DD 1 having to isolate, how do I get DD2 to school?

[divafever99]

DD1 (age 9 1/2) sent home from school today and told to isolate for 2 weeks as she may have been been in contact with Covid. DD2 still expected to go into school.
Currently considering what I will do tomorrow, would you:
A) take DD 1 on school run, keeping safe distance from others.
B) drive to school and leave her in car alone for approximately 10 minutes.
C) leave her at home alone, I will be gone for approximately 15 minutes.
Any advice appreciated, I'm sure I'm not the only one with this issue.

I personally would have allowed DS to walk to school alone before allowing him to stay in the house alone (sadly his school is now over a major road so that is out).

The reason is that at school drop off time there are hundreds of other children and parents going in the same direction many of whom know him. He also can’t play hard ball cricket in the front room while walking to school :)

@Banana0pancakes

This is what I don't understand about our approach to schools, surely both kids should be told to isolate or dd2 is an easy route for it to get back into school and spread further if dd1 is positive. Not a dig at you OP obviously, you're doing as asked but I just think it's crazy our leaders can't see this gaping hole in their plan

I'd also say C though

That advice isn't specific to schools though - that's the advice generally. It's only the person who has had contact with someone who tests positive who needs to self isolate, unless they are showing symptoms themselves.

Hmmmm I thought you all would have to self isolate?

As with all track and trace situations, which the school thing essentially is, it is only the person who has had contact, not the household.

The household only isolates as a whole if someone has symptoms or tests positive.

@StatisticalSense

She can't go in the car so that's not an option. You also need to social distance from her in the household and she should remain in her room at all times as per the guidance for those self isolating in a non isolating home. The reason why only one member of a household needs to isolate following contact is because in most cases the family member self isolating will be staying away from the household before they would be infectious.

Just not practical to do that in a large number of cases.

My eldest had to self isolate. He shares a room with his brother. One toilet in the house. We also didn't get the call from test and protect until 6 days after he was with the person who tested positive. So hadn't isolated in that week at all
(Obviously)

He felt punished enough without basically restricting him to one room. And was pointless to do so anyway as his brother shares that room

@OpheliasCrayon

I'd not leave my child!! Take her with , sanitize her hands and keep her away from anyone. Go home after.

It's ludicrous .. if one kid gets it the other probably will amd they're still at school.

I’m doing this at the moment. I have a 6 year old off because a member of staff she’s briefly encountered has tested positive and an 8 year old who still has to go in. I have no choice but to take the 6 year old with me. It’s a 5 min walk. We wear masks and stay away from the crowd. I’m not keeping my eldest off another 2 weeks after being off since March because of these rules. My 6 year old is not leaving the house for anything else other than this walk.

I’m doing this at the moment. I have a 6 year old off because a member of staff she’s briefly encountered has tested positive and an 8 year old who still has to go in. I have no choice but to take the 6 year old with me. It’s a 5 min walk. We wear masks and stay away from the crowd. I’m not keeping my eldest off another 2 weeks after being off since March because of these rules. My 6 year old is not leaving the house for anything else other than this walk.

This makes perfect sense to me.

If she is 9.5 then she is in year 5. Surely she can manage a few hours alone at home let alone 15 mins.

My child is the same age and is regularly for up to 1h alone at home, walks to school by herself (since y4) and back (1 mile each way). Most kids in y5 do this.

Since you did not mention SN, I assume DD is NT. really odd question. Give her space, she is not a baby anymore.

A)

@BlueTitsRock

Your post seems to ignore the possibility that children may be very different from each other without have special needs.

I wouldn't leave my 9yo at home. The point of isolating is that you ISOLATE.

@Clymene

Some people really need to teach their children a bit more self confidence. An NT 9 year old should be able to run simple errands on their own. By 10 they should be walking to school without parental supervision.

Some of these mollycoddled kids are going to get a horrible shock in secondary

6 months ago, anyone who left a 12 yo alone would have been vilified.

