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

@Apple40

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.

I suspect the response will be very different if you mention that having sufficient cleaning is now a prerequisite.

My toddler is not interested in doing her baby class by Zoom.

I think it’s so sad how children have been treated during this pandemic. Forgotten or shunned.

We see family. I don't make my 2yr old distance.
It was getting too hard and she didn't understand but was used to seeing diff family daily..
Inknow they all take the right precautions and all furloughed from work etc.

Children are getting a rough deal. They are lowest risk so have the poorest cost-benefit analysis of continued restrictions. They don't have autonomy over their situation, they are dependent on their parents, friends' parents and organisations. They can't just think "bugger this" and head off for an illicit gathering of like minded people.
It is a relatively huge portion of their life so far and they don't have an adult's perspective. To a 4 year old, 3 months is 6.25% of their life and a significant proportion of their memorable life. To an 80 year old that 3 months is 0.31% and a very small proportion of their memorable life.

They are missing out on vital development with their peers.

I don't disagree that other age groups are struggling too, especially older, vulnerable people who require care.

But the needs of children seems to be swept under the carpet and a low priority to restore.

I suspect that if mine were pre-schooler age, I'd just be touring around different parks... pretty much what I'm doing with my bigger ones. Thank Dennis (or was it Ciara?) for blowing down a huge tree to play on. An icecream van came by yesterday, and DS (7) looked so utterly thrilled by the excitement that I nearly cried seeing him so happy and bouncing with joy.

I'm taking my DS (24 months) out exploring London's parks and open spaces every day. He's not got bored of it yet, mainly because I've been scrutinising Google Maps and various online listings of gardens and squares to find new places, so I change our route all the time. He likes walking up and down steps, running down slopes, climbing up little hills, climbing on benches, walking on logs, lifting logs to find mini beasts, collecting sticks and pebbles, smelling flowers and herbs, playing with earth (pretending that it's sand), looking at sculptures and posters, playing with his little figure and car toys. We've found some nice little gardens and plazas with interesting things to see and play with, and they're often deserted as they're not really aimed at children. We have a couple of city farms near us, and we've been able to see some of the animals on the other side of the fence.

We don't have a garden but we bought a small slide, sand pit and rocking toy from Argos to help make up for the lack of playground (it's taken over our living room).

We don't have any contact with other children (I don't really have Mum friends but we used to go to toddler classes every day). He's due to start preschool in September but I'm considering looking for a nursery place for a couple of mornings before then.