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Original poster

Having my son’s friends over during half term?

131 replies

QueenofmyPrinces · 21/10/2020 16:26

It’s half term here and tomorrow I have invited over one of son’s best friends who is in his class at school.

My mum was pretty outraged when o mentioned it as apparently I shouldn’t be having other children in my home.

I explained that they spend all day together at school so what difference does it make whether they’re together in school or in our home?!

She wasn’t convinced though.

I am right though aren’t I?

It’s fine for him to have a friend over isn’t it?

We don’t live in an area of heightened restrictions.

OP posts:
esmethurst · 21/10/2020 20:30

@DownToTheSeaAgain

The bubble thing is completely irrelevant.

OP is effectively asking if it is permitted to have a non socially distanced gathering at her house with someone who is not part of the household. It just so happens that the someone is a child in a school bubble with her child. Doesn't change the guidance. Just changes her perception of the risk.

Perfectly put
LST · 21/10/2020 20:30

@esmethurst but you see how absolutely ridiculous it is surely?

LST · 21/10/2020 20:34

@downtotheseaagain it isnt irrelevant at all. Because the children are in a bubble for the vast majority of the week and the op isn't throwing her house open to random children off the street to come and lick her child. Fgs. People need to use some common sense. Does know one understand how this is affecting our children. I caught my 9yo crying his eyes out because he hasnt been able to speak to his friend in the year above him at school since he has been back and he thinks he has forgotten him. Let the kid have his bloody friend round while it isnt breaking the bloody law.

esmethurst · 21/10/2020 20:37

[quote LST]@esmethurst but you see how absolutely ridiculous it is surely? [/quote]
Oh absolutely. I think most the guidelines and laws are ridiculous!

But I also appreciate that having a friend over isn't a necessity and increases the risk without a big gain.

PracticingPerson · 21/10/2020 20:38

[quote LST]@esmethurst but you see how absolutely ridiculous it is surely? [/quote]
It isn't ridiculous.

If the parents have the virus, they risk passing it directly to the other household. There should be distancing between households.

I just meet up with other families/kids outdoors.

DownToTheSeaAgain · 21/10/2020 20:39

@LST I am not saying I agree with any of it, or that the situation isn't awful for the mental health of everyone. I am just saying that these are the rules. The rules don't tell us to use our common sense, they don't tell us to interpret situations, they tell us what the government has said we should do.

The problem is that because we use our common sense/ we interpret situations/we post rationalise decisions that we know don't follow this guidance and/or law the virus continues to spread. Whether it would spread anyway is another question and one that very few of us I would imagine are qualified to answer.

pinkprosseco · 21/10/2020 20:40

It's Ok in Tier 1 as long as there are no more than 6 in the house

DownToTheSeaAgain · 21/10/2020 20:40

@pinkprosseco

It's Ok in Tier 1 as long as there are no more than 6 in the house
...and you are socially distanced. This is the key part in this situation.
LST · 21/10/2020 20:41

The op could just say she is providing childcare. She's not breaking any rules at all then. (Again... makes no sense)

Tyranttoddler · 21/10/2020 20:43

@LST

The op could just say she is providing childcare. She's not breaking any rules at all then. (Again... makes no sense)
Only if they're in an 'exclusive childcare bubble'
Ginogineli · 21/10/2020 20:44

Course you can

I’m Liverpool and most in dds class still having sleepovers!

I remember Boris saying few months back to use common sense

I believe he only brought rules in cos common sense went out window

If they mix all day it’s fine

Same if group of workers go out for drink having worked all day side by side

Common sense

Figgygal · 21/10/2020 20:45

Yes your mum is right it’s only allowed if they distance school bubble or not

esmethurst · 21/10/2020 20:46

@Ginogineli

Course you can

I’m Liverpool and most in dds class still having sleepovers!

I remember Boris saying few months back to use common sense

I believe he only brought rules in cos common sense went out window

If they mix all day it’s fine

Same if group of workers go out for drink having worked all day side by side

Common sense

Oh god.