I have an incredible sensible 9 yr old. But I'm almost certain I wouldn't leav her home alone

I'd tell the school of the other child and see what they say. If they have any viable options

But if not. Then I'd say that I would be bringing them in earlier and picking up earlier. Or keeping them both off

@Treesofwood

I don't understand why basic child safeguarding is out of the window due to Covid. Next we will be sending them to quarantine "hotels" or something.

FGS it depends on the child - I was walking to school by myself at age 8/9. My 8 year old was perfectly fine for 15 minutes watching TV in June/July whilst I walked DC2 to school in the morning.

@Akire

10min for a 9y old surely you spend longer than that in the bathroom?! Stay in bed or on the sofa don’t open the door. Ring if any problems.

You shouldn't be in the bathroom - what if you slip and hit your head and/drown?!

Your post seems to ignore the possibility that children may be very different from each other without have special needs.

Of course children are different. But the OP's child is in y5 and 9.5. When do people generally let their kids venture a bit. I seem to be in the minority here. These days, it seems to be completely normal to hover over pre-teen non stop because doom is waiting at every corner (and seemingly alone at home too). This just isn't healthy. Children need to learn independence and it's good to built it up gradually. Leaving a 9.5 year old home alone for 15 mins is a good place to start of the OP is too anxious to let her child venture outside alone.

6 months ago, anyone who left a 12 yo alone would have been vilified.

this has nothing to do with Covid.

But the OP's child is in y5 and 9.5. When do people generally let their kids venture a bit.

Sure but the key word is generally. Maybe it's not appropriate for her child. I have no information about that but I trust the mother to know.

@AriettyHomily

I wouldn't leave my 9yo at home. The point of isolating is that you ISOLATE.

This makes absolutely no sense. Leaving the 9 year old at home is isolating.

My 8 year old has stayed at home for 10-15 mins while I’ve walked his sister to school.

Maybe it would be different if it was 10-15 mins in the car as you’d be further away but I’d probably still do it.

He knows not to answer the door, have a bath or shower or cook anything.

In the very very unlikely event of a fire he knows to get out and find a neighbour.

WRT to other risks-falling down the stairs, paper cuts etc. Well that’s a risk I’m prepared to take. I’m often out of earshot for 15+ minutes anyway if I’m in the garden so not much difference.

@BlueTitsRock

6 months ago, anyone who left a 12 yo alone would have been vilified.

this has nothing to do with Covid.

Yes it does because now you've got everybody saying leave the young kid at home

WRT to other risks-falling down the stairs, paper cuts etc. Well that’s a risk I’m prepared to take. I’m often out of earshot for 15+ minutes anyway if I’m in the garden so not much difference.

What about answering the door or playing hard ball cricket in the front room? Those are my main two concerns.

😂 answering the door-I’ve told him not to. In the unlikely event that a child abductor or burglar knocks on my door in the 15 minutes I’m out and he doesn’t do as he’s been told that might be an issue.

Hard ball cricket-he’s more of a football guy but if necessary I guess you could lock the cricket kit away?!

If you really have a 9 year old who will play cricket alone in the front room if left for 15 minutes despite (presumably) this always being against house rules then no, the child is not ready to be left.

However that is absolutely not developmentally typical at 9. That's something a typical 4 year old might do. Obviously as well as not applying to children with SN impacting their cognitive skills and emotional maturity general average expectations don't work for outliers without SN.

Obviously you know your child but perhaps he knows he can get away with it and gets some kind of unintended boon from behaving like a toddler - is he fondly regarded as having is head in the clouds or being "a typical boy" perhaps?

If you really have a 9 year old who will play cricket alone in the front room if left for 15 minutes despite (presumably) this always being against house rules then no, the child is not ready to be left.

I didn't mean it 100% literally. I just meant do something daft that was dangerous to the house or him or both.

Obviously you know your child but perhaps he knows he can get away with it and gets some kind of unintended boon from behaving like a toddler - is he fondly regarded as having is head in the clouds or being "a typical boy" perhaps?

I am sure you mean it kindly but at first reading this does come across as quite insulting and patronising. Just so you know.