Anyone know when playgrounds will be open?

[cantstopstressing]

I hope to god it's soon.

I agree with the posters about children getting the raw end of this. Their lives have been turned upside down and it's really hard for them, especially in cities where most people don't have gardens.

My husband just told me that Jenny Harries said at the press conference today the playgrounds would not open any time soon as social distancing could not be guaranteed. Well why the hell are they opening schools tomorrow? I know it's not all year groups and class sizes will be halved but I don't see a massive difference in risk esp with playgrounds being outside and we know the virus spreads more easily indoors.

To answer my own q I think it's about contact tracing - for playgrounds to be safe you'd need the app to be working, and it's not. Yet. I wonder if it ever will be. My confidence for the govt to manage this crisis is 0

Even the app wouldn't help in playgrounds, would it? Parents don't stick rigidly to their DC's sides and kids of playground going age don't normally carry their own smartphone, especially when swinging on the monkey bars

Ok but we know the risk of catching the virus outside is much lower plus kids are proven to be lower risk of both catching and transmitting it. And I disagree that playgrounds are not essential. Play is completely essential to a chid. How can you tell a child not to play or not provide them anywhere safe to do so? Seems pretty fundamental to me. And why is the friggin government not even addressing it or including it in the plan so at least we know or have something to go by, even if definite date are not given. I got an email from our local gym/leisure centre today saying they are planning to open early July. How can gyms/leisure centres be opening but not playgrounds? As others have said, kids have been completely forgotten about in this debacle. And, whilst I am on my rant, why is there so little information on when years 3, 4 and 5 will return to school? There is the vague statement that they hope they'll have at least 1 month in school before summer holidays but absolutely nothing else. Is this because they want to see what happens with Reception, year 1 and year 6 or because they don't know or because these years don't matter? And nothing definite about secondary kids either, we're all just left to assume they won't be back until September. My 12 year old is actually taking this harder of all. Lost demotivated, bored, listless, despite our efforts to keep him entertained - there is no substitute for friends, play, sports, school life etc. Completely heartbreaking.

There's not the same urgency to play in the park or sunbathe.

There is if you’re 3.

I know this seems to be the prevailing view, but I find it so depressing that many don’t view a child’s fundamental need to play as ‘essential’.

I am not sure that playgrounds count as essential but totally agree that they are way closer to essential than loads of shops, gyms and bloody garden centres. I think the govt has forgotten about them cos they do not help the economy, unlike schools because them going back helps parents work. I completely that the needs and concerns of kids have been ignored. And when it comes to social distancing, plenty have (my own included at times) been having a few moments joyful and not socially distanced free play in parks so I doubt that opening playgrounds would increase the R rate.

My daughter could go back to school tomorrow (reception) but is not. It was more my husband's decision than mine, he felt it was not sufficiently safe or sufficiently necessary for her to return and as he's doing the bulk of home schooling & weekday childcare he's the one bearing the burden of her not returning

I agree with everything you say OP. Play is essential, playgrounds are outside, and small children are not high risk. They have sacrificed so much. I can't get my head around how my 70 year old dad can play golf with his friends, but my 6 year old can't play with his.

I cant take my 3 year old to any local parks because all he wants to do is play on the playground. Its utterly depressing. He hasnt played with another child in 10 weeks.

I agree with others that play for children is pretty essential. It's a huge part of their development and whilst 10 weeks doesnt seem a lot it's a huge amount to a child, especially toddlers. Yes they are adaptable but I cant be alone in noticing a difference in my child since all this began.

My 6 year old burst into tears this evening when he realised not all his friends will be in school next week. He misses his best friend and has absolutely no idea when he will next see her. It's heartbreaking.

When it’s safe for small children who don’t understand social distancing to play in them without touching their face the second they get off equipment and their poor concerned parents swoop in too late with the hand gel.

I get that it’s hard I have two young kids. But they’re closed for a very good reason. It’s nothing like public transport etc

And when I say I understand I mean I’ve put up with the tears and tantrums too. Everyone has my sympathy.

There are many other ways to play. Games, junk modelling, den building with sheets, role play...

Get some chalk... hopscotch, a maze... drawing... make a shop, ice cream parlour, cafe out of boxes. Doesn’t have to be perfect kids have ace imaginations. Just offering ideas to help with play.

There are many other ways to play. Games, junk modelling, den building with sheets, role play...

Yeah... 10 weeks in and I think my child is sick of playing with just me and his dad. No amount of den building and junk modelling can make up for play with other children.

It should be soon

I’m just trying to help. There’s no need up be snarky.

As I’m disabled my eldest barely played with anyone else but me for the first three years.

Now six people can meet up is there any way of meeting in an equipment free park for a socially distanced play date. Something involving kicking a ball back and forth or taking it in turns to hopscotch or something. Far from perfect I know but interaction of a sort

@Astabarista

I’m just trying to help. There’s no need up be snarky.

Not being snarky. Just pointing out that no amount of repeat activities with adults can make up for play with other children.

It’s so sad. Seeing the swings taped off makes me want to cry every time we walk past them. My kids are a bit older and have been playing quite a lot in the local woods-climbing trees etc. But that’s not the safest and still doesn’t fix the playmates situation

@Astabarista

Now six people can meet up is there any way of meeting in an equipment free park for a socially distanced play date. Something involving kicking a ball back and forth or taking it in turns to hopscotch or something. Far from perfect I know but interaction of a sort

I doubt my son would stick to social distancing guidance. He ran towards another child on the street the on our walk the other day and was heartbroken he wouldn't properly play with them.

We may end up meeting up with my sisters and just taking the risk on board that none of the kids will maintain the 2m. Such difficult times to be living in.

You have my sympathy. Ours are four and seven so I understand.

As you can have confidence your sister’s family has distanced I think that sounds like a fair risk to take.

Allowing two households to mix like this would be a better step than the idea of meet many six different every day at a distance I think. I read about a country that took this step of making two households a bubble but I forget which now

I can't get my head around how my 70 year old dad can play golf with his friends, but my 6 year old can't play with his.

While I get the reasoning behind it from a social distancing perspective, I totally get your frustration and sadness. Lockdown is tough on all children, but I think particularly for only children (or those with a big age gap between them and their siblings).

My 8 year old hasn't played with another child for 10 weeks. Other than Facetime, which he struggles with, the closest he gets is looking through the window and seeing the two children next door playing in their garden. DH and I play with him as much as we can, but he's really missing other children. And he'd love to go to a playground rather than just walk or scoot about.

I hope it’s soon! We have one opposite our house and it’s been locked. The other day one of my neighbours and his 3 daughters climbed in and continued to play for half an hour. I then had to explain to my children that no they still weren’t allowed and that that family were not following the rules.

It’s very sad - I don’t think the parks have ever been closed this long before ☹️

Cos our children are being abandoned and hung out to dry. No one is even talking about long term effects of schools being shut, mental health issues etc. Every week a child misses school has a permanent effect on a child's long term outcomes. This country doesn't give 2 shiny shits about children. They are an inconvenience. Yeah let's open pubs and the cinemas before we prioritise education. It's a disgrace.

And how do I provide these activities Astabarista when I have to work from home full time? Do tell me your secret.