Parks

[mamaof2girls]

Have you took your child to the park? Do you spray or clean any the equipment? Also if you have what age are they? Got a little one at 20 months she hasn't really properly played in the park last summer she was to little really and obv never took her during the winter time then when the nice weather came covid hit I think she would love it but anytime I have been for a walk and went past a park they have always been busy so it's made me question are they safe?

I went to the playground on Wednesday with my 2.5 year old. First time in 4 months and she was absolutely thrilled. I wiped down the swing handles with a dettol wipe but didn’t do anything else. The risk to healthy children is very, very small. The joy she got from playing there again made it worth taking a small risk for me but that weighing up of risks and benefits will be different for everyone.

We were at one today. I don’t wipe the equipment, that would have been a massive task.

Our park has a notice that says only one child per piece of equipment. After the first few days of re-opening there were at least 10 on the climbing frame all really close to each other. Every day before and after school it's the same. They're supposed to wash their hands as soon as they get in but what about all the touching of equipment in the park and transferring any germs to water bottles, etc? It's crazy.

I’ve taken my primary and preschool aged children lots of times. They’ve not been very busy. Other children were less than 2m away for some of the time (though very rarely less than 1m) but for the most part distancing was happening, certainly between adults. It’s outside, it’s windy and sunny and there’s virtually no cases in my locality so I’m not concerned about children fleetingly breaking distancing. No I didn’t wipe or clean anything, just gelled and then washed hands afterwards. Frankly parks near me are better than pre covid at the moment, all the cleaning going on by other people means the swings and slides are no longer covered in bird mess all the time!

I've been to every possible one we could
All have been absolutely heaving. I've not wiped anything - haven't even considered it.
The kids have eaten snacks and had ice creams etc and I've not hand gelled before they eat.
They go, play with everything, and anyone they want to (usually with friends ) and we just wash hands when we get home

It's outside. It's fun for them they're super happy. It's brilliant

Yes I went as soon as they opened
No I don't clean any of the equipmen she's 6

DD is 5. We've been a few times. We wash our hands as we're leaving the house. I don't wipe the equipment, she plays on it. I gel hers and my hands as we are leaving as she rides her scooter/bike home. We then wash our hands properly at home again.

DD has been a few times, she's 8. I just use hand sanitizer afterwards, try to stop her touching her face & wash hands when we get home. We only have 1/2 new cases a day round here & shes not going to school so low risk anyway. She's bloody loved it!!!!

We are similar to @OpheliasCrayon although we've only been to three so far, there is one other within walking distance and then we would need to get a bus to any other ones, which we probably will do eventually as clearly playgroups and other stuff aren't going to open for my 2yr old anytime soon. I try to baby wipe her hands before she eats whilst we are out but sometimes forget and dunno if it makes much difference anyway. Then we wash hands when we get home. The parks we have been too haven't been very busy though and she doesn't like to go too close to other children so she will have been at least 1m away from everyone at all times. She goes to nursery anyway which I'm sure is a much bigger infection risk for her/us and I feel we would be most likely to catch it from DH who works in A&E.

Using playgrounds with business as usual.

I'd probably be a bit hotter on hand hygiene if they were toddlers and more likely to put hands in mouths. Then again they've used playgrounds for many years without any health issues.

(Although my shoulder and rescuing a 5 yo from high monkey bars was a long term issue )

We’ve been 4 times in the last week. We go early and leave by 10 when it gets busier. Hand gel used before eating and leaving. DH is shielding so we are trying to be more careful.

Yes I have and no I don’t wipe anything down. I squirt the kids hands with gel when we leave. They’re 6, 5 and 1.

Went to the park the first time this week. Older children so they are aware of the situation and know not to touch their faces. As soon as they came out of the play area for a drink or sit down hands were wiped. Did this each time, kids even came out of play area with hands out ready to be cleaned

I wish i could take mine to the park, our parish council still hasnt opened them, despite the next parish 2 miles away opening theirs.
And before anyone says, I don't have a car and my older boy has a disability that means he would struggle to walk the 4 miles and would be in pain for days afterwards.