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?

My son is an only one and his mental health was getting steadily worse. So yes, I will do me. Thanks!

You do know that you can’t transmit a disease if neither party has it, don’t you? Neither group we met (outside) have seen anyone else for literally months. I really do despair at the lack of critical thinking some of you show. Going for a walk with another family who haven’t been out for months isn’t the same as going to the beach and being exposed to hundreds of people!

My son is an only one and his mental health was getting steadily worse. So yes, I will do me.
I have read everything now!

Hi all I’ve just submitted a question for the government briefing asking when official provision will be given relating to the need for the majority of children who are not yet in school to play as safely as possible with each other. It might be worth others doing the same...

@Tulipstulips I agree.

That's why we shouldn't set up our individual rules

But other than a couple of posters who said their very young children didn't socially distance no-one's breaking any rules by allowing their dc to play with dc from one other family on any given day as long as they're not all over each other. That is allowed.

@ToothFairyNemesis I’m sorry, I’m not sure what you mean? Are you contesting the fact that my son’s mental health was suffering? Are you contesting the fact that we hadn’t seen anyone else since March? Or do you think a five year old should just suck up social isolation, loneliness and distress?

@Tulipstulips I think you missed the 'year' out so it reads that your one year old- a baby's mental health was suffering when it's likely a one year old won't know any different.

@Tulipstulips even I misread it! 'An only one'. Got it now.

Ah ok! Yes. His mental health at one wouldn’t have suffered! But he’s really been struggling, especially the last few weeks. DH and I both have to work from home full time, and though we’re doing our best taking leave and working in shifts, he’s lonely and fed up and it’s awful basically. Two play dates outside and he has been so much happier this week. We really stressed very hard not to hug or kiss and they didn’t but we hadn’t thought to say ‘don’t hold hands’ or ‘don’t play tag’ and I guess at five they’re all very literal.

@Tulipstulips It’s horrible isn’t it. I have two but my 8yo has really suffered, as mentioned above. It’s horrible to watch. His brother going back to nursery and DH going back to work full time (he was on forced part time previously) has compounded it.

So yes, we need to find the little pockets where they can have a tiny semblance of normality. As I said earlier, I won’t pretend that my kid and his friend were 2m apart throughout their bike ride and playing in the park. They tried. They sometimes forgot. But the difference to him was immense.

I feel so sad that children’s wellbeing and mental health is seen by so many as acceptable collateral damage, and is given so little priority.

It seems mad that (some) can go back to school with children where you don't know their circumstances but not meet up with friends you know well.
I'm meeting up with my best friend and children now, two of our four children are back at school/nursery,, we are working and going to the supermarket all the while our eldest- both 8 years old haven't seen a soul or been anywhere for a long time. Sometimes mental health needs to be thought about too.

Are some posters actually suggesting people should to continue to do what is actively causing their children mental distress for the greater good?

Surely no parent acts like this?! It’s terrible that covid has taken peoples lives prematurely but my child comes first in my eyes and my life and if going to meet a friend would help alleviate some mental struggle they were suffering I would do it in a heartbeat!

@JassyRadlett completely agree. So sorry your 8 yo is struggling - it feels like so many people are prepared to chuck the young under a metaphorical bus, but act all morally superior about the ‘greater good’ if we parents try to ameliorate the ill effects even a little. The facts are, at this stage lockdown is acting against the greater good, in order to protect a tiny minority, and two five year olds who have isolated for two months holding hands on a country walk isn’t going to raise the R number.

Dd has seen one friend at a time as is allowed and has kept a 2m distance. They've done hula hooping, cycling, dancing, chatting, running through a sprinkler. She's 9.

Ds hasn't because his friends are meeting in groups of 6+ and not social distancing at all. He's 13.

Here here @Tulipstulips

Are some posters actually suggesting people should to continue to do what is actively causing their children mental distress for the greater good?

Yes.

Children must be punished for the moral failing of being largely unaffected by the virus.

I was just about to do a post about kids on the street playing out. This week we have seen a massive change.

Kids knocking on the door to see if DS(10) was playing out.
I let him have a chat outside, but was constantly reminding them to keep 2m apart. I was sick to death of telling them so DS came in.
Luckily DS understands, but I do worry about him being the house so much.

I wondered if I was over reacting...but we are both asthmatic