To ask if you will let your children use playgrounds?

[PickACoolUserName]

Playgrounds are opening next week and already I've heard from a few parents who are saying they won't let their children anywhere near them.

DS has been desperate to go and I'm of the opinion that the risk is very, very, low. Just wondering what other people's thoughts are?

You'd need an exceptionally poor grasp of science to still consider parks a risk,

The Tories really have done a number on people.

We're going with bells on

I won't yet as we live in the countryside but when we go I won't go to busier ones. I'm sure it's fine though and if I was still living in the city I absolutely would.

Yes definitely. Risk is tiny

100%. All over that. Cannot wait. As PPs say, good scrub down when we get back and occasional doses of antibac along the way. I think I might be more excited than the children tbh!

Yes! We love being out :)

Little hands in mouths might be a risk, a mask sounds a good idea @Changednamesorry

Yes with hand sanitizer and maintaining a safe distance from other kids (easy in our local playgrounds).
We're in Scotland so allowed from 29th!

It may seem trivial to some but its a huge deal for my dd.
Personally the reopening of Primark, pubs, golf, garden centres etc makes little difference to us as a family. We could live without those for much longer if we had to.

But being allowed to go in the playground we walk past every day will make my child so so much happier.

@SquishySquirmy

Yes with hand sanitizer and maintaining a safe distance from other kids (easy in our local playgrounds). We're in Scotland so allowed from 29th!

It may seem trivial to some but its a huge deal for my dd.
Personally the reopening of Primark, pubs, golf, garden centres etc makes little difference to us as a family. We could live without those for much longer if we had to.

But being allowed to go in the playground we walk past every day will make my child so so much happier.

Absolutely it’s a big deal to kids. Months without school, seeing friends, seeing grandparents, soft play etc... they need something fun. There is a playground at the end of our road and mine look at it so wistfully every time we walk past. Middle aged men can play golf? Well then my kids can go on a playground.

Didn't know they were opening (been at work all day) and this has just made my day!!!

Yes, I have only last week gone further afield than a walk round the block and the first thing my son asked was ‘can I go in the playground?’ I won’t stop him doing something he loves for a minimal risk. I’ll tell him not to touch his face, we’ll wash hands or use hand gel but I will definitely be letting him.

Yes definitely. My kids have been crying everytime we go past so will be lovely to finally get back to a new normal.

As much as I'm sticking to the rules/guidelines (haven't been near busy places, stuck to guidelines all along and continue to do so) I think we're at danger of becoming too paranoid, and kids could pick up on it.

Stuff like That annoying shoulder shrug emoji sums you up. No sense of social responsibility. just deserves the most massive eye roll emoticon ever, WTF lol.
As long as we're all sensible, keep our distance etc we can't stay locked away for ever and things need to be able to start going back to some semblance of normality

@ineedaholidaynow yes here most people wear them and the great advantage to kids wearing them IMO is that.... No hands in mouths! I have a thumb sucker so I might be a bit biased! But it's also teaching kids about doing something for others. So if there is noone else in the park i let my kids take their masks down a little byt as soon as anyone else arrives straight back on. In that time my thumb sucker already has a more heightened awareness and keeps his thumb out!

Yes.... Most definately.... Wash Hands before and after, hand gel when out....

We will but I would worry about the crowds!

I am so over the most risk averse people clutching at the last threads of their comfort blanket as the rest of us get back to normal. Please stay away if you wish, more room for the rest of us.

Absolutely!

We can't wait. Agree re some hand gel etc, but honestly, all evidence is that it's safer outside. I'd probably avoid one that was crazy busy but as a rule, most local playgrounds aren't too bad and the children are too busy running around to be cuddling up to each other.

Yes!
We've already been to our local park and have been going for about a week now, it's in a large field and both my kids have been attending school and I've been working throughout the peak, going to the park is a tiny.

Definitely. I have an autistic child who sees no point in a walk if there is no playground to visit. Getting him exercise has been awful. Now we can go to the playground he'll run around and climb things again and his physical and mental health will really benefit.

It rains so much where I am that at least the equipment will get regularly "washed"!

I can't fucking wait to let my son play on the outdoor playgrounds. I've felt they were low risk this whole time and have been irritated that they are closed!

Yep absolutely, dont really see why you wouldn’t.

@gigi556

I can't fucking wait to let my son play on the outdoor playgrounds. I've felt they were low risk this whole time and have been irritated that they are closed!

The yellow and black tape over everything gave me the rage.

Yep. Mine is too young to wear a mask and only really bothers with the swings. We have alcohol wipes so will give a wipe down before and after (he likes to chew the handle ). There's a local park which I've never actually seen anyone else in so that'll probably be our first choice. Fortunately he's young enough to not be bothered if we get there and there's loads of people