Will your teenager be meeting a single friend?

[Myfriendanxiety]

Under the new rules will you be allowing your teenager to meet a friend 2m apart in a public place? The guidance hasn’t specified it’s just for adults, but it’s a lot of trust to put in a young person who may be tempted to meet more than one friend, or get too close!

Yes. I trust my teenager as much as I trust the general public.
As a cohort, they are being asked to make a great deal of sacrifices. Seems reasonable to me that they are bought along with any relaxation of the rules.

Yes him and a friend are planning a bike ride at the weekend

My teenager is 19yo so I couldn’t stop her. But she’d have to get a bus or train to get anywhere and doesn’t want to. I’m not driving her anywhere.

I think I will let my nearly 17 year old meet her best friend. They are both very sensible. It also seems a little ridiculous not to allow them to meet seeing as one of them works in Morrisons order picking at the moment so dd could easily bump into her in the store and chat to her there!

I think it’s more difficult with younger teens - 13/14. I wonder if they will really socially distance once they’re away from Mum and Dads eyes.

My 14 year old will meet her BF who is also 14. They are responsible and a bit terrified so I trust them to be sensible. I'd actually prefer it to be in our garden than a park - which seems far safer to me - but that's not allowed.

Nope, she says she can chat to a whole group online and that’s better than meeting up and having to keep 2m away.

Yes my 14 year old will meet her friend in the park & I will drive her there & pick her up
Dd is very sensible & I trust her to keep her distance (much more than the adults in M&S today)

yes definitely, she went on a dog walk with a neighbour today around the fields. they are both 16 and sensible

SlightlyJaded - is your garden not allowed? It says “outdoors” and not “in your home”. And they’ve said “use your common sense” - I think gardens are safer, too!

No, we live in Scotland and meeting up with people from other households isn't it allowed yet.

If gardens are allowed I would prefer they meet up in the garden - it can be accessed without going through the house & they would be the only 2 there so no worries about infection from other people

My teens are not interested in meeting a single friend and having to keep 2m apart. They would prefer to "meet" with a group online.

I just asked Dd if she wanted to and she said no. That chatting online is easier and just as good as being 2m apart. I think she figures if they can’t snog/have sex no point in meeting up.

My 11 year old has been on at me this afternoon. I agreed she could meet her friend if I went too. Seemed reasonable to me.
Not to her so it seems and I am the worst parent ever 🙄

Exercise with a friend has been allowed for a week here. DS has met up with friends for a walk twice - as a group of 4 and a group of 3. They've maintained distance whilst walking, worn masks and used hand gel. So max 4 hours over two occasions.

I know his mask wearing isn't perfect - he has breathing issues and SPD so it is a bit much. But hopefully since others are wearing theirs and it's distant and outdoors, it's relatively safe.

I would much rather they met in our garden. It's much safer than the more crowded city paths. But unless you're family that's not allowed.

Both my dds have met a single friend and will continue to do so

Many people round here are just out as normal and we haven’t had a single death in last few weeks

I agreed she could meet her friend if I went too. Seemed reasonable to me

Did you let her meet friends alone before this? Wondering why you need to go too?

I've let my 11 year old walk to the park Pokemon hunting with a friend today. He was extremely happy.

Yes my daughter is going to meet a friend who lives a couple doors down and walk round the park 2 metres apart, my daughters sensible and is well aware of the risks of not following the rules.

Yes. If I get to then so do they. The older teen will look after my 6 year old so that I can meet someone so I could hardly then refuse to let her do it!

My daughter sorely misses her BFF so I've said she can visit as long as she stays four paces from the front door of her friend's flat and her friend stays inside. She cannot wait. Social media is fine but nothing like seeing people face to face, if only at a distance.

No of course I wouldn't go usually but we aren't in usual times. She'd likely go and not come back for hours & she's giddy with excitement not having seen her friends since mid May. I don't trust her to not push the limits basically.

Mid March sorry

I don't think DS will bother. He seems pretty happy with staying in touch via Facetime and PS4.

He really wants to play football again.

Mine will both cycle with a friend. I think they could kick a football to each too, they could easily keep a distance but I’m not sure if that’s allowed

Are we expecting teenagers to stay 2m away from their boyfriends and girlfriends until there’s a vaccine or social distancing is no longer a thing then? Personally I think it’s really tough on them...