Are you letting your primary aged DC have play dates?

[LockerandKey]

DD8 has been invited over to play at a classmate’s house after school tomorrow along with another child.

The other child’s mum has confirmed and said it’s ok. The host parent’s view is that they are in the same bubble at school so it makes no difference. I haven’t responded yet but I feel slightly uncomfortable about it.

I’m not worried about getting covid but it does send the wrong message to DD; she is well aware of the “rules” and knows it’s illegal. The school are desperately trying to keep the bubbles open and have requested parents limit contact outside of school to help with this.

Also, I know this family are also mixing with other parents and children from school. I’m not judging them, it’s their decision but WIBU or over reacting to say no DD can not go?

DD wants to go and says she feels sad because the other DC is going but she also recognises that if I say no (which I’m planning on doing) it’s because we know we’re not supposed to.

But part of me feels I’m being a bit silly as logically it makes no sense .

AIBU to say no she can’t go?

No and I don't know anyone who is doing this either. It has surprised me that people have been so compliant with the rules around children playing. Some people I know even stopped taking their children to the playground which I thought was a bit sad.

Mixing in school is not risk free but it's worth doing. If people are also then increasing the risks by mixing more out of school, there is more chance of cases increasing and bubbles closing.
Most teachers are still not vaccinated but are doing their best to keep your children safe and happy. For goodness sake just follow the rules!

No. I get the mum guilt. DD only went back in on Monday (had to wait for my vaccine to become effective) and she hadn't seen another child since the Xmas holidays started before then. She had been FaceTiming with a friend. Hands are tied. It is what it is and "it" bloody sucks.

A lot of kids talk rubbish at school too so I wouldn't believe everything you hear. My son told his teacher he had a play date during school closure but then didn't add that it was entirely on zoom. The way he described what they did sounded like it it was in person. Who knows what the teacher thinks!

No. The kids are in a bubble with each other at school. Your kid is not in a bubble with Mary's dad or Tom's brother or whoever else may live in their friends' households.

No, absolutely not. We are in lockdown.

No chance
It's illegal anyway

I hate hosting play dates anyway especially after school I won't be doing this a minute sooner than I need too 😂

Kinda. I have a childcare bubble with a mum at school. Sometimes we didn't pick up the kids as soon as we were done so I suppose any time over that counts as a playdate.

I provide childcare for my neice and nephew as my sister is chronically ill, so my kids play with their cousins out side of school. Other than that they are allowed to play outside with our next door neighbours kids - but not in doors.

No. Mine are only allowed to meet their best friends in the park. No indoors stuff

@MaryBoBary

I work in a small primary school and the number of children who have had sleep overs/ play dates with friends, extended family, every Tom dick and Harry is shocking. 1 went to a birthday party with other children at a friends house a couple of weeks ago. It is frustrating and it can feel a bit of a slap in the face. Especially when working with younger years where it is impossible to socially distance from them.

In certain areas this seems really common issue. People have gone beyond caring

Mine are older but no, no mixing outside of education.

The rules are in place for a reason and we care about the staff and there are also likely to be vulnerable children or connected families who don’t want any extra risk.

Mine see friends at the park on way home from school and today my 7 yo went in the neighbours house for the first time (they're classmates at school too). Other than that they haven't been in anyone's house or had anyone over.

My 15 yo is going to walk into town and get a McDonald's after school tomorrow with her friend though

Absolutely I’d let them. They’re tiny. You’re telling them they can’t do what children the world over have done for thousands of years - play with their friends - for not much risk, considering they are on a bubble. I’d think of your child’s well-being

No. Obviously!

That said, when I picked my child up from school today I saw one mother taking her child and another from their class home. So obviously some people are.

No we haven’t. But DC2 got invited on one just now by a classmate and I am considering saying yes.

Honestly? Yes I’m allowing it and yes I totally would in your case

@stuckinarutatwork

No. The kids are in a bubble with each other at school. Your kid is not in a bubble with Mary's dad or Tom's brother or whoever else may live in their friends' households.

This is where I am with it. I am find with them playing outside with mates in the park and fresh air. Not mixing indoors with the extended families. More so because the families I know who are doing it, are doing it with loads of different people, indoors. We are just staying outside where the risks are really negligible with kids running around and adults with space between them

By the same logic somebody works in a supermarket with 50 other people - should they then all mix/have BBQs/go round each other houses because they have already mixed at work? I

No, if course not. The other parents are twats.

No, we are following the rules on this. No playdates.

I hope you don’t think this is too off topic. I’d just like to suggest the book Me and my Fear it’s a lovely picture book about how a little girl’s fear protects her but also gets in the way and stops her doing things.

YANBU, I'd prefer my child not to go either. It's good she understands that this is not allowed.