Why can't children go to the park?

[Hileni]

I'm feeling so cross, can anyone show me the light on why Toddler DS can't play at the park? He can sit on a bench when we are on a walk but can't sit on a swing?

It's outside so risk of infection is supposedly lower. Yet some children are allowed back to school cooped up indoors?

All non essential shops open for people to browse round and touch everything... Indoors. But i can't push my child on the roundabout?

It's ridiculous. I think people will start making their own choices about that now.

I think they have lost track of what they have opened and closed, like when they said we could spend longer than an hour outside at parks and beaches, have a picnic, play tennis etc. But then seemed to forget all the public toilets were closed.

It’s because children can’t be trusted to socially distanced while playing at a park.

Adults can be trusted to distance themselves when shopping.

Not all actions have equal risks.

I think originally it was because the virus can live for 3 days on metal. But thinking about it, our local playgrounds are actually made out of wood (with exception of the swing chains) so the same risk as sitting on a bench in my opinion. So no idea.

Because it's a plague ground

Sorry that's a cracker joke...

It’s because children can’t be trusted to socially distanced while playing at a park.

I have seen a lot of adults who cant be trusted to socially distance as well but sometimes you just have to hope that the majority follow the rules. Most children who find swings and roundabouts fun aren of an age where they will be accompanied by an adult anyway.

The kids’ play equipment in our local park was “liberated” weeks ago. The town council hasn’t replaced the broken lock and the kids are all using it. Good for them. It’s completely illogical.

I don’t think that we can continue to lock up children and deprive them of their right to develop and play together because the smallest of them are not good at social distancing. Their parents can watch them. Many of the older men who like to play golf and go to garden centres are not good at social distancing. Let the toddlers play on swings.

I'm quite risk adverse but even I agree with this! My 5 year old can go to school (he isn't) but the park is too risky. Mmmm

It’s because children can’t be trusted to socially distanced while playing at a park.

I heard earlier that children are also more likely to be hit by lightning than die from Covid.

It would be easy to socially distance hound children, like my 2 year old as he needs help getting on and off equipment anyway and surely older children can follow instructions to 'Wait by the steps until little Jimmy has gone down the slide'

They keep stressing hand gel and washing hands so I just don't understand the excuse that the virus can live on surfaces for so many days when they are happy for all and sundry to try on clothes at Primark.

Because it's a plague ground

Adults can be trusted to distance themselves when shopping.

Haha have you been shopping recently? In my observations children are much better at social distancing than most adults I've came across.

We've been lifting the children over the fence. It doesn't make sense.

I still remember my dd being little and licking/biting all parts of the playground. I've never seen any of it get cleaned.

I don't understand this either. It's heartbreaking seeing the little kids looking at the playground and they can't go in.
I'd say it's downright cruel.

Young* not hound.

To help children socially distance why can't they allow children to play in parks as long as they are accompanied by a responsible adult to ensure social distancing?

Playgrounds have unofficially been liberated in our neighbourhood too. Everyone is being very sensible and telling their children to give each other space which even my 3 year old seems able to manage.

And it's outside.

Let them play, they've suffered enough.

I can’t understand this either. I know the idea behind it, but quite frankly, don’t care anymore. I’m feeling angry tonight , having just listened to my DD for the first time opening up to me how sad and desperate she is feeling at the moment. Poor kids can’t go back to school, just open up the bloody playgrounds!

My dc don’t sit on benches either and we usually go out on scooters so they don’t touch anything, if they do then we wash hands with alcohol gel while out. Snotty kids touching play equipment that can’t be deep cleaned between uses isn’t safe right now.

There's yellow tape and padlocks around the one next to our house and it's so sad and disconcerting to see. DD hates going for walks because she has to go past it but can't play . It was her birthday yesterday and she said she wished when she blew out her candles she could go on the swings... Argh crying again now!

I heard earlier that children are also more likely to be hit by lightning than die from Covid.

They're not worried that the children will die from Covid, it's more that they'll pass it on to someone more vulnerable to the disease. I have seen contrasting views on whether children are 'super spreaders' or don't pass it on much.

I do think they should be opened but from what I have seen it'll be the parents who are shit at social distancing as children seem to be better to sticking to rules.

The Dutch never closed their playgrounds and under 12s aren't expected to social distance. We're not all dropping dead. So I reckon plague grounds can't be that infectious.

why can't they allow children to play in parks as long as they are accompanied by a responsible adult to ensure social distancing?

Who judges who is responsible. My daughter goes to school and the same parents all stand in a huge group chatting etc etc. So many people have given up on lockdown as the numbers have gone down. In many places it'll be a free for all.

Its ridiculous.

Just like every single thing this govt has done in their handling of this pandemic.