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Original poster

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:
NuffSaidSam · 27/03/2020 14:21

I think the point of posting the legislation was to highlight that football is allowed and that the legislation does not limit activity to walking, running or cycling only.

TheOrigBrave · 27/03/2020 14:22

Who are all these police anyway? I can't remember the last time I saw one in my village.

SpokeTooSoon · 27/03/2020 14:22

Are we allowed to smile during our hour long march? Or does that give the impression of the walk not being taken seriously? I wore my sunglasses today. I’m worried someone may have photographed me with the caption “woman thinks she’s on her holidays”,

Autumnsloth · 27/03/2020 14:22

Thinking about it more, playing football is surely better than going for a run? It seems to me we are forgetting what these rules are for. If the two of them went running they would be covering more ground, presumably running on paths past many more people, breathing on them and so on. I stead they kick a football among themselves in one contained area.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 27/03/2020 14:24

Can you please explain to me why the sport of cycling is a necessity, but football is not?

Presumably because you ride a bike on your own but can't really play football on your own can you?

If the government said you could play football but only on your own it would make no sense. If they said only with members of your family people would be moaning that their only child was excluded, others would say he could join in cos where's the harm and then suddenly you get scenes like we had last weekend.

Why can't people just follow the simple, straight forward rules?

Spidey66 · 27/03/2020 14:24

I would have thought two teenage brothers, so from the same household, kicking a ball between them is more or less the same as them going for a walk or jog together, which the guidelines say is appropriate.

RedskyAtnight · 27/03/2020 14:25

For me, the issues would be

  1. Other people come and join in
  2. The ball goes near other people and your DC chase after it without thinking.
  3. Other people using the field who get too close (if you're walking/running/cycling it's much easier to get away from anyone doing this)

If they are literally kicking a ball between them in the middle of a field with no one anywhere close; this is fine.

CoughsAndSneezesSpreadDiseases · 27/03/2020 14:25

I think being able to read the law is useful - especially when people on here are posting things to suggest the law says something different.

NuffSaidSam · 27/03/2020 14:26

'I’m worried someone may have photographed me with the caption “woman thinks she’s on her holidays”,'

GrinGrin

CoughsAndSneezesSpreadDiseases · 27/03/2020 14:26

I wore my sunglasses today. I’m worried someone may have photographed me with the caption “woman thinks she’s on her holidays”

Grin
Flaxmeadow · 27/03/2020 14:26

No. The only exercise allowed is 'walking, running or cycling'

SpokeTooSoon · 27/03/2020 14:27

What about hopping? Is that still allowed?

Meredithgrey1 · 27/03/2020 14:28

OP, if every parent in the vicinity of the park said the same thing, and sent their children out to play football in the park, it would be packed out

But that's true of everything. If everyone went for a walk in the park then it would be packed - and yet you're still allowed to go for a walk in the park.

Two sensible teenagers from the same household kicking a ball back and forth is fine. I really don't see how it poses any more of a risk than those two teenagers running up and down the park, without a ball. As long as OP trusts them that they are sticking to the rules, not playing with others etc.

NuffSaidSam · 27/03/2020 14:28

'If they said only with members of your family'

Erm...that is exactly what they HAVE said.

You can exercise with members of your own household.

Someone has posted the legislation up thread, why not have a read of it?

TurquoiseDress · 27/03/2020 14:28

Reading these bonkers threads is giving me quite a boost at the moment

yep Grin

Eckhart · 27/03/2020 14:28

Spoketoosoon No, sunglasses aren't mentioned in the legislation. What's wrong with you? Why do you think you can take such liberties? You'll singlehandedly bring down the NHS with such frivolous behaviour.

... Wink

Whattheduck · 27/03/2020 14:28

All the parks near me have been closed you cannot access them at all

CoughsAndSneezesSpreadDiseases · 27/03/2020 14:29

I must admit, on my daily walk I did stop for a few minutes to admire the rather marvellous view of the countryside. I hope no one saw me looking - looking is not one of the prescribed activities.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 27/03/2020 14:29

Am I not allowed to kick a ball with my toddler in the park??

legoninjago1 · 27/03/2020 14:30

I completely agree with everyone saying that cycling is most certainly NOT a necessity. You cover a much wider area when you're cycling and are more likely to come a cropper and have to interact with someone than you are walking or even kicking a football to your sibling. If you're on your high horse about the OPs kids having a quick kickabout on their walk, then you certainly shouldn't be advocating going on a bike ride.

CoughsAndSneezesSpreadDiseases · 27/03/2020 14:30

Am I not allowed to kick a ball with my toddler in the park??

Yes, just don't kick your toddler with a ball Smile

BoingBoingyBoing · 27/03/2020 14:30

"Are we allowed to smile during our hour long march?"

Absolutely not, and I hope you are raising a proper sweat, otherwise you might not be exercising and merely going for a nice walk, which is abso-fucking-lutely not on.

Portabella24 · 27/03/2020 14:31

There are probably posters on this thread calling 101 right now.

Of course it's fine OP.

TurquoiseDress · 27/03/2020 14:31

I certainly class football kick about as exercise.

I was on the floor out of breath after doing it with my 6 yr old!Grin

Nobody else got near us, or touched the football- apart from all the dog poo in the park Angry