Kids playing together

[SunshineSally46]

I have seen no end of photos on social media lately of people allowing kids from different households to play together. Although the rules state we can now meet up outside I thought the 2 meter distancing rule still applied yet these kids are hugging and playing together in paddling pools and things like that. It's not ok yet is it?

My dc would love to see their friends but even though they are older I can't guarantee they will all keep their distance when excitable and playing so I haven't let them yet. Have you?

[TakemetoGreeceplease]

I think children have suffered from lockdown more than adults, no education, no interaction with peers. It's been too long now and since allowing mine to see friends from last week the difference in his demeanour has been incredible, so much happier. The 2 meter thing is ridiculous anyway, there are no pavements near me that are 2 m wide, are we supposed to risk getting run over every time we pass someone in the street? Seen lots of teens out walking side by side, what's the alternative?

[jessy2018]

I agree with most on here. my girl has been playing and interacting with other toddlers in the park/garden without social distancing since last week. I am just not prepared to damage her social development any further. She comes first for me. It’s not fair on the children who will be the long term victims of this.

[Escolar]

I've had a message from my son's football club, apparently they're planning to re start training sessions the week after next. This is based on guidance they've received from the FA, so I expect other clubs will be doing the same. Honestly, if schools and clubs are restarting it does seem a bit pointless to stop the kids playing with their friends.

[manicinsomniac]

No, I haven't let mine and won't until the government guidance says so. If they don't social distance then what's the point in me doing it?

They have met up and played with friends but stayed 2m apart.

My youngest is 6 and in Y1 - she is able to understand that she doesn't have to social distance from her bubble at school but that she does have to be 2m from anyone who isn't in her bubble or her family.

We've met up with 3 and 4 year olds who are far better at staying 2m apart than many adult.

I thought most people were complying to be honest and I'm surprised to read how many aren't.

I'm not scared of them getting ill. I'm not scared of getting ill myself. I just think that the guidance if there for a reason. It's already pretty lax compared to what most countries went through so the restrictions that are there are pretty important.

I'm also very scared for the economy, job losses and poverty. I think it's worth taking risks that mitigate the effects on these things. I don't think it's worth taking risks for things that are purely social.

[Uhoh2020]

My older dc have been out on bike rides with a couple of friends my youngest has had garden playdates with his cousin (both 5) they didn't social distance. The joy they got from playing together in the paddling pool and trampoline was brilliant. Neither of them have been anywhere except from walks in the park they needed that interaction and we felt the risk was minimal.

[midnightstar66]

I've let my kids play, they need to - the kids in hubs aren't distancing and they're are far more implications to this. We aren't mixing a lot just with select dc and adults are being careful. Dc are following strict hand washing measures, it's all we can do. They can't continue being isolated.

[Vintagegoth]

As someone who works in a school were we are bending over backwards not to mix "bubbles" and being so careful about cleaning and hygiene, it makes me sick to think that my school has put so much work into keeping children and staff as safe as possible and then the moment they are out of the classroom they are mixing with multiple families and sharing paddling pools.

[Drivingdownthe101]

Vintagegoth I think the majority of those letting their children play with others are those who have no chance of getting back to school any time soon, so haven’t had any interaction with other children for 10 weeks and have no hope of any for the foreseeable future.

[whatswithtodaytoday]

I honestly don't see why people think this is ok. If you're all in the same household, you all have the same germs.

My NCT group are all meeting up without me. It sucks but I think they're being irresponsible.

[manicinsomniac]

As someone who works in a school were we are bending over backwards not to mix "bubbles" and being so careful about cleaning and hygiene, it makes me sick to think that my school has put so much work into keeping children and staff as safe as possible and then the moment they are out of the classroom they are mixing with multiple families and sharing paddling pools

Exactly. How can we hope to get more year groups and get back to normal if we can't even make these early stages work.

I know children are suffering. But we can mitigate the effects of isolation by having small meet ups 2m apart.

