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Related: Lockdown Learning, discuss home schooling during lockdown.
NHS Coronavirus information. Information from gov.uk. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have health concerns, please seek medical attention.
Related: Lockdown Learning, discuss home schooling during lockdown.
Covid
Why is there no clear advice on how to 'socially distance' when you have kids off school for months?
Thelowquietsea · 18/03/2020 18:07
The schools are shutting. Kids are potentially off until Autumn term.
What is expected of us in terms of social contact? There are no clear guidelines. I want to absolutely do my part in snubbing the outward transmission of the virus; equally, it's unthinkable that the kids don't have contact with others. Their mental health will take a real nose dive.
What are people's thoughts?
Darbs76 · 18/03/2020 18:12
You need to stay indoor’s as much as possible - maybe a walk, but not near anyone else. This isn’t the school holidays. But an emergency situation
Thelowquietsea · 18/03/2020 18:13
I know this isn't the school holidays, and it's an emergency. Why do you feel the need to say that? It's a waste of words
Safiyah2020 · 18/03/2020 18:16
Stay indoors. Like PP said only out for brief walks a few times a week in quiet areas around your neighbourhood. Just keep the kids to a scheudle indoors... Its for their safety too.
MarshaBradyo · 18/03/2020 18:17
I don’t think they can meet friends which is very hard I agree
CastleCrasher · 18/03/2020 18:17
You provide a stimulating environment as best you can indoors. Use the outdoors too, just avoiding others (play in the garden, nature walks etc) use technology to stay in contact with friends, eg face time parties etc
TeaSoakedDisasterMagnet · 18/03/2020 18:18
Stay home as much as possible, if you have a garden you can go into the garden. You’re going to have to make use of face time, Skype, WhatsApp and Facebook calling to chat to people face to face. I think there was some mention of exercise outside being allowed as long as you’re at a distance from other people, so the countryside is a good bet, where you can walk in the hills, woods, forests etc without coming into contact with others.
LolaSmiles · 18/03/2020 18:18
It is fairly clear.
People stay at home as much as possible, don't go to busy places, avoid unnecessary social gatherings, go outside for exercise and fresh air but stay away from others.
Our school (like most secondary schools I know) is setting work for students to mirror their timetable.
TerrorWig · 18/03/2020 18:19
How do you think children in remote areas cope?
It’s not ‘unthinkable’ that children have no contact. They’ll have contact with you, ask the parents for their numbers so they can FaceTime or whatever.
TerrorWig · 18/03/2020 18:19
We live in an age of technology, it’s never been easier to keep in contact.
Jojo19834 · 18/03/2020 18:20
I’m not sure they can tell you how to deal with it. They give guidelines and you interpret and apply to your situation. Everyone’s situation is different so they cannot tell you what exactly to do. Why do people keep saying this?
lazylinguist · 18/03/2020 18:20
I don't see what advice you can be expecting on how to socially distance. You just do it! Use facetime, skype, social media etc for kids (and adults) to keep in touch.
MarshaBradyo · 18/03/2020 18:20
Well there are things you shouldn’t do like gatherings
QueenofDestruction · 18/03/2020 18:21
Here in Spain you cannot even go for a walk. It's stay at home unless you are out for 1 of 9 reasons, none of which includes socialising or busting anyone. You cannot go out with another person to go get food for example, only 1 family member can go.
AnneJeanne · 18/03/2020 18:22
I think we need to get creative and use online resources to supplement our children’s education. Perhaps they can start learning a language? There are lots of ideas making the rounds.
DemelzaandRoss · 18/03/2020 18:36
Stay indoors as much as possibly. If you were living in Mallorca you would be fined up to €3000 euros for being on the street. 1 person allowed to go out for shopping/bank/walk a dog. The virus is lethal to the already ill & older people. The severity of illness & death rate increases each decade after 50. No cure, dependent on having an effective immune system. Potentially millions will die. You are signing other people’s death warrants if you do not comply with government advice. There will be a recession. At this stage the government is pledged financial assistance to more or less everyone. Please do your best. There has never been a situation like this in anyone’s lifetime. More people will die than those killed in England during WW2. Hopefully this has given you some extra insight.
HopeClearwater · 18/03/2020 18:52
unthinkable that the kids don't have contact with others. Their mental health will take a real nose dive
It’s amazing how unresourceful people can be. Use your brain, have a think. Look at what you’ve got in the house - books, games etc. You’ve got the Internet for ideas as well. Do you really expect to be told what to do with your own children? People in the cities had to send their children far away to people they didn’t know during evacuation in WW2 - at least you’ve got yours safe at home.
TwelveIslands · 18/03/2020 18:56
Stay at home as much as you can.That's the advice. Seems clear to me.
midwestspring · 18/03/2020 19:03
Stay at home.
Walk, run cycle in quiet areas and at a distance from others.
Play in your garden if you have one.
FaceTime, Skype etc friends.
No play dates, hangouts etc.
It is boring but not difficult to understand.
Mysocalledlifexx · 18/03/2020 19:05
Stay in and not see others. Going to be hard but it has to be that way.
minipie · 18/03/2020 19:10
It’s clear what we’re supposed to do and that is not see others.
However I agree with you OP that it’s going to be extremely tough on the children. All these snippy responses about using your imagination and online resources are all very well, that may keep them from getting bored (maybe...) but it isn’t going to help with their loneliness and keeping up their social skills.
I have a 5 year old who thrives on playing with other children, she asks every day when she will next be seeing her friends. If this lasts for months she is going to be a completely different child at the end of it 
. And we are cutting out not only her friends but also many many activities and change if scene - even the playground is off limits.
The truth is that we have never tried keeping an entire generation of children away from each other and the outside world for a long period. This is a massive social experiment and we don’t know what the results will look like.
Sharkyfan · 18/03/2020 19:12
A mum at school is asking who wants to share childcare while the schools are off.
I suggested might not be a good idea as not sure they’re meant to mix when school is shut as surely defeats the object? Kind of wishing I hadn’t said anything as feeling bad as I know she has to work and is a single parent previously reliant on grandparent care. And I’m a key worker so can use school if needed. But surely we are not meant to all club together and have play dates etc? Or am I misinterpreting it?
GirlYouHaveNoFaithInMedicine · 18/03/2020 19:13
It's going to be tough but the guidelines are clear. There is so much for the government to think about right now that they cannot also prescribe all the exact ways you can follow them. Nor can they guarantee that doing what is needed for physical safety is not going to cause some psychological challenges.
No social contact means just that.
Rough times ahead for us all.
MarshaBradyo · 18/03/2020 19:14
It’ll be hardest on my teen. Loves seeing his friends. Online yes Tg but still.
We’ll be staying in though except for food shop one person.
Can’t decide on run, don’t want to catch it through that after all the isolation.
GrumpyHoonMain · 18/03/2020 19:16
No friends, no walks if you’re in a built up town / city, you need to really get militant about hygiene - regular handwashing, making sure they don’t sneeze all over people. If you need to make an essential trip they should stay at home. Some GP surgeries are not allowing school aged children in even for immunisations or check ups - you have to go to children’s centres /book a telephone appointment
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