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Original poster

Are you letting your children mix with other kids yet??

79 replies

LifeExperimentation · 27/07/2020 16:31

My 8YO (yr 3, will start back in yr 4) has been invited to a couple of playdates, which I've declined as I've wanted to stick to the rules and wanted to avoid risk of infection.

But, she's missing her friends... and, as an only child, I think she's lonely and missing out on social interaction.

She'll be at school in September in a huge bubble of a 3 class year group.

What's the general consensus??!

OP posts:
AIMD · 27/07/2020 16:33

My kids are doing play dates. Mainly with children from their classes and mainly outside.

Br1ll1ant · 27/07/2020 16:34

Play dates aren’t against the rules though? Our children have had contact with other children - mostly outside tbf - and it has been very good for them.

ShyTown · 27/07/2020 16:34

Mine is younger but is back in childcare full time and is also playing with her best friend that lives on our street. Could you start with outdoor playdates like arranging to meet in a park if you’re nervous?

AIMD · 27/07/2020 16:34

Not that being outside matters much given they run up into their friends faces and cough in their faces etc. It’s the thought that counts though!

ohthegoats · 27/07/2020 16:34

Yes. Mostly outside, but with children from her school bubble indoors.

troppibambini · 27/07/2020 16:35

Yes they have.

Uhoh2020 · 27/07/2020 16:35

My dc have played outside with their friends but not inside each others houses. You could arrange to meet a few friends at a local park /playground rather than someone's house.

TokyoSushi · 27/07/2020 16:35

We are, but only with family friends where we know their parents too. Not particularly because of COVID, it's just that people in our friendship circle appear to prefer 'known families' if you know what I mean!

Alexandernevermind · 27/07/2020 16:37

Yes but outside. It's so important to their MH.

AriettyHomily · 27/07/2020 16:37

Yes so far only on the park as the weather has been good

Nquartz · 27/07/2020 16:37

Only outside so far apart from briefly with one friend inside who will be in her class in September.
We did keep them apart outside at first now they play together but no hugging

BogRollBOGOF · 27/07/2020 16:38

My DCs haven't had many chances to play with others, but I have let them play normally when they do. DS (9) had his BF over recently and DS(7)'s class had an end of term meet ip at a playground last week.

At this point, there is damage being caused by isolation and long term loneliness compared to lottery ticket odds of actually picking up the infection.

doubleshotespresso · 27/07/2020 16:38

No we haven't not yet but have been wondering when might be a good time or not to do so.

Just not that comfortable with the idea yet!

MrsWooster · 27/07/2020 16:38

Yes-they’re not going into each other’s houses yet but playing outside

Original poster
LifeExperimentation · 27/07/2020 16:39

Thanks... seems others are socialising more freely now? About the rules, I meant about the social distancing rules.

OP posts:
Original poster
LifeExperimentation · 27/07/2020 16:40

Yes, I was thinking outside... but the weather makes it harder to plan!

OP posts:
IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 27/07/2020 16:52

No but mine are older and understand why SD etc is in place. They are keeping in touch though through other means. Too many aren’t guidelines, booking holidays etc so we are not comfortable with it.

Triangularbubble · 27/07/2020 16:57

Yes, outside at the playground. I don’t allow hugging, hand holding, swing sharing etc but I’m not rigorously enforcing two metres either.

Original poster
LifeExperimentation · 27/07/2020 16:57

It is difficult... my DD has been keeping in touch via digital means but she doesn't have her own social accounts (or even her own phone), and I feel she's lost touch with her friends...

Because of my work and higher risk parents, I've stuck to the rules as much as I could. But, part of me wonders if I'm wrong to continue to do this when my daughter is missing out... and she'll be mixing with a big crowd at school in Sept anyway.

OP posts:
Jrobhatch29 · 27/07/2020 16:58

My kids have play outside with school friends. We meet up to play football

flowerycurtain · 27/07/2020 17:00

Yes and have been since we were allowed to meet other families. Outside mainly but I don't worry if they nip in to get a toy. Clean bathroom before and after. Like a poster above I done allow hugging or handholding but I also don't enforce 2m.

My common sense tells me my kids need to play with other kids as safely as possible. If we're in for an awful winter I want to do as much as we can over the summer.

KingFredsTache · 27/07/2020 17:00

Yes, my kids have been at school as key worker children since June, and they have also socialised with children outside of school.

I can't imagine my kids only having seen each other since March, that's crazy to me!

TimeForLunch · 27/07/2020 17:05

Yes. It's important for kids to play with their friends.

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 27/07/2020 17:16

10 Yr old Dd is also an only and was back at school for the last month too and that made a noticeable difference to her happiness and general wellbeing, we had had some teary nights but had seemed OK but the huge grin on her face when she came out of school told me she needed that interaction.

Socialising won't be free for all but we've been to Dds best friends for a bbq and it was lovely and we will continue socialising with their family they have followed all the rules fairly strictly as their Dd has asthma.

DD is also back swimming, she's a competitive swimmer and they socially distance getting in and out of the pool and have a bubble of 5 per lane.

I think her seeing that life will go on similar to before just with different rules and she's not going to be stuck at home with me for the foreseeable really helps. I think if it's safe for your family to do so choosing another family for playdates will do you and her the world of good.

ceeveebee · 27/07/2020 17:20

We have been meeting with friends about once a week since early June (outside, in small groups). Since we were allowed to have people inside we have had a couple of play dates in the house too. We are also now going to activities (football, tennis, cricket) which tend to be in groups of 5 kids. They are so much happier after having had 18 weeks at home!