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2yo DS to "Self Isolate" for 14 days. How?

20 replies

DioneTheDiabolist · 14/10/2020 11:03

Yesterday I received a call from DS's Sure Start telling me not to bring him in as they had to do a deep clean. This morning they called saying a staff member has tested positive and DS needs to "self isolate"🙄 for 14 days, other household members do not need to isolate.

How the actual fuck am I going to do this?😲😬 He can't self isolate. He's a very active child and I have a very small house. Does anyone have any tips for keeping a toddler indoors for 2 weeks?😭

OP posts:
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 14/10/2020 11:06

You have my sympathy.

One activity I used use to burn off excess energy was dance DVDs of action songs.

Do you have a garden?

Ffsnosexallowed · 14/10/2020 11:07

Of course he can self isolate - but the rest of the house have to do it too. Might not be pleasant, but doable.

dementedpixie · 14/10/2020 11:07

When did he last have contact with whoever tested positive? It's 2 weeks from last contact not from the phone call.

DioneTheDiabolist · 14/10/2020 11:15

We have a small garden @Aroundtheworldin80moves but I cant let him out there as the neighbourhood children will try to come in or play with him through the fence. Dancing is a good idea, he loves a bit of a dance.

He last had contact on Monday @dementedpixie.

OP posts:
Myshinynewname · 14/10/2020 11:20

I understood the rules to mean that if a child was too young to self isolate then an adult should be isolating with them. ie you. Whereas if a child is old enough to distance/mostly stay in their room etc then they can self isolate and the rest of the house can carry on as usual unless the child develops symptoms.

Mindymomo · 14/10/2020 11:20

Unfortunately those are the rules, he must isolate and stay in for 14 days, when was the last day he saw the teacher as it may be 14 days since then. Your whole household doesn’t have to isolate, but obviously someone needs to stay with your child, unless DS shows symptoms, then you all have to self isolate.

MoirasRoses · 14/10/2020 11:20

He has to isolate, you don’t unless he shows symptoms. Are you a single parent? Or can you & your OH at least take it in turns to pop out for your sanity?

DioneTheDiabolist · 14/10/2020 11:24

I'm a SP @MoirasRoses. I have a teenage DS. His school closes on Friday for 2 weeks as a circuit breaker.

OP posts:
Abraid2 · 14/10/2020 11:27

@DioneTheDiabolist

We have a small garden *@Aroundtheworldin80moves* but I cant let him out there as the neighbourhood children will try to come in or play with him through the fence. Dancing is a good idea, he loves a bit of a dance.

He last had contact on Monday @dementedpixie.

I think I'd tell your neighbours that he's self-isolating and agree times when he can play outside without them being around. It's not fair that he can't use his own garden because of other people.
Sunshinehousexo · 14/10/2020 11:46

I'm in your position OP! My DS goes back to nursery on Friday. He's 3. It's been intense. We are a family who are out and about most days whether it's walks etc or even just popping to the supermarket. He's taken it well until yesterday when I've noticed he's getting fed up. I'm also heavily pregnant and had finished for mat leave early to rest up as I've had a difficult time! I could have cried when I got the call.

We've tried to drag the mornings out. There's been a lot more tv and ipad than I'd like normally. We play with his cars, paint, he helps do the household stuff like laundry. Have lunch. He goes into the garden for a while. More tv, playing, dancing, etc. I've found that he enjoys cosmic kids yoga on youtube so we do that together. My husband stocked up on the £1 baking kits to kill some time for us!
You'll get through it but it's not nice. I can see it happening all the time though!

DioneTheDiabolist · 14/10/2020 11:51

I might let him out in the mornings (after the postman has been) while other children are at school, then disinfect the gate and railings?🤔 I won't ask the neighbours to keep their kids away, our schools are closing on Friday for a 2 week circuit breaker and they don't have gardens.

OP posts:
DioneTheDiabolist · 14/10/2020 11:53

You have my sympathy @Sunshinehousexo, I feel like crying myself.Flowers Glad you got through it though.

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jessstan1 · 14/10/2020 11:56

He can go in the garden if the weather is not too bad.

