If playgrounds, play groups, children's farms, zoos closed indefinitely, swimming pools planning to open but not allowing children, and we can't see friends or family because 2 year old can't distance

[Pomegranateporridge]

Please give me some inspiration for something new for our toddler to do!

This isn't a complaint post, I'm just hoping someone will think of an activity that is viable to look forwards to in the future. I don't think it's appropriate to take her to shops etc to look around so obviously I won't, although she used to love it

I enquired about nursery places for September in case nothing is open by then simply for her to have a bit more stimulation and engagement but I'm not sure if that's appropriate either as we don't need the childcare per se? Also a little concerned about not being able to attend settle in sessions as it's mostly just me and her, and unless social distancing rules change I can't imagine us seeing another person for another few months so it seems a bit unfair to throw her in at the deep end at nursery without transitioning

Again not complaining, we're very lucky and grateful, but I'm hoping someone might magic something up for us to do! We walk a lot

Was hoping for swimming maybe but read an article suggesting children may be prohibited. Also had hoped for zoos or children's farms but sounds like these may be kept closed.. hmm! I guess they'll all open eventually

Any local tennis clubs with mini-courts that are open to the public? Obviously she is too young to actually play tennis, but running around chasing balls can be fun.

I'd find some other parents who are willing to meet up with you outdoors. You can bring outdoor activities like bubble wands, stomp rockets etc and get together in a park with a picnic. Don't worry about social distancing. Start doing what's right for you and your DC. I honestly think our children have sacrificed enough now. My y2 is back at school in the key worker bubble even though I'm a sahm and could have him at home. He was becoming miserable and staring into space alot of the time. All he was interested in was playing on his tablet because that was all that was left to do. One day I just thought "enough". We've sacrificed now for several months to protect others. I'm not going to destroy my kids mental health any further. They are going to be mixing with other children one way or another. (I have 3 boys aged 7, 5 and 1).
One day our local playground gates were open. The sign was still there saying playground was shut because of covid but some parents had already gone in and I thought sod this I'm letting my 1 year old go on a swing. We all went in and had a great time and id do it again. Enough is enough.

Crazy golf courses are open!

Our local farm is already open and dance starts back in July. The farm is enormous so they've worked out how to operate with social distancing in place.

Your toddler is probably a bit young for this, but might help someone else....
our local mini golf course has just reopened! With social distancing etc.
I really feel for young children at the moment. My youngest is 18 (y13). But it must be so difficult with much younger children. I’m really cross zoos aren’t allowed to open. I saw yesterday that some theme parks are planning on opening on July 4 th (legoland etc) if that helps you. But it’s crazy they say indefinitely closed for zoos etc, and then maybe open theme parks.
The most important thing for my daughter was to hug her boyfriend, after being apart over ten weeks. Her mental health was declining, so she has hugged him now, and it’s made so much difference to her. I did read about household bubbles again in a couple of papers yesterday, so hopefully if they happen, your toddler will be able to mix with more children x

@Spinakker
Just read your reply. Yes that’s what I said to my daughter. She’d literally not seen a single person for ten weeks, and only left the house a few times for a walk. Mental health is super important, and we just weighed up the risks of her catching it from hugging one person (he hadn’t been out at all). I was prepared to take that risk. Neither of them are going to mix with anyone else.
The improvement in her mental health is staggering, after just a hug every day. They stay outside, so I guess the risk might be a bit lower than inside?
I can imagine your child’s mental health has also improved x

You get to walk! That’s about it! It’s an appalling situation - my child is older but has lost so much fluency and confidence in her speech after a good year off intensive speech therapy from the limitations on social interaction imposed by our society now.

I’m very angry about how children have been treated throughout this.

Lots of gardens and country parks open around here, some with nature trails and bug hunts for children or you could easily devise your own. I read yesterday that Alton Towers are planning for opening their gardens in the next few weeks, so places are beginning to open up now if they possibly can.

