Quick straw poll as I am curious to find out how widespread this is - how many of your older teens are sticking to the guidelines?

[LimitIsUp]

If I had to guess I would suspect a majority are not fully compliant

I'll start. Ds (16) fully compliant, but he is happily an introvert. Dd (18 next week) started well with socially distanced meet ups but has infringed the rules to stay over at a friend's, and has also acquired a new boyfriend which certainly hasn't respected social distancing. She hasn't attended any parties or mass gatherings though. I feel a niggling sense of guilt (but perhaps not as much as I should)

[WorstGovtEver]

14 and 16 yr old. Total compliance with the rules.

[Lavenderbluesy]

Three teens here (18,16 and 13). Absolutely compliant and only leave house for a daily walk or run. Very aware of importance to stick to rules.

They do socialise online a lot.

[Helmetbymidnight]

yeah but hes an anti-social bugger at the best of times.

i sympathise with teens 'relaxing' or bending guidelines now- its been a long time.

[Tatapie]

DD15 been out but complied with rules
DS17 broken rules by being in friends house and no SD from girlfriend. Otherwise been careful eg hand gel / no shopping

[wincy]

My DDs were very compliant to begin with but now meet up socially with friends. They do wear masks though and use hand sanitiser if they go shopping so are trying to be at least partially responsible.

[RufustheRowlingReindeer]

My eldest is 21 so ive no idea what they are doing

Dc2 is 18, they has been out more with friends but mainly outdoors but I doubt there is any social distancing going on. They were as good as gold for the first 10/12 weeks and didn’t see friends til the government said it was ok

Dc3 is 17 and hasn’t seen anyone...right up to when they went to college a few hours a week but i think college is being very strict so little chance of mixing

[fortyfifty]

What are the current rules? I have lost track

DD1s friends don't live locally and she's reliant on me to drive her to see them. She has met up outside with each of them a handful of times.

DD2 hasn't yet met up with school friends but has planned a pic-nic in the park.

We've seen friends in our garden or friends' garden with our teens and theirs - who get on. Mostly they have gone off for bike rides together - enjoying some semblance of independence. Within the gardens, less compliant with social distancing (they've played cards) than out walking or biking. But we're aware of the risk level of these other people as they are our friends, no public transport, all wfh, cautious when shopping, no visits with elderly relatives anytime soon.

In the end I have balanced risk to teenagers ( of being cooped up, no social contact, low mood, stress) Vs others' risks. We're in a rural, fairly low numbers county and they are aware that our aim is still to not catch the virus or bring it home - whereas I have friends who still don't think it is a big deal and would happily go back to life the same as before even if that means they get the virus. We don't see them.

[Divoc2020]

20 and nearly 18.
Both fully compliant.

Youngest has only seen girlfriend socially distant outside.
Eldest has met up to 6 friends outside and kept apart.

DH meanwhile.... I despair!

[RedskyAtnight]

DD (14) has been totally compliant.

DD (16) has been sort-of compliant. He is meeting friends in groups of bigger than 6 (say 8 or 9) but they are always outside. They don't always follow social distancing, but do at least try to most of the time. Some of his friends have resumed boyfriend/girlfriend relationships, and I am guessing they are not socially distancing at all :)

[irregularegular]

16 and 18. Initially they were fully compliant. They have still been compliant in that they are not meeting up in groups of more than 6 or going indoors. But they are not maintaining full social distancing any more. To be fair, we are very similar.

[tabulahrasa]

Well DD turned 20 during lockdown...

But yep, there’s a strong possibility that their 2m isn’t in fact 2m when she sees her friends outside, but other than that yes she’s following them.

[ChavvySexPond]

One friend in the garden on one occasion before it was allowed to do so. Otherwise totally by the letter and the spirit. Intelligent conscientious kids with intelligent conscientious friend groups.

[ihearttc]

Until the rules were relaxed allowing you to meet up outside DS1 (15) was very compliant. He stayed at home, did work, played Xbox and came for walks with me and DS2 (9).
However since then he has met up with a few friends, his new girlfriend and been playing football, bike rides etc. All outside but I’m not 100% confident he has been 2 metres at all times. I’m not really bothered tbh. I’m a TA so have worked throughout and the kids haven’t been 2 metres away from me all the time so I can’t expect him to comply completely.

[cactus2020]

Mine have been diligent. But the gatherings and activities entirely without SD are all over their social media... Many sixth formers and returning students to our city are ignoring it now. DD said basically unless you or a close family member has health issues, her peers think you can stop SD now...

[BlessYourCottonSocks]

DS 15 has been very careful. Has now started meeting up with 3 other friends at the park to kick a ball around but he tells me it's difficult because you can't tackle each other and apparently they just kick the ball around, carefully staying about 20m from each other!

I have seen out of the window that he and the friend who calls for him carefully walk on opposite sides of the road down to the park, which amuses me. DS is a bit fussy about germs anyway...

[drumandthebass]

14 year old DS hasn't seen any friends since March. 16 year old DS has only been outside with friends, but I can't guarantee they've been 2metres apart. I did see him sitting on a bench shoulder to shoulder with his girlfriend though

[Insideout99]

Teens wander past my house alot and I can honestly say have not seen any teen, with company, adhering to social distancing. I do wonder how many parents think their kids are following the rules when it couldn't be further from the case although unfortunately most adults I know don't seem to be following rules now either so

[AuntieStella]

Three DC

Two are more than happy to live their life on line, and have to be prised out for occasional exercise and sunshine.

One is more social, and goes on bike rides with friends and they hang out in parks in small groups, but occasionally groups meet (not sure if this is accidental or accidental-done-on-purpose) I have to take it on trust that they're not being insanitary together. They do not go to the most notorious teen hangout park (bit too far to walk, don't bicycle after dark)

So overall I'd say yes.