Will you let your kids out and about to play?

[RhodaCamel]

My dc are 12 and 14 and used to going out in the village with their mates. They have been off school for the last 2 days and after doing their school work come the afternoon they are climbing the walls (especially 14 year old ds). He wants to go out around the village for a few hours each day with his mates (walking or on his bike). I’ve told him that as long as they keep their distance from one another, that he doesn’t go into their houses or they come in ours it should be fine.
I’m walking the dog with dd or going for bike rides with her but she has also started to say she wants to go out with her friend.
I suppose the only saving grace about this whole nightmare is that we are heading towards spring and summer.
So just wondering are you letting your older dc out?

Please don’t let them. The social distancing applies to everyone

No. Nothing else to say really.

We really do need a true lockdown. This will not get better otherwise, people are not listening. I truly despair.

So, all the moaning about schools not being closed and then folk think it's okay to have kids going about their normal stuff?

This is what is going to extend things and increase the isolation measures for everyone.

Just stay in your house/garden except for necessary trips for food and medication and we could get through this a lot bloody faster.

No. You cannot trust a 12 year old to keep 2 metres away, they just won’t.

some people think they are exempt

and those with kids really do seem to think they are special!! rules dont apply to them it seems

DD is allowed out onto the empty green out the front of the house to play football with DH once her schoolwork is done. He has also taken her for a couple of cycles on quiet roads.

But no gatherings of friends, not even her really good friend on the street.

That is what social distancing is about. Keeping to the family unit.

Out playing when it is just your own 2, and getting some fresh air, is a good thing. You need to mind their mental health too.

But not meeting up with others is a serious part of that.

Encourage them to keep in contact on SM instead.

Remind them that while this is worrying, it won't last forever as the scientists are working on vaccines and cures.

But it is important, FOR NOW, that they do their part in this war against the virus. For the sake of everyone in this country and on the planet.

They can talk online. DS and his mates did a group streaming of a film last night.
You really cant let them out.
We are in isolation mode. DS has been confined to his room since Tuesday and will be until his 7 days are up. He is so bored trying to keep his spirits up through food and memes but you just have to get through it.

I am truly astounded by the number people of need to ask this. Watch the news, listen to Boris and act accordingly. The current number of people following the rules isn't slowing the curve...more people need to do more. Please.

No.

It is easier than ever before to keep in touch via FaceTime/WhatsApp/etc, so there is no reason for them to be actually isolated.

Bored, yes. Frustrated, yes. But those are no reasons to potentially further spread around a virus that is killing people, and causing utter chaos in our hospitals as they struggle to cope.

As my mum used to say (back in a time where it wasn’t possible to keep in touch the way it is now) ‘only boring people get bored’

Seriously, get them doing something - if they need exercise then there are multiple yoga/exercise YouTube channels. If they need stimulation then there are multiple ideas for projects and creativity being shared around. Reading a book has never been easier - download the kindle app and away you go. If they need fresh air then there is always the garden if you have one, or sit by an open window if not.

I can't believe you're even considering this

I've got teens and they understand the importance of social isolation to reduce the spread of this deadly virus! Everyone needs to make sacrifices!!

They can connect with their friends via Social media and online games.

My 2 can play in the garden together but that's as far as they're going.

Why can't people understand?

It's my daughter's birthday today. She wants to meet a friend in the park and we have said no. It's shit for her but she can celebrate once this is over.

I'm going to go on a walk with her,just the two of us.

Well, OP, I was planning to let each child meet up with one friend maybe once a week or fortnight, while they are not showing symptoms. That's a lot less than the contact there would be at school, but is not as extreme as self-isolating.

Seems like everyone else on this thread is interpreting social distancing as the exact same thing as self-isolation, though? Happy to be told I'm wrong.

This has just come up on my Facebook feed.
Lots of people saying yes let's do this. We can have a coffee while they play 😡
I am beyond furious, what is the matter with these people??
I'm sorry but how stupid do you have to be to think this is o.k?
Shut everything down NOW Boris, these people cannot be trusted to follow clear instructions, time to force them too.

Mine are 5 & 7 so wouldn't be going out alone anyway, we'll be going on walks but staying in our family group and not going near anyone else.

, I was planning to let each child meet up with one friend maybe once a week or fortnight, while they are not showing symptoms

But especially children may carry and spread the virus without having symptoms. I'd consider all other family members that might be vulnerable.

And this is why we need mandatory lockdown....

@Bintheredunthat
I despair, I really do.
Do people not watch the news..?

What makes people think only their children are exempt from from this? No. This is serious. It applies to ALL OF US.

I read and watch a lot of news but the message on this hasn’t been clear. We are isolating for our own health reasons but I do understand why other people are not getting this. The message is just not being sent out clearly or strongly enough.

So it's ok to expect me to stay at home with two toddlers who are climbing the walls and are too young to explain why they can't go out, see their friends or do any of their normal activities but your teenagers who are old enough to understand cannot be bored or inconvenienced? It selfish attitudes like yours that are going to tip the nhs into not being able to cope and ultimately result in stricter lockdown conditions for us all. What is hard to understand? Non essential contact is to be avoided. That means you can go out for essential supplies and to work. That's it. Please properly inform yourself, parent your children and stop being so selfish.

I cant believe this is even a question. And I also cannot believe there are parents who will be this selfish to allow their children out to see friends, because they are bored. Boohoo, kids get bored easily! They are off school to be kept at home, not going about their social lives!

Even now schools are closing people are not taking this seriously. My son is only 5 so I dont have the problem of him wanting go out with his mates, but if he was older, there would be absolutely no way he is leaving the house unless with me and I can keep an eye on him.

I cannot return to work now schools are close. I am scared myself about being isolated but unless we absolutely have to we are not leaving. This is affecting our family life now but we are staying in!

This is not an extended school holiday. Our childrens boredom does not supercede saving peoples lives!

STOP BEING SO SELFISH!

No, not allowed out. Playing in the garden yes however the neighbours kids have been jumping the fence to play with mine which they always do.
No one is sick on our road and we're all in contact with each other to keep updated but I'm thinking this has to stop now and they can't play together anymore.

Kids will forget to keep their distance from each other. It's shit OP but they can't.

Thanks to another poster for this -