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Covid

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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:

Cattermole · 27/07/2020 17:44

Yes, he had his best mate round at the weekend and they had an absolute howling riot in his bedroom.
Both sets of parents happy with it, they are in a class bubble together so, you know.

bathorshower · 27/07/2020 17:55

Yes, we're having playdates - mostly outside, though not all. DD(7) is also an only child, and started some worrying behaviours after a few weeks of lockdown (refusing to engage with anything). They have pretty much disappeared since she started seeing friends again. We're pretty sure she's had Covid19, for her it was very mild; I would be willing for her to have it again if it kept her mental health intact.

Yellredder · 27/07/2020 17:56

Mine's been playing out with the children in the street for a few weeks, who mostly go to her school.

Qasd · 27/07/2020 17:57

Yes play dates are no longer against the rules, should be with only one child indoors (or children from one household) up to six outdoors and you should encourage social distancing (I tend to say no hugging or physical contact but not much beyond that so you may want to be stricter). But otherwise all within the guidance.

Oblomov20 · 27/07/2020 17:58

Why have you declined play dates?
There is no need at all to be so overzealous!

fartyface · 27/07/2020 18:04

I have no idea what the rules are anymore.

Someone suggesting that holidays are not following guidelines? Which ones?

I think you can have others in your home now can't you? We had cousins in today after spending the weekend camping with them.

Lalamum2 · 27/07/2020 18:06

I have stepchildren and we played by the rules strongly since we had a baby of a few months old, but their mum was taking them on days out, beach with her friends and their kids, play dates the lot throughout the whole of lockdown. Was a really s*it time

girlicorne · 27/07/2020 18:07

Yes, the risk of isolation and impact on their mental health far outweighs the Covid risk, both my children aged 10 and 12 have been out with friends and had friends for sleepovers and been out for sleepovers too. I m not restricting them any more they have had months stuck at home just with us it’s not normal and it’s damaging.

Foxinthechickencoop · 27/07/2020 18:10

Yes but only outside. No hugging or hand holding. We have tended to meet up for a walk in the woods and a picnic etc. Or the beach (we have about 10 near us). And it hasn’t felt odd because that’s what we do anyway. We rarely have play dates in the house anyway. The kids prefer to run around outside In The garden. Obviously they need to use the loo etc though.

LethargicLumpOfLockdownLard · 27/07/2020 18:12

Yes, have been since they were allowed to meet one other person outside. They're now back to roaming the streets and fields in packs, as children should! Apart from DS14 who would isolate for eternity in his room with the curtains drawn if I let him.

They need it. I'm not strict with the 2m but they are old enough not to touch each other.

Quartz2208 · 27/07/2020 18:12

Yes the minute DD went back to school (Year 6 so in June) DS had a park playdate the next day and has done ever since.

It has made a world of difference. DS has just had park playdates. DD has gone around friends who were in her bubbles house and garden and come to ours as they were in the same bubble so it makes sense.

My rules are the same as @Qasd no hugging or physical contact

Puffthemagicdragongoestobed · 27/07/2020 18:15

Yes. Mostly outside, a few indoors but mainly from the same class bubble.

Todaywewilldobetter · 27/07/2020 18:20

We needed to. My 9 year old was going under. Been as sensible as we can be. It's made a world of difference to his health.
We were (possibly too) very careful until very recently

SengaStrawberry · 27/07/2020 18:22

Yes. It’s not against “the rules”. I am in Scotland where under 12s no longer need to social distance at all.

chloworm · 27/07/2020 18:23

Children need social interaction with other children. It's essential for healthy development and wellbeing. So yes! Playdates with 1 friend indoors and others outdoors. TBH it would feel almost like abuse to me to deny it, but I understand circumstances vary.

Fairybio · 27/07/2020 18:29

Both adults and children can socialise indoors and outdoors. In theory, social distancing should be adhered to. In practice, I doubt very much that people are. We are not hugging and kissing friends and family, and are careful with hygiene, but otherwise things feel normal.

Original poster

LifeExperimentation · 27/07/2020 18:42

I’m in England… Should also mention, both playdates involved collecting my daughter in the parents car, and having the playdate at their home or elsewhere. I wouldn’t be there.

Would you say that’s a yes then?

It’s really confusing, as I’ve not given a lift to anyone!

OP posts:

Fairybio · 27/07/2020 18:50

It's up to you and what you are comfortable with.

We've really moved on from "The rules" with regard to social interaction. It's sensible to keep to a small group of people though.

Oblomov20 · 27/07/2020 18:51

Yes that all sounds fine.

LST · 27/07/2020 18:51

Yep we're going camping every weekend with 2 other close friends who both have kids.

m0therofdragons · 27/07/2020 18:55

I’ve invited friends over for dc - one friend at a time for dinner and they sit either end of the table and do crafts at the table (again either end) with music on and no hugging. They wash hands before friend arrives and when they leave. Outside is my preference but weather does make that tricky.

ceeveebee · 27/07/2020 19:02

Could you not offer to drop and collect if it’s that part that’s worrying you?

AIMD · 27/07/2020 20:07

@LifeExperimentation

I’m in England… Should also mention, both playdates involved collecting my daughter in the parents car, and having the playdate at their home or elsewhere. I wouldn’t be there.

Would you say that’s a yes then?

It’s really confusing, as I’ve not given a lift to anyone!

I if you think you daughter would socially distance while with them at their home, or wherever, the. You could always drive to drop off and collect if that makes you feel better.

My kids can’t do social distancing though so if they were off to someone’s house I’d probably let them go in the car too, because I know they’d be cuddling etc when they were at their house anyway.

SomewhereEast · 27/07/2020 21:24

Yes! Ours have been seeing friends outdoors for quite a while to be honest, probably before they were technically allowed to. We don't bother trying to enforce social distancing but we do tend to opt for outdoors if we can.

Holyrivolli · 27/07/2020 21:29

Same as @girlicorne. Mine are back to full socialising both outside and inside with single people sleepovers. There hasn’t been a single case anywhere near us for weeks and weeks. It’s been brilliant for their mental health.

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