I must admit that I don't really understand why farms, zoos and safari parks can't open up if they can limit numbers, they seem like particularly safe places.

I don't agree with allowing dc to use play equipment. They themselves are unlikely to get serious symptoms but the science is very unclear on transmitting.

It does seem like small children are being disproportionately affected. I’d like to see playgrounds reopened before hairdressers and pubs. My nursery hasn’t opened and I’m gutted for mine. It took my 1 year old to a garden this week and she was fascinated by another small child. You realise how unnatural it is that she hasn’t seen a child her own age. My 4 year old hasn’t been able to play etc. It’s just sad for them.

Tbh all ages are getting it atm.

Dd is starting back at nursery in September.

Going to the seaside / beach or river locally. Could paddle / swim / build sandcastles. meet other friend with toddler for buggy rides / walks

One of those balance bikes. / scooter. Camping in garden or daytime tent outside somewhere. Treasure hunts. Borrow my doggy (gentle dog) for dog walk perhaps. Mind a pet for someone.

Some ideas. Go for puddle walk when raining. Order art stuff online / clay and make stuff. Baking. Have tea parties outside with dollies.

Check nature reserves opening, some are, as well.

If you can then use them. People don't freak out this much about their kids catching chicken pox and kids die of that every year. WAY more kids than of CV. Same with Flu, cold sores, allergic reactions, car accidents, infections.... we take the risk to let them have the most free and fun life they can. They need their other little people, just the same as we need adults. It's that level of understanding you get, that comfort.

I feel so lucky my 2 (7&3) have school places starting on Monday, in bubbles with Y3 and Nursery. It is a massive primary school (beautiful!) and one quarter of the school is going back.They're in the vulnerable category, but it's me who is vulnerable, and I suppose they are as a result. I've really struggled on my own with them for weeks on end, no headspace, couldn't go shopping or exercise as I was (am) worn out and stressed to the core. Like you know months/years ago when you'd have that awkward small talk? "Hey how are you?", "Oh, so tired you know?"....that tired is laughable compared to this zombie induced, spreading a teabag on a slice of toast and trying to eat it!!.... Lost my savings, lost my course in September. My boys "Dad" pretty much like a pig in muck at in the fact that he didn't have to have them every 2 weeks (and me feeling guilty that I ever procreated with such a person) I had a mental breakdown. Literally laughing manically one second and sobbing and screaming the next.

I tried my best with the homeschooling but I couldn't split myself in half and they both wanted my attention at the same time and would get angry and frustrated about it. They want to do different things all day. They take it out on eachother, and then they take it out on me. Just had to break off 3 times as they are screaming and fighting over a blanket. There are 3 blankets in the living room but youngest wants all 3.

They are SO excited for Monday. I can't believe I'll get to have a walk on my own outside, and walk into a shop!! Get to have a bath or shower that isn't 20 seconds without fretting one of them has killed the other. Prepare decent food for a change without it burning or me rushing it! Can give the dog (she's not even 1 yet) the attention she deserves. Feels like this is for me just as much as them.

"It does seem like small children are being disproportionately affected."

I don't agree with that.

Elderly people have largely been confined to their homes.

Teens haven't socialised for months, and have had exams cancelled.

University students are paying rent and tuition fees for a term spent at home, and don't know whether they'll be back in the Autumn or not.

People are losing their jobs, incomes and homes - or fear that that is imminent.

Ill people are having routine operations cancelled, or are afraid to attend regular appointments, or have struggled to get prescriptions.

"If you can then use them. People don't freak out this much about their kids catching chicken pox and kids die of that every year."

Most people are following guidance to keep the R rate down, not because they're scared for their own child.

Not many adult deaths attributed to chicken pox in the U.K.

We live in a city with no access to beaches, national trust etc. Even the fallen trees in the park have been roped off I mean WTF. The kids can walk or run around the grass and that's it. I feel really sorry for them. We can't use public transport so we are really confined to just the two local parks in half an hour walking distance.

