Feeling bad for taking the kids out

[nonamemummy]

It’s now the summer holidays and my kids are home for 6 weeks. I want to take them out places but I feel bad because I feel like we should still be at home? It feels unfair when I’m seeing these pictures of busy beaches etc. Where can I take my children that isn’t going to have big crowds?

Screw what everyone else thinks, do what you are comfortable with. Enjoy your kids its irrelevant what Karen on Facebook thinks about it.

Oh come on, you really need to ask MN if it's okay to take your children outdoors?

Take them out! It does them far more damage to be cooped up inside all the time, especially during the summer. They need vitamin D, they need exercise, they need fresh air. Avoid crowded places. We go to the park, the countryside, beaches. Just choose quiet spots to play in. Unless someone in your family is very vulnerable there's no need to imprison yourselves. The risk of transmission outside is low. Very low if you stay 2 metres away from people

@nonamemummy

Thanks everyone. I suppose because for the last few months I’ve had to keep them shut inside I feel like it’s kind of the normal for me at the moment. I kept seeing people post pictures of crowds and shaming them so just felt people don’t really want people out? I don’t know. They are 3 and 4 years old and need to get out

People ‘shaming’ others for doing something perfectly normal like taking a 4 and a 3 year old to a park, or beach, or farm, or zoo, are not people worth taking any notice of. In fact the whole ‘shame culture’ in the UK needs to fuck right off. Vile people. I have taken mine to the zoo, to a farm, to parks and we’re going on holiday (UK) next week. We are careful, wash our hands plenty and don’t get too close to others.

People were never actually told not to go out. Even at the height of hard lockdown we were all allowed to go out for exercise and I got the kids out for a walk almost every day.

@SallyWD

Take them out! It does them far more damage to be cooped up inside all the time, especially during the summer. They need vitamin D, they need exercise, they need fresh air. Avoid crowded places. We go to the park, the countryside, beaches. Just choose quiet spots to play in. Unless someone in your family is very vulnerable there's no need to imprison yourselves. The risk of transmission outside is low. Very low if you stay 2 metres away from people

This!

We went out locally all the way through.
Then to some other parks/ places to walk in May. Them some shops in June as the DCs needed some clothes and shoes upsizing. Now some touristy stuff and playgrounds.

In early June, my 7 yo was moping around in quite a lethargic, depressed state. Once we started being able to get out more, he's cheered up.

Children are very low risk of spreading and transmission and need to get out and active.

The shamers can go back to the 17th Century where they belong.

Agree that now is the time to take the kids out. The infection rate is low.

This week we've been going to the park most days for an hour or so even met/bumped into friends, the kids have had a good play together and us parents have had a chance to talk and feel normal. Starting to arrange play dates too.
I've booked DDs swimming lessons for over the summer, they start next week and I'm going to start booking up National Trust places. We may even go to the cinema as well.

We have no idea what the autumn will bring so we need to be out and about as much as possible.