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Can my kids go to the park or not?

381 replies

NeedANewJob19 · 27/03/2020 13:13

I have name changed for this and prepared to be flamed.

My teenage DSs (13 and 16) have been going to the park near our house for one hour each day this week. They go together, they don’t meet up with anyone and they avoid other people using the park. They don’t go to the playground part, they just take a football and have a kick around together just the two of them. I was under the impression that this was ok.
Someone on my Facebook posted a picture yesterday if a group of kids at the same park and I could see my two in the background of the photo. No where near the kids featured just way in the background. This person wouldn’t know my kids. Everyone was commenting about how irresponsible this was and berating the parents, I daren’t comment on it but wanted to check opinions on here. I was assuming they were so angry because it was group of kids presumably not from the same household but now I’m not sure I should be letting my kids do what they’ve been doing

OP posts:
Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 27/03/2020 23:03

ferretface

But 1.5 million of us are locked up for god knows how long until this over. We can't even go out for a walk. What about our cardiovascular health and vit D levels and our mental health being isolated from our families?What about the over 70s physical and mental health?

How about the cancer patients and patients with other serious conditions who aren't getting treated while this plays out, not to mention the effects that tanking our economy will have on the physical and mental health of everyone.

Why can't we limit the freedom that the majority of you have so that we can move more quickly to this being over and then we can all enjoy being outside and getting some sunshine and boosting our health? Instead it seems like some people want it all and are happy to leave others with nothing in order to achieve it.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 27/03/2020 23:06

It is really bad for the nation's physical and mental health to not be able to go out for exercise at all - this is likely to go on in some form for months

Yep. Those of us being shielded can't go out at all. Not for a walk, not for anything.

Still, as long as you can play football, go for LOADS of walks, runs, bike rides whatever, who cares heh?

ferretface · 27/03/2020 23:08

Because it won't be over any more quickly? There will just be a second wave and third wave as the modelling has clearly shown?

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 27/03/2020 23:14

ferretface

That's not happening in Singapore or South Korea though.

They've got it hard with made testing, tracking, strict contact tracking and quarantine of those diagnosed and those who have come into contact and do seem to have controlled it.

We, on the other hand, haven't.

Blakes77 · 27/03/2020 23:22

Sooo..really you just want everyone (including children) to be as miserable as you hears? Because there is no actual, logical reason that children can't kick a ball in an open space, is there?
Not according to the police, or the government anyway.
If that's what you mean, then just say that.

MotherOfAllNameChanges · 27/03/2020 23:23

Why cant they play football???

Opendraw · 27/03/2020 23:27

Really I say 2 members of the same household kicking a ball away from anyone else providing they can be trusted is fine . God you have pairs of runners careering past not 2m etc I would rather they were alone off the paths. Maybe not for hours on end but an hour and then home ... don’t get the difference between running cycling waking etc

Opendraw · 27/03/2020 23:29

The PM said unless you are one of the vulnerable exercise once a day with your household stay 2 m away therefore you could cartwheel round the park for example

Alsohuman · 27/03/2020 23:29

What about the over 70s physical and mental health?

The only over 70s affected are part of the shielded 1.5 million, the vast majority are social distancing like the rest of us. I realise it must be awful to have 12 weeks indoors ahead, my friend’s 13 year old daughter is facing it.

However awful it is for you @Hearhoovesthinkzebras, insisting that everyone else suffers more and more draconian measures won’t shorten that 12 weeks. I think your attitude that everyone should have as hard a time as possible because you are is pretty callous.

Opendraw · 27/03/2020 23:33

Yes but kicking a ball back and forth between 2 family members is completely different to a football game with their mates

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 27/03/2020 23:55

Sooo..really you just want everyone (including children) to be as miserable as you hears?

No that's not what I said at all. But the more people go out and about "just going to the shop once a day" or going out out LOADS or going out to exercise three times a day, or letting their children play in the park the longer this will go on for.

Even if you dispute the fact that we should be restricted to only walking, running or cycling there is no disputing that they've said only shop for essentials and as infrequently as possible and only go out for exercise once a day yet posters on here are happy to admit they aren't abiding by it.

The only over 70s affected are part of the shielded 1.5 million, the vast majority are social distancing like the rest of us.

