Can my kids go to the park or not?

[NeedANewJob19]

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

Yes. They are allowed to play football with each other, as long as they are a distance from anyone else.

@OldQueen1969

As long as you LOL'ed indoors and all alone, that's great .

We walked down the side of a park yesterday on our allowed daily walk and it was full of families and children chatting, playing on the swings and slides, sitting at picnic tables. Really pissed me off. None of this works unless everybody does their part.

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

Flaxmeadow. Sez who? You?

Because it shouldn't need a 90 page document specifying exactly which activities can constitute appropriate exercise.

No team games, no getting within 2 meters of anyone unless you are from the same household, no risky activities as we could do without any extra pressure on medical services (but bear in mind that we haven't banned going upstairs or using knives). Gyms, play areas and activity centres are all shut, so nothing like that, but can 2 siblings play basketball in the street? sure. Can siblings use their trampoline or swings in their garden? sure. Can siblings fly a kite while wearing rollerskates? sure.

Can people just fucking think? Apparently not.

DareToEatAPeach. If people aren't looking out of their windows they won't be able to assess if their neighbours kids are playing with each other or their parents went out to buy some fishfingers which are NOT essential foods and call 101 😂

Hearhooves

You need to stay at least 2m away from people, more if possible. That applies to all activities you've mentioned; yoga, tennis, football, running walking and cycling.

There isn't a blanket answer, you need to use your common sense.

If there is a really quite field near you and you can play tennis or do yoga without interfering with anyone else then it's fine. If it so happens there are already 20 people playing tennis or doing yoga or walking in that space, you need to find another space or come back another time.

From that Independent article
What about recreational football?

Simply put, no you can’t. Police have already reported having to break up informal football matches and kickabouts

So, I presume the word in question is 'kickabout' since I hope no one would define 2 or 3 people kicking a ball between them as an 'informal football match'.

I image this kickabout was with people other than their household.

I don't think the question is actually that easy to answer and it looks like different police forces are enacting the legislation differently.

Our parks were shut yesterday (USA) so that could also be heading your way.

Some of you are bat shit bonkers... in a good way.

Others are bad shit bonkrs in a terrifying way.

Sez who? You?

Well no, the Prime Minister. I sat and watched as he announced it live. He clearly said you could leave the house once per day for exercise - walking, running or cycling.

He didn't say for example, or any form of exercise so long as it's limited to members of your household. He specifically said one of those three.

@WaxOnFeckOff get it’s confusing when there are quotes in newspapers stating otherwise eg

“ Cabinet minister Michael Gove explained that people shouldn’t be playing golf in light of the exercise restrictions.

He said that people should be defining exercise as “one walk, one run or one cycle per day”.”

Boris said “such as a run, a walk or a cycle”.

He did not say these were the only things allowed.

Common sense makes me think if you can trust them not to mix with others then it’s fine.

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.

The chances of every parent saying the same thing are minute, and the chances of their respective children all deciding to go out to play in the same area of the park at the same time are even more minute. Get real, FFS.

Please don't let them do this, send them for a run

But, Soontobe60, if every parent said the same thing, surely the park and the roads would be packed out with children running???

I have not had my outdoor exercise today. Does that mean I get two lots tomorrow? Can I give my exercise allocation to my neighbour so she can take her dog out twice, or would I have to give the allowance to the dog? Oh bugger, cancel that, as in fact I've just remembered I unexpectedly broke into a sweat making the bed this morning so I have indeed done exercise.

What if I wanted to roller skate rather than run?

Is roller skating banned?

What if I wanted to horse ride rather than cycle?

We don't have a garden or internet access but I still won't let my kids go to the park even tho they can see the park from the window and watch other kids playing in there! I'm choosing safety we don't want to die or spread anything x

I would have slapped myself there and then but was afraid I'd look like I was enjoying myself.

@DareToEatAPeach DON’T TOUCH YOUR FACE!🤦🏼‍♀️

Hearhooves

The legislation is on this thread. There is no mention of walking, running or cycling. It just says exercise.

"What if I wanted to roller skate rather than run?"

Depends. Do you enjoy roller skating more than running?

If you do. then absolutely not.

No, I would rather play at home or back garden.

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras

What's the difference between me doing yoga with another person 2 metres away and me walking with another person 2 metres away

I'm just saying what breaches legislation. I can see your point, but I can also see the point of the legislation too. I think if people see an organised group meeting in the park, they're less likely to take the legislation seriously, and create their own group. The law has to draw the line somewhere.

But yes, technically, a group respecting social distancing isnt increasing risk of transmission, in and of itself.

NuffSaidSam

That's great. I shall let my yoga teacher know then and she can just happen to meet up with other people who just so happen to be doing yoga in the park, all two metres apart of course.

Will also challenge the police who have shut the parks around here, on the basis that MN said it's all ok.

I have not had my outdoor exercise today. Does that mean I get two lots tomorrow?

DD can only walk for ten minutes at a time. Can we go for 3 x 10 minutes?

And we're not supposed to be walking with members of other households, either, even if we're 2m apart.