Your logic is exactly why Liverpool is in the state it's in

PracticingPerson · 21/10/2020 20:47

@Ginogineli

Course you can

I’m Liverpool and most in dds class still having sleepovers!

I remember Boris saying few months back to use common sense

I believe he only brought rules in cos common sense went out window

If they mix all day it’s fine

Same if group of workers go out for drink having worked all day side by side

Common sense

I can't tell if this is a joke or not!

Clearly this approach is working very well in Liverpool Hmm

The trouble with common sense is there's not a lot of sense usually. Sleepovers are a fucking stupid unwise idea at the moment.

Ginogineli · 21/10/2020 20:49

There’s no panic feeling in Liverpool

I don’t know anyone who’s afraid of the virus

I’m not denying it

It’s serious for some but most are rational - most cases young and asymptomatic

DownToTheSeaAgain · 21/10/2020 20:51

@Ginogineli

There’s no panic feeling in Liverpool

I don’t know anyone who’s afraid of the virus

I’m not denying it

It’s serious for some but most are rational - most cases young and asymptomatic

And this is why our elderly will continue to die because, let's face it, they're old anyway Confused
Iamthedevilinthedetail · 21/10/2020 20:56

Well you're putting the kid and his family at risk too, so whatever.

esmethurst · 21/10/2020 20:56

@Ginogineli

There’s no panic feeling in Liverpool

I don’t know anyone who’s afraid of the virus

I’m not denying it

It’s serious for some but most are rational - most cases young and asymptomatic

I don't think many people are afraid of the virus...

You've totally missed the point.

Grobagsforever · 21/10/2020 20:57

OP is completely fine for your son to have a play date. IGNORE the lockdown loving rule fetishists on this thread, some won't be happy until we're all in individual plastic cells signing over our kidneys to Dominic Cummings in return for a daily hour of Netflix, which is all we deserve.

Honestly the arrogance of man in thinking we can control this virus is utterly depressing.

Protect your son from the madness and let him enjoy his play date.

RedskyAtnight · 21/10/2020 20:58

As others have said, it is fine to have him round if he is in Tier 1 as long as they socially distance. What they do at school is irrelevant. Even more irrelevant as they are not actually at school this week if it's half term. I'm sure you will do it anyway, but it is unnecessary risk and talking about bubbles (which is a meaningless word when applied to large groups in school anyway) doesn't make it any less risky.

OverTheRubicon · 21/10/2020 21:01

Schools, sports and yes even pubs are considered necessary risks to keep our kids educated and safe, and more people's livelihoods and mental health on track.

There's no need for an indoor playdate, they can meet outside and play footy.

Also, at school they're sitting at desks apart, they're playing outdoors, they'll be with some kids then others They're not sitting indoors for 2 hours eating, chatting and playing on the PS4. If that kid has covid, your kid and you are going to get a much heavier viral load (or vice versa).

In tier 1 areas where risk is low fine, otherwise no, it's against the rules for a reason.

GabriellaMontez · 21/10/2020 21:21

It's legal.

It's good for your son.

Keep a window open. Job done.

Sweetchillijam · 21/10/2020 21:26

No wonder Liverpool is in the state its in.

Basically, if you have your DC’s friend round to your house for lunch. You are exposing both you and your DC and your DC’s friend and mum to all the social contacts that the other family has contact with. So you are both doubling your risks. One of you may have unknowingly came into contact with someone who has covid (who either hasn’t started showing symptoms yet, isn’t isolating for whatever reason) etc. The more social interactions you have the greater the risk of catching it and spreading it.

NaturalLight · 21/10/2020 21:39

I’ve just been reading another thread where people classified as ECV are saying how they have to go to work. Yet they know how serious Covid would be for them. It’s a horrible situation.

And then we have on here people talking about play dates and sleepovers

Randomschoolworker19 · 21/10/2020 21:42

I work in a school and while it is not ideal having 30 children in a class the notion that we are not taking any mitigating measures is simply not true.

In our school the children sit in rows and are not allowed to share equipment. Will they be touching each others toys on the play date?

In school if you were to draw a 2m circle around your child they would come into contact with perhaps 6 other children.

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