It basically means you have to self isolate too.

Sunshinehousexo · 14/10/2020 12:03

Good luck! Be kind to yourself too. I'd frantically researched a load of stuff to do the day I found out. In reality we've just treated it as a break. He's a kid who (before lockdown) did activities most days and when we didnt have something on we would go to the park or for a walk etc. If it means extra tv, snacks, chocolate etc then do what you need to do.

My husband worked from home two days as well as I had appointments which helped. I think we both needed a change of face because we've been locked up together! Grin

He wakes up each day and asks what we're doing today. I try to think of one fun thing that we aim to do after lunch- baking, play doh, painting, yoga etc and tell him we're having a house day. Also- dens are fab at creating some excitement. We spent several hours in ours and had lunch in there which he enjoyed.

YorkshireIndie · 14/10/2020 12:11

We have just had that! LO was at nursery three days before being told to isolate. We took the decision to isolate as a household. I have to admit I was on my knees trying to work and look after a very well child

MoiraRoseVibes · 14/10/2020 12:34

Maybe you could set up different activities in different places in the house just to mix it up a bit... like after lunch go up to your bedroom and let DS help you ‘clear out’ a drawer full of stuff.... things like that? Good luck. Your DS might actually really like it..!

StarCat2020 · 14/10/2020 14:59

I might let him out in the mornings (after the postman has been)
Sorry but this made me laugh because it sounds like you are talking about a puppy.

(I needed to laugh by the way so thank you)

It is shit for you being stuck in when it is totally out of your control?

Is there anything you could order from Amazon to help pass the time?

(Cheap craft sets or small activities??)

You said 14 days from Monday so 2 days have already gone, that is good.

Hope it goes OK

MagpieSong · 14/10/2020 15:32

On Youtube, they have 'dance and freeze' playlists for playing musical statues, my ds loves those. (Child doesn't need to be near the screen, just able to hear it.) Also the children's yoga goes down well, he does need to see the screen for that, but you can join in too and even though a 2yo won't grasp it all, it's fun as based around books/films. Cosmic Kids, it's called. Does The Hungry Caterpillar and Frozen as well as Moana and several others. Also a (annoying but much enjoyed by ds) 'dance party'. Also Fun Song Factory is on Youtube, which mine like to 'join in with' by leaping about. It's super old, from when I was a child, but it keeps them involved and generally moving/singing despite being screen time. For easy listening, cbeebies have a radio on the ipayer app and mine loved rhyme slime from an early age.

We used cushions as cheap 'stepping stones' and pretended the floor was lava. He likes leaping from them and setting up different pathways over the 'lava'. Also an indoor assault course out of everyday stuff, string, sofa cushions, under table as a tunnel etc. Build a masking tape 'road' for his cars and suggest races. Set up a tent with your clothes horse, or similar, where he can sneak about and maybe have a 'picnic' lunch. Apple Cider Vinegar experiments - we use a cauldron from a dolls house at this time of year and call it a potion. While you drink tea/coffee, suggest he moves like the animals you name (eg. Frog, Octopus, Penguin, Lion, Monkey), he can add sounds. Do a 'car wash' with appropriate toy cars and the washing up bowl.

When I had no energy, I set up the kitchen full of newspaper and let him use hands and feet for painting. He'd rinse off in the washing up bowl (on floor) before being carried to the bath and usually play in there for a while too. That used to take up enough time for a cuppa and was much enjoyed.

DioneTheDiabolist · 18/10/2020 22:58

1 week in. One more to go. I managed to keep him in the house until Friday night when I broke and took him out for a walk. He is loving looking at spooky Halloween lights in the neighbours' houses.🎃

Halloween is proving to be a good distraction. He decorates the pumpkin and I disinfect it every night. And he loves his nightly walk (with a small chocolate bar), so a big thank you to all those people with their decorations up.Flowers

OP posts:
DioneTheDiabolist · 18/10/2020 23:02

Sorry but this made me laugh because it sounds like you are talking about a puppy.
He's not that far off @StarCat2020: he's a mega cute disruptive force who has changed our lives, is the reason we can't have nice things and who we never want to be without.Grin

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