[Drivingdownthe101]

Just to point out that my year 1 is back at school at my reception aged child has her sister to play with outside school hours and will be back at school herself in a couple of weeks so I don’t feel a need at the moment to meet with friends, but I can see why those with only children/those in year groups who won’t be going back are doing it.

[lockdownbreakdown]

My child wont be going back to nursery as we are a vulnerable household. We dont go inside anywhere but our own home. 10 weeks is quite enough for an only child so we are allowing him to play with children from two other households so he isnt totally isolated until September. He is good at social distancing but the other three kids arent so great. Its a small risk that we wont be passing on to a school environment as he wont be going.

[midnightstar66]

My dc aren't back at school and won't be til mid August- we've created our own bubbles using common sense and care

[midnightstar66]

To add, no paddling pools but water gun fights (easy to keep distance) yes they do go past 2m sometimes but rarely as we arrange games to suit. It's all outside which has now been discovered is far lower risk

[Nixen]

Our little girl has played with a friend, they’re toddlers so not like they stay still (and within 2 metres of each other). The adults maintained 2m+ distance, we were all outside and none of us have symptoms.

I slept better that night than I have done in weeks. Mental health is important too. Everyone has to do their own risk assessment!

[legalseagull]

My two toddlers are in nursery right now playing with other kids. Toddlers aren't socially distant from each other. The nursery puts them in 'bubbles' so they only interact with the same kids daily. I suspect it's the same as that

[littlbrowndog]

Mine playing with other kids.

[UnderTheBus]

My 3yo and her 2 best friends were supposed to go back to preschool on the 1st June, they would have been playing with at least 5 other children. The preschool have decided to only open for children aged 4 and over, so ours cant go back.

Therefore we are letting the three of them play together. The risk is less than if they had gone to preschool - which would have been allowed.

I dont care about the guidelines on this. My 3 year olds social and mental development is more important at the moment.

[bloodyhellsbellsx]

It’s gone far enough now, if people can sit on packed public transport for hours then why can’t children play together in the park?

[olivehater]

Mine have been meeting friends for a few weeks, playing in the woods etc. Putting them first as
others have said it is vital to their development. They have been locked down long enough.

They cannot social distance and I don’t expect them do. So what am I going to do lock them away for a year? Society seems to be making children the collateral damage in all this. Bowling greens and golf open before playgrounds and zoos.

Went to a garden centre on my own the other day I put them both in a trolley to keep their distance. Got lots of disproving looks. Two grown woman bumped into me from behind making a beeline for whatever it was they wanted. Kids aren’t the only ones that can’t social distance.

[QueenofmyPrinces]

It’s gone far enough now, if people can sit on packed public transport for hours then why can’t children play together in the park?

Exactly - it’s madness.

Football games are resuming but God Forbid two children go near each other.

[GoldenOmber]

I honestly don't see why people think this is ok.

They’re balancing the (low) risk of their children catching or spreading the virus against the harm done to their children by being isolated from other children for months and months. If you have an active NCT group I’m guessing your DC is young enough that it’s not an issue, but it’s making older children increasingly miserable.

Our schools aren’t opening until August. Are we supposed to put our kids through five months of isolation until then? When we KNOW how important socialisation and play are to their wellbeing?

[Sameold2020]

I can't believe what I'm reading on this thread.

[olivehater]

As someone who works in a school were we are bending over backwards not to mix "bubbles" and being so careful about cleaning and hygiene, it makes me sick to think that my school has put so much work into keeping children and staff as safe as possible and then the moment they are out of the classroom they are mixing with multiple families and sharing paddling pools

No one is forcing the schools to do this. I certainly don’t care whether they do this or not. My son is y1 and not going back yet due to the area we live in is not opening schools yet, I also have two other younger children to consider as well. My middle child is going in reception next year. She needs to be ready for that and needs socializing. I won’t alter that when his school starts back. My two year old is just starting to learn how to play with peers other than his siblings.

They have suffered long enough. Why should adults get to start getting their lives back and children remain locked up for the foreseeable?

[Epigram]

I assume most of the kids on this thread are the ones who aren't going back to school yet which is why they need interaction with other children.