Are your DC seeing friends outside of school?

[SilverGlitterBaubles]

I am having running battles with teen DC since schools returned because I will not allow her to go to friends houses after school or have sleepovers right now due to Covid restrictions. Just had a text from her friends DM inviting her to a sleepover party with a group of others, some from other schools, for her DDs birthday next weekend. I am now the worst most embarrassing parent for saying no. I get that this is really, really hard for them and have no issues with them meeting outside, although this has also turned into mass groups meeting in the park. Surely if we want schools to stay open and restrictions to end we all have a part to play here and parents need to take some responsibility or AIBU here?

@AlexaShutUp

The OP stated very clearly that there will be kids from different schools at the sleepover. So saying that the kids are mixing in school anyway is missing the point, because not all of the kids at the sleepover would be mixing.

But crack on and let your kids socialise to their heart's content. Just don't moan when the schools are closed again.

Exactly!

And don’t moan when you can’t go on holiday or when pubs and hairdressers etc can’t reopen!

And teach your kids that it’s fine to break the law!

But their needs come first and trump all others obviously.....

No. Definitely not indoors. We bump into friends she has made at our local park (not close friends and not even at same school as her). She walks home from school now with friends. But that is all. All other social contact is via FaceTime or Skype.

My under 12 yes absolutely because its completely allowed in Scotland. She is out every day playing after school.

My over 12 hasn't. He is allowed to meet up with up to 3 friends but none of them seem to want to. He just stays in playing on his xbox. I wish he would go out. I just hope it improves once he is back to school full time.

13 yo Dc is following the rules carefully and meeting just one friend outside - friends are being very good and taking turns to meet up one on one instead of a group of 3/4.

They used to all like to meet up in town at a milkshake bar for vast quantities of brain freeze and sugar but that is closed at the moment in any case.

She goes to school with a friend, walking. Comes home with same friend. After being in school with hundreds of others. So I let her sit on the wall outside to talk with the same friend. They might see other friends walking by.

Out and about doing my job I see groups of teens out together all the time.

A lot of indoor mixing is going on. All of teen DD's friends that I know of are, although they mostly prefer to hang out in parks and fields!

Ds2 is playing out with his school friends. Hes inside a classroom with them all day so dont see the harm in them playing together. Hes not allowed inside others homes yet so just meeting at the park.

No!

DS (14) doesn’t seem remotely interested in seeing his friends outside of school, which in itself is quite sad but on the flip side, at least there are no battles. Not sure how I feel about it still.

Mine are primary aged and we have been going to the park after school recently, quite a few of their friends have been there so they all play together. Haven’t seen anyone inside.

Yes outside. DD10 a d DS8 go and play with friends at the park but not inside.