The over 70s are part of the higher risk group though (those invited for a flu jab) as are people with asthma, pregnant women etc. They are at a higher risk and are classed as vulnerable, hence supermarkets having specific hours for them.

insisting that everyone else suffers more and more draconian measures won’t shorten that 12 weeks. I think your attitude that everyone should have as hard a time as possible because you are is pretty callous.

How do you know that this won't be over in less than 12 weeks if everyone does what they are told? The more people flout the rules the longer it will go on for and the more people will die. I think that's pretty callous of some of you to be honest - that you are happy to force us to be kept cooped up for longer than the current twelve weeks and cause more people to die just so that your children can go and play football or that some of you can go.for.more walks or, as on another thread, could arrange to coincide their walks with their.mum because the children will miss her.

The government might just have well not bothered to be honest. By the time this is affecting you here it will be too late to do anything about it but still, at least your kids would have kicked a football around, or you would have done your LOADS of walks that you can't possibly do without, others would have had their drink up in the pub or a day out at the seaside, no matter that the effects of all that haven't been felt yet.

Blakes77 · 28/03/2020 00:32

cause more people to die just so that your children can go and play football

But it won't though will it. Because, again, 2 kids kicking a ball in a park as part of their state sanctioned exercise isn't killing anyone.
Oh, btw the "LOADS" thing is getting very tedious.

greenlynx · 28/03/2020 00:52

Another one who think it’s not ok.
They will take up biggish space so it would leave less space to spread out for others.
They may accidentally hit somebody.
Other local teens could approach them to join their game or even just for interaction.
I think the idea is that we stay at home as much as possible and limit all our outings (amount and length) to reduce contacts and the possibility of accidents.
I would encourage them to do a work out at home and a walk with you once a day.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 28/03/2020 01:13

The issue is that it doesn't stop at just the two children though.

Same as last weekend. All of those people didn't have a chat about it beforehand and decide to descend en masse to the country's beaches and beauty spots did they? They were individual families who thought that they would have a nice walk on the beach, or up a hill, apparently as is permitted, no harm done except the world and his wife had the same idea.

The government have clearly risk assessed activities and have decided what is going to be fairly acceptable on both sides. No doubt it would be better from the infection aspect of we all stayed at home but they know that the general public won't accept that so they've offered a compromise except that some people just can't accept it. They've got to push the boundaries. So exercising once a day becomes two or three times a day because where's the harm, I don't see another soul so it's not making any difference, right?

Shopping infrequently for essentials turns into trios to B and Q, Tesco, Aldi, Boots and Poundland because it doesn't matter, I stuck to the 2 metre social distancing so it's fine.

Non essential travel becomes driving five miles to go for a walk because I'll see fewer people so it's actually less risky than walking closer to home.

The problem is that everyone you go out there's a risk that either you will pick up the infection or possibly pass the infection on to someone else. What's becoming obvious that they aren't entirely sure how it's passed on, or at least they're not sure how long the droplets hang around in the air.

Individually these activities maybe don't increase the risk that much but across the population that millions of extra opportunities for infection that don't need to have happened.

We all know that teenagers aren't the most sensible creatures in the world and don't always make the best decisions. They've gone to the park to have a kick around but it's not beyond the realms of possibly that they see a school friend who joins in, or even a friendly kid hanging around who asks to join in, or even they kick the ball a bit hard and a passer by picks it up and throws it to them. I know you're going to say "oh what if" but this is how the chief medical officer has explained it - they need to minimise all unnecessary opportunity for infection just as when people have asked if it's ok if they just go for a drive in the car and mps have said that no, it goes against guidance because although they don't plan on interacting with anyone they could have an accident or breakdown so an ambulance might be needed or a mechanic, using resources that the NHS can't spare and exposing people to unnecessary risk. Of course, they might have an accident whilst walking but the government are trying to reduce risk.

Italy had 1000 deaths yesterday, in one day. If we start heading that way I can see the restrictions getting much tighter except by then it will be too late. It takes three weeks for the effects to be felt, so last weekend won't impact death rates for another two weeks or so.

One person, infects about 2 - 2.5 others. After 30 days that has led to 400 people being infected.

