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?

No. Is it essential? Then don't do it.

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."

I'm sorry but your wrong.
Please read the social distancing guidelines.
Social-distancing means only going out if absolutely essential, e.g: for food & medication
No socialising with friends, no trips to pubs, hairdressers, gym, no having friends round to play.
Self-isolation means not going out in any circumstances, someone else gets the food medication etc.
Why is this so confusing?
Maybe the govt should bring back public information films
“Charlie says stay in your bloody house”

Etinox ** sorry, posted before RTFT

catchyjem hope you're all doing ok, I adore Italy and it's people, I feel especially gutted for what's happening over there

I posted this on another thread earlier: My DH who works for local council has just had an argument with a Woman in a playground, she had 3 children playing on swings, said she was supposed to be self isolating but the kids were "doing her head in at home" I despair!!!!!

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.

I agree with this, yesterday I read a post on FB from the local maternity group advising current arrangements for the delivery suites / wards. Oh my goodness, the moaning that went on, including from grandmother's about how disgraceful it was that there could only be one birth partner and therefore they couldn't.

It's all a bit half-arsed at the moment, I came home yesterday with some fence paint and DH looked a bit confused, I don't think it had dawned on him they we wouldn't be going anywhere.

Maybe the govt should bring back public information films

We have the DVD of the old public information films (possibly called Charlie Says) and I have been thinking that many of them would be good to show now. My DC enjoy watching them.

Its not supposed to be school holiday at all.

Here in Ireland, the school buildings are shut, but older primary and all secondary students all have either online lessons or at least work being set (and homework to be returned electronically) with most students participating (admittedly, DD did say that a number of her class did geography still in PJs yesterday as they were talking on the class WhatsApp and had not turned on their videos on laptops for a reason!! . But actual schooling is happening, just not physically in the school building.

The publishers of school books have all released huge amounts of additional resources online - normally given individually to teachers or purchased, but they have made it openly available for the current time.

If the DC are kept busy with their schooling, that means there is a lot shorter day in which they will become "bored senseless". And then getting out in a family group to get some fresh air and exercise is a good thing. Before getting on with normal activities at home - playing with toys, watching tv, board games, crafts, baking, reading, helping with household chores, teaching them about chores/cooking/etc, contacting friends and extended family by skype or phone, write letters to friends to post...…..there are so many things to do!!

Just not with friends.

DH has brought them to a big park near us a few early mornings this week to cycle or kick a ball for a bit (we’re in Ireland so schools closed last week). So far that’s been fine as there have been very few people there at 8/8.30, they’ve driven there when they’d usually walk or cycle and it’s huge so has been very easy to stay miles away from anyone.

I suspect though with more people wfh and limiting social contact, walks in the park will become more popular (if it’s not closed) in which case they’ll be going no further than the back garden.

Definitely no playing on the street or visiting friends, we haven’t brought either of them to a shop for nearly two weeks and they haven’t been near GPS for over two weeks now. It’s just not worth the risk, I mean dc will most likely be fine but could be carrying the virus and pass it on.

No it’s madness .. there is a park over from my house and I’m gobsmacked at how many teens have been there in the last day or so

The school work thing all falls down when I have two secondary aged children, me working f/t from home and 2 computers between the three of us.

GreatWave that's made me think of the Prodigy

My favourite is the poster rebuking the OP and saying 'let's solve this problem together' but opened by saying their whole family goes to the park every day

To be fair to the OP, the guidelines are very wishy washy, which is why people arent abiding by them. We need a lockdown, and now.

I saw my neighbour when putting out the bins last night and she said how nice it would be for our children all to play together once the schools close. I awkwardly muttered something about how it was best to keep our distance for now and felt like a right arsehole.

So just wondering are you letting your older dc out?

No. Because I don't want people to die.

Just took kids for a walk to let off some steam. Made sure we kept away from other people and was constantly reminding kids to not touch anything: took the scooter so they mainly had hands on that. We walked past the play park and there were at least 5 families in there, I was really shocked. DD was bawling her eyes out that she wasn’t allowed in and asking why they were but she wasn’t.
It’s really tough OP seeing your kids getting upset/ frustrated but you need to consider the bigger picture. At least with teenagers you can explain about disease transmission and vulnerable people: a lot harder with a 4yo and a 1yo

I awkwardly muttered something about how it was best to keep our distance for now and felt like a right arsehole

Don't, you weren't the arsehole in that interaction.

Ok, well I said I was happy to be told and I am. I think I read the word "avoid" differently from how I would read "don't."

Maybe the govt should bring back public information films

I would love this!

That’s really interesting. Avoid is a really weak word.

Loads of kids off school today and out playing together. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Well mine finished school today so are having a last hurrah. The kids were sat next to each other all week so an after school play wont increase risk.

Then that will be it. So very sad for them all.

The deputy chief medical officer has said that a couple of kids could go out on bikes/walk as long as they keep 2 metres apart, only touch their own bike etc & that getting fresh air & exercise would benefit them.

Lots of teens hanging around in groups of 10+ here and it's really pissing me off. The ones that walk up and down my street are treating it as a very long school holiday. These are the same kids who aren't in school every day anyway as their parents have no control over them so they refuse to go.

While the rest of us listen to our kids complain about being kept inside (mostly just complaining of boredom) and know this is going to be one looooong fucking year, these idiots are laughing in the streets and their parents are doing nothing to help.

Keep your kids inside ffs. It's for the safety of everyone. Their boredom doesn't trump someone else's right to live.

But I will be keeping my kids in

^^ and no, I am not including a walk with your kids in that.

No