 4 year old has been at nursery throughout lockdown (keyworkers) where they don't social distance but she doesn't play with any other children outside of nursery's

Hibbetyhob · 22/06/2020 20:09

Yes at school.

At closer than 2m with one other family’s children (but outside).

At 2m on outside play dates with other friends.

They are 6 & 7

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 22/06/2020 20:13

Yes started seeing cousins again, she’s back at nursery and we have a couple of play dates coming up. She’s so much happier.

Blacksideupanddownagain · 22/06/2020 20:14

Not yet, my two returned to school and nursery last week so don't feel it would be fair to mix with families outside those bubbles yet. We may arrange an outdoor playdate with someone from DD school bubble soon.

Ds doesn't have friends or playdates outside of nursery anyway as we don't know anyone with children his age.

Thisisworsethananticpated · 22/06/2020 20:18

Yes

changeofheart1234567 · 22/06/2020 20:29

Yes mine are playing freely with select friends. My doctor relative prescribed it for clear signs of depression. They are now different children.

frillyflamingo · 22/06/2020 20:34

My 2.5 year old is seeing friends for garden play dates again - i decided if I can send him back to nursery (but haven't as I'm on mat leave with baby) I can meet three friends who we know for contact tracing etc.

MissBaskinIfYoureNasty · 22/06/2020 20:38

Yup

MolyHolyGuacamole · 22/06/2020 20:50

Yes, was at the park today and all the children were playing together and mixing groups

Timeforredwine · 22/06/2020 20:51

I have to say I am astounded, we have been isolating or in lockdown and ensuring our children go absolutely nowhere apart from a dog walk and yet I'm reading that everyone else is of the view that it's fine for children to go out and mix with each other. I totally understand mental health and wellbeing as my eldest son has autism and anxiety BUT the virus hasn't disappeared and I'm presuming they are not going inside houses or mixing with other families or elderly grandparents?

InsaneInTheViralMembrane · 22/06/2020 20:57

Yes, mine have been playing out for a week and the change in their demeanour is wonderful to witness.

In the last 3/4 days we’ve had 1 new case out of a population of 400k.

Clockworkprincess · 22/06/2020 21:02

We've sent ds4 back to nursery for two days a week and he is thriving. He's not moody or naughty for attention seeking anymore. And one of his classes will be opening again soon, outdoors and social distancing. We're holding off playdates for now until the summer

Allyg1185 · 22/06/2020 21:06

Yes only in the last two weeks with one friend that lives a few doors down. They play in our garden or his. It's a small bit of normality that our ds ( 9 ) really needed

elliejjtiny · 22/06/2020 21:07

No. My 5 year old is at school part time so he will see other children there but none of my dc are meeting with other children socially.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 22/06/2020 21:15

BUT the virus hasn't disappeared and I'm presuming they are not going inside houses or mixing with other families or elderly grandparents? my child has no grandparents- well not in this country. We’ve been my sisters house and vice versa, the others outside and in nursery. Tbh she was mixing more when the virus was rife here pre lock down, and I’m not concerned taking into account the stats re: children.

sirfredfredgeorge · 22/06/2020 21:16

I have to say I am astounded, we have been isolating or in lockdown and ensuring our children go absolutely nowhere apart from a dog walk and yet I'm reading that everyone else is of the view that it's fine for children to go out and mix with each other

That's because it is (in England), you are allowed, indeed encouraged unless you are vulnerable to be out and mix with other people as long as you socially distance and not in groups larger than 6 people. Before the mixing, the government advice was for your children to get at least 90 minutes exercise a day, and even at the most restricted time, 60 minutes outside exercise was perfectly reasonable. A dog walk is not exercise for all but the most unfit people, certainly not within the guidelines for children.

There are very good reasons why the advice was not to lock yourself in, in a bubble, and to go out for exercise, not doing those things carries its own risk of death. Please start following government advice, it's important for your kids.

FilthyforFirth · 22/06/2020 21:16

DS is back at nursery so he is playing with his friends there. He is nearly 3 and has played with his cousins a few times. I am concerned about childrens mental health and am worrried that this, along with everything else, is being sacrificed for covid.

Carlottacoffee · 22/06/2020 21:19

Yes we’ve had our door play dates

PoodleMoth · 22/06/2020 21:21

Absolutely not.

SuperMumTum · 22/06/2020 21:23

Yes absolutely. I have no concerns about it.

LaurieMarlow · 22/06/2020 21:23

BUT the virus hasn't disappeared

If we wait til the virus ‘disappears’ before we let our kids play with their friends, we’ll be trashing their childhoods totally. It may be years.