If you reduce the 2.5 to 1.5 the numbers infected drop dramatically to something like 14. That's the difference in how quickly this spreads and how long it goes on for.

BoomBoomsCousin · 28/03/2020 01:22

The more people flout the rules the longer it will go on for and the more people will die.*

a) Only if the rules are effective
and
B) They aren’t flouting any rules

QueenofDestruction · 28/03/2020 01:27

Hearhooves that is a brilliant post. I am in Spain but home is UK and I am so worried about the relaxed attitude about the rules, here we are not allowed out to exercise and the rules are much stricter and our death rates are scary, I just imagine what the UKs will look like in a few weeks looking at everyone's attitude.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 28/03/2020 01:34

Queen we are no doubt going to be headed the same way. It's awful because it could be avoided if we just did as we asked but so many people just won't. They think either they won't be affected by this or only see their own situation and not the bigger.picture. it's so sad because by the time they do realise it will be out of control and too late.

As someone said the virus can't move on its own, we move it. If we stop moving it disappears

I've been watching what's happening in Spain and it's tragic. I really feel for you all.

SonicVersusGynaephobia · 28/03/2020 06:04

Hear why do you keep saying about last weekend when the parks were full? That was before the rules were in place. The problem then was that people all had the same idea to go somewhere.

Not everyone has a garden. Especially in London. If you want to get outside then you need to go to a park. Going to the park to kick a football with your brother is safer than going for a cycle too. Going for a walk at lunchtime as a family in a really densely populated area may be more risky because you may not be able to stay 2m away from everyone else.

So OP yes, your DC can kick a football to each other in the park, so long as they stay 2metres away from everyone else - it's no more risky to them or anyone else than playing in the garden, and the legislation allows it.

PennyMissilesAndWombPies Yes, indeed!

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 28/03/2020 06:09

SonicVersusGynaephobia

Rules were in place. Not the strict rules we have now but it was made very clear by the prime minister what was needed - social distancing, schools had been closed, pubs and restaurants were shut. They made it abundantly clear what we were being asked to do and what would happen if people didn't do it voluntarily. So what happened? Idiots crammed into the pubs for one last night and then people swarmed like lemmings to the seaside and the national parks over the weekend.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 28/03/2020 06:10

If you want to get outside then you need to go to a park

Any park here that can be shut has been.

They've shut at least two big parks in London.

Eckhart · 28/03/2020 07:33

hearhooves

The risk expressed in your long post above is all based on the fact that the 2 teenagers can't be trusted to maintain social distance. If they can't, I agree with your post.

However, op has stated that she trusts her children. The risk of other kids coming to them... well, that could happen to anyone. There was a report yesterday of an rspca worker being coughed on by some malicious teenagers whilst rescuing a swan tangled in netting.

Park that have been closed have been closed due to social distancing becoming impossible. This isn't the case in op's park, and if the trustworthy footballers found that it was, they'd leave, so they would not pose a risk in themselves.

MadamePewter · 28/03/2020 07:36

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras I think perhaps you’re very anxious about all this. Which is understandable, but I think it’s important that people know what the law is and adhere to that, not some wild interpretations.

vegas888 · 28/03/2020 08:03

Our parks are all closed with signs up saying closed due to covid19

Moomin8 · 28/03/2020 08:06

No. Or everyone could just go and take a picnic and some balls and cricket set etc. and sit in the park for the afternoon. Your boys are no more special than the other teenagers in the picture. No large gatherings just go for a walk.

Ffs the competitive isolation and smug superiority on MN really pisses me off. I take this virus spreading very seriously but 2 people from the same family getting exercise with a football is perfectly fine if they're not using equipment which they're not. Really, get over yourself.

CatherineOfAragonsPomegranate · 28/03/2020 08:15

It's all very simple if you use your common sense.

Think about the spirit and point of the law.

No problem with 2 children from the same family going for a kick about, so long as they obey social distancing.

Now if these two children get to the park and see there are much more people there than usual and no room to safely play footie whilst respecting SD laws, then they can do something else like walking, or return home and come out at another quieter time.

Same for people from the same family going to the beach. If is impossible to obey SD safely cause lots of people are there already then do something else, go somewhere else, or return home.

All that's needed is for one to use their powers of discretion.