Extra curricular activities

[slartibartfastsbeard]

Have any of your children's extra curricular activities, especially group ones, been cancelled?

There are several confirmed cases in my town, plus many more who have all the symptoms but are not being tested. Some of them I know personally so know it's not just rumours. These are parents of children in several different schools across the town. Some of the children are going to school as normal and partners/other household members going to work, because that's what 111 have advised.

I run an activity for 11-16 year olds. I sent a message out to parents today asking what they want to do. Continue or cancel? Most have said they'll go with the flow, only one has said to cancel.

I work with children anyway (and can't afford not to continue) and despite rigorous hand washing of everyone, wiping every imaginable surface down etc. for the last fortnight, I've still managed to get a D&V bug this week. This is what is making me question continuing something that's not essential. I have an elderly mother with asthma and prone to chest infections and in laws with copd and other health issues. Other younger family members have quite severe asthma too. My responsibility is to them not to the continuation of the group.

What's happening with groups such as karate, choirs, drama groups etc. in your area?

Dd works at one. It’s going ahead unless the venue (a school) closes.

All of DS’s activities are still going ahead but we have no confirmed cases in our area and only 6 in the county.

Dance and drama & Scouts have cancelled. swimming is going ahead but we’ve decided not to attend. I think if you can afford to cancel and take the decision out of people’s hands, they will be grateful.

DD’s dancing lessons are going ahead.

Girl Guides Canada is suspended for one month. All unit meetings, events and camps cancelled. Announced yesterday. Was a bit sudden. I had units supposed to be going to camp yesterday.

(I’m in NI where we’re all incredibly cognisant of the difference in Irish & British government’s advice. We’re social distancing as much as possible and trying to persuade older family members to do likewise.)

It's a voluntary group so no loss of income for anyone. I'm leaning towards stopping until after the Easter holidays, but judging from the replies I've had from parents about the importance of routine and important to keep everything going until we're forced to stop, I think I'll be judged as over-reacting.

It sounds like you have family members who are quite high risk. As it is a voluntary group, who on earth could fault you for putting your family’s needs first? Do what is right for you and your family, please don’t feel pressured to continue if that’s not what you want to do.
My friends in Spain were quite astonished that all our activities were still going ahead earlier this week. I’m incredibly grateful that the leaders all decided to cancel from next week (just found out swimming is cancelled too. And that’s a business which is deciding to take the hit for everyone’s safety)

Thanks ReadingIsFundamental. I feel like I'm the only one taking this seriously.

I can sort of understand the government's stance on needing herd immunity to combat this virus in future, just don't want to put my family at risk needlessly so that other people's kids can keep their normal routines.

I also work with a very high risk group, for which the sudden stop in routine will have a huge impact on them. For some of them, my activity is the only bit of social interaction they may have for days at a time. I'm going to be spending a lot of time on the phone with this group instead of running the activity, making sure everyone is ok and have everything they need. One or two of them don't have family, or family close by.