@rawlikesushi

I think the two main reasons it is particularly difficult with young children are:

1. they don’t understand why any of this is happening; and

2. they are unable to socially distance and so it means no socialising for them at all.

I would expect all adults and older children to understand they can meet people outside but have to keep away, perfectly possible for adults to socialise adequately in that way, not ideal but fine short term.

You can’t explain to a toddler that they should stay 2m away from their friends so you either do away with social distancing among children who meet or you don’t meet up.

This lockdown has really shown people's attitudes to young children. Drove passed a local large children's park roped off. Next to it a bowling green packed with mostly elderly people and with no social distancing going on. How is that fair and proportionate? You can sit on the bench but not the swing made of the same material? Stares when I dare take my children into a supermarket but couples can walk hand in hand down an aisle? So glad schools are starting to go back. If I hear another person tell me about my reception child "education doesn't matter at that age they don't start school till 7 I n other countries" You are right they don't. But they also don't lock them away from any other children for potentially half a year! The children should be seen and not heard attitude is really sad. I wonder if there would have been as many sacrifices made by other age groups if this virus only affected children?

I live in a (small) city too, here the botanical gardens are open, trees are left to climb etc, it seems to be different everywhere. I'm not sure why.

You could go to a quiet beach very early in the morning if you live near one?
If your DC aren't grumpy if they are up late, I recommend having an early dinner and then going to the beach till sunset. There's hardly anyone there and the water has had all day to warm up, we even had a little paddle last week.

Maybe not 2 year olds, but my 4 year old has managed to social distance in my mums back garden. So has a 3 year old friend of his (in her grans garden). But obviously that depends on childrens understanding and if they are likely to get upset or not. What we did was put toys out on a rug for him while the adults sat on garden chairs.

"I wonder if there would have been as many sacrifices made by other age groups if this virus only affected children?"

Do you really think that we wouldn't have had the same response - a bigger response - if 50,000 children had died?

"This lockdown has really shown people's attitudes to young children. Drove passed a local large children's park roped off. Next to it a bowling green packed with mostly elderly people and with no social distancing going on."

If there was no social distancing going on then that's wrong but surely you can see that unlocking facilities for elderly people is a potentially life-saving choice, given how many older people live completely alone?

Unlocking playgrounds and welcoming children back into supermarkets is seen as trickier because little children do struggle to understand social distancing or 2m, and can be unpredictable.

This pandemic has impacted everyone negatively and I don't think a race to claim that your situation is worse than anyone else is particularly useful tbh.

You could go to a quiet beach very early in the morning
Or just go to a normal beach at a normal time. We have been to both our local beaches and had absolutely no issues with social distancing - plenty of room for everyone. A 2 year old isnt going to run up to a random stranger is she.

National trust gardens and other gardens are open. Not that exciting for a 2yo but at least somewhere new to walk and you could do a scavenger hunt.

Buy some bird seed and feed the ducks at a local park.

Find a river and go paddling.

Some pick your own farms have opened around here so we have been strawberry picking.

THANK YOU to the poster who mentioned crazy golf. I am BEYOND excited to actually be able to do something different.

@Catsmother1 I think that's the right thing for your daughter. Even we are struggling as adults with all this. It's awful for kids and teenagers who can't understand the situation properly and don't have the resilience to cope with the changes. My 7 year old has changed completely after 2 days back at school. He's been all smiles when I've picked it up and alot more chatty. He's not obsessed with his tablet anymore and he even showed us what work hed been doing on the school learning platform with enthusiasm ! The change of environment and seeing new people did him the world of good. I fear what would have happened if my DH was not a key worker and he was still at home.

I help run a playgroup and sadly at this time we will not be re opening up for the foreseeable future. First of all we need the go ahead for large number gatherings to happen. (Our playgroup has 40 children in plus parents each week) and we would need the parents to commit to helping clean the toys each week as prior to lock down not one parent would help to set up or pack away without this support the playgroup will not re open.