To think if 5000 people can cram in to a festival, my kid can go to his classmates house after school?

[ItsNotComplicated]

I have followed ALL the rules throughout for the last year.

I was surprised to see that a 5000 person sell out festival has taken place in a big top tent with no distancing. (I’m not complaining).

For a year, I’ve not allowed my DC inside with their friends. DC3 has been invited to a friends house for lunch tomorrow. I had my reservations but now , I’m thinking this is so far beyond nonsense if this festival has gone ahead!

DC3 is in the same class as his friend. WIBU to let him go?

It's research though.

Let him go

I'd let him go.

You are not wrong

Ds has been to the ‘rave’ this weekend, now at the concert.

It’s like the authorities know the rules are pointless or something,,,.these events are just the back pedalling PR events 🤷‍♀️

It's an experiment.

This would be allowed for childcare as long as you are not mixing with the parents. So if it's only the fear of breaking the rules that's stopping you then let him go.

Aren't they making sure they are tested before they go and then asking them to test afterwards so they can see what impact the virus has.

Aren't they sampling and testing the participants tho to see the spread?

Yanbu

God yes...

Yes totally unreasonable. The festival is part of a research experiment into the safety of large gatherings (and how to run them safely). Your son's social life is not.

It would be really nice if we could not piss away all the sacrifices made for the sake of a few more weeks.

Another vote for let him go. I too have followed all the rules until last week when my DDs second lockdown birthday was looming and she was so sad, her BFFs mum said that her DD could come over for tea, and since they're in the same class, generally all over each other, I have remained doing lockdown, am vaccinated, did a test, our local rates are very very low AND made sure it was just me and the girls (DSs were at their dads), we had a sleepover. It was entirely worth all the preparation to hear them laughing together

If does seem inconsistent that kids under 12 can freely mix at school, can go to McDonalds and sit in for lunch (we are in Scotland where you can eat indoors but not drink alcohol) and go to the trampoline park together, but can’t sit in each other’s bedrooms and watch Netflix or play with toys. I would let your child go!

@wombatgoeswild

Aren't they sampling and testing the participants tho to see the spread?

Yes they are.

I’m am aware it is research and I do understand it but how long can the average Joe be expected to carry this on when you have others going to football matches and festivals in their thousands?

I have followed all rules all the way through but now I feel like I’m at peak tolerance . DC3 has ASD and his social and communication skills have massively deteriorated over lockdown. He rarely wants to go anywhere but he seems very pleased to be invited and I feel very uneasy about saying no given the fact there’s been a match and festival!

I've let my children mix with classmates out of school. Seems little extra danger in doing so if they are at school together all day anyway (plus we have LFT and adults in the circle have been vaccinated, etc).

@Porcupineintherough whilst I agree with your statement, the DC in this situation don’t have an understanding of WHY we are doing this. The long term effect this is going to have on all our DC is something I’m concerned about.

I have no intention of mixing with the parents.

Do it.

I'd let him go to his classmate's house if you feel it's safe.

But I wouldn't blame this experiment for it.

It's two entirely separate things. The music festival is an experiment to try to find ways out of lockdown for everyone. All participants had to have a negative test and will be checked again next week.

Kids not socialising outside school stops transmission. Every interaction carries carries risk so YABU for increasing the risk.

It's tough but it's a global pandemic. Look what's happening in India. There's a real chance our current loosening needs to be pulled back at some point. The more cases there are, the more chance of problematic variants. As much as we all desperately want it to be over, not following the rules isn't helping. I appreciate this isn't a popular view.

@WorraLiberty I’m not blaming the experiment; I completely understand the concept.

IF he goes, I feel I can “justify” it as part of his well-being. He has regressed in all areas of social and communication (ASD) and I feel this would benefit him in more ways than it would my NT child just having a play date.

As others have said, the rave was an experiment and there’s a further one at a concert on the horizon. They also did one last month at a snooker match. They test everyone before and after, the people who have signed up to this are essentially Guinea pigs.

Having said that, I would allow your DS to go to a sleepover. The rules change in a fortnight anyway, I’ve said it on other threads but 2 weeks really won’t make a jot of difference.

How would you feel OP if a huge number of the festival goers came down with COVID (unlikely hopefully with the low rates)

@ineedaholidaynow I’m not sure because I don’t think you can compare a mass gathering of 5000 people with one child going to another child’s house from the same bubble .

To clarify, I have not agreed to allow DS to go. He knows my thoughts on the rules (that we should follow them!)