Do you really keep DC indoors for 14 days?

[notevenat20]

DS's school year has been sent home for 14 days because someone in his year has covid. I know we are supposed to keep him indoors the whole time. But what have people really done in practice? It's a very long time not to walk further than the bathroom.

And remember that it's also very important to teach children how to critically assess a situation - and to consider whether any rule or law is appropriate, ethical and moral.

@IfYouCantSeeMyMirrors

And remember that it's also very important to teach children how to critically assess a situation - and to consider whether any rule or law is appropriate, ethical and moral.

Seriously??! If someone is under 16 then they really aren’t experienced enough to make up their own minds in whether laws are appropriate or not. They are children and dependants for that reason. If I left it to my children to critical think independently they would think waking up for school early is inappropriate and insist they will only go in after noon. They would insist that they don’t need to wait till the appropriate age to drive. They would jump behind a steering wheel at the age of 10. Parents have responsibilities for a reason you know. Also do you think self isolating by law is appropriate, ethical and moral? If not why not?

Well, yes, of course I'm serious. I agree that children aren't experienced enough themselves to have that ability - hence the word 'teach'. The worst thing you could do with a child, I think, is to suggest that absolute unquestioning, uncritical obedience to rules - any rules - is a good thing. Obviously, you help them work it out - you help them learn which rules, even if they are arbitrary, frustrating, etc. should be kept for their own (or the greater) good, and which they should probably accept only under duress.

If you teach them well, then they should be able to understand why they need to get up for school, and why they can't drive at age 10. But you can also help them see that 17 as a legal driving age is itself arbitrary - nothing magically changes at midnight the day you turn 17. It's a rule with a good reason behind it, but that shouldn't stop them thinking about it critically.

Do I think 14 days self-isolation with no exercise is appropriate, ethical or moral for children who are not sick or at all likely to be infected? No, I don't.

I'm not unable to see your point of view. I can see that if you genuinely feel that people taking their kids out for a brief walk every day is making lockdown longer, or risks killing people, then you must be both outraged and frightened. But many of us - including on this thread - do not think that either of those things are true. We are not being selfish (or no more than anyone else) - and it's not that these points haven't occurred to us. But we do not think the rule is entirely right and we do not think that our actions will cause harm.

Yes, we had to.isolate for 14 days.. every few days we did the bin run and ran around the carpark for some exercise 7year old and in a flat, not fun but not impossible, we dont have a garden and managed

@IfYouCantSeeMyMirrors

And remember that it's also very important to teach children how to critically assess a situation - and to consider whether any rule or law is appropriate, ethical and moral.

And it's also very important to teach children what to do if they come to the conclusion that a rule or law is not appropriate, ethical or moral.

Just ignoring it and doing what you want is not the answer. Not in a civilised society that needs rules and laws to function.

I tell my children is they genuinely think a school rule is wrong, they need to make a case against it and raise it with their tutor, head of year, school principal ... They don't simply refuse to follow it.

Even more important with the law of the land imo. If you don't agree with the self isolating rule have you raised this with community groups, with your MP, with lobby groups? Or are you just ignoring it and doing what you want?

I took DS (11) out for a walk round the local woods every night after dark. I made a call that his mental health also needed protecting. His very real mental health v the potential physical health of people that we a. didn't see who might have b. caught something that as it turns out he didn't have.

We didn't have anyone to the house, DH cancelled all his lessons that normally take place, DS didn't see anyone else but he needed those walks and I would do the same again.

@RedskyAtnight: Yes, I absolutely agree with you.

I'm not simply doing what I want (in fact, far from it). But there is of course a middle ground between 'following a rule to the letter regardless' and 'ignoring and doing what you want'. With a few exceptions on this thread, most people seem to have found that.

I would argue, however, that there are occasions (certainly many in history) when if you feel a rule is wrong, and there is no other way of attempting to put it right, then you should follow your conscience and disobey it. (But I'm not talking about self-isolation in that respect.)

@OverTheRainbow88

Positive covid test yes totally whole family isolate don’t go anywhere except house and garden

Kids bubble bursts I would take my kids out to exercise daily, unless they got symptoms.

I would not take them to shops/playgrounds/parks or anywhere with lots of other people

I genuinely can’t see any risk... car in drive; get in car, drive 10 min to somewhere very remote; kids don’t see anyone/talk to anyone. If we do see someone can easily keep 10 m apart- there is no risk in that.

Even if we did walk passed someone 4M apart that person would not get it.

I’ve taught 16 kids this week alone who have tested positive and have been told to carry on going into school and teaching by the government.

I am not a shit and lazy parent who can’t keep my kids busy at home, I can. But I think mental and physical health of my kids is very important.

I think it’s damaging to keep perfectly healthy kids at home for 2 Weeks, which could happen every months for the next year

Praise be. And that is DEFINITELY NOT extending any lockdown

@IfYouCantSeeMyMirrors

Well, yes, of course I'm serious. I agree that children aren't experienced enough themselves to have that ability - hence the word 'teach'. The worst thing you could do with a child, I think, is to suggest that absolute unquestioning, uncritical obedience to rules - any rules - is a good thing. Obviously, you help them work it out - you help them learn which rules, even if they are arbitrary, frustrating, etc. should be kept for their own (or the greater) good, and which they should probably accept only under duress.

If you teach them well, then they should be able to understand why they need to get up for school, and why they can't drive at age 10. But you can also help them see that 17 as a legal driving age is itself arbitrary - nothing magically changes at midnight the day you turn 17. It's a rule with a good reason behind it, but that shouldn't stop them thinking about it critically.

Do I think 14 days self-isolation with no exercise is appropriate, ethical or moral for children who are not sick or at all likely to be infected? No, I don't.

I'm not unable to see your point of view. I can see that if you genuinely feel that people taking their kids out for a brief walk every day is making lockdown longer, or risks killing people, then you must be both outraged and frightened. But many of us - including on this thread - do not think that either of those things are true. We are not being selfish (or no more than anyone else) - and it's not that these points haven't occurred to us. But we do not think the rule is entirely right and we do not think that our actions will cause harm.

I don’t think anyone raises their children not to critically think and draw sensible conclusions of what is appropriate and inappropriate. Children do that from a very early age with the guidance and support of their parents and teachers. I’m more concerned about allowing children to second guess laws that have been put in place by the government. It is likely that many won’t agree with them for ethical, moral and even social reasons. However, in the case of these such laws, disputing them would mean criminal charges and therefore becoming “criminals” In regards to the self isolating, my main concern is with those that think it’s ok to venture into local playgrounds, parks and supermarkets when they should be isolating their DC. To me that’s irresponsible and criminal not to mention cowardly and selfish.

@Seriouslymole

I took DS (11) out for a walk round the local woods every night after dark. I made a call that his mental health also needed protecting. His very real mental health v the potential physical health of people that we a. didn't see who might have b. caught something that as it turns out he didn't have.

We didn't have anyone to the house, DH cancelled all his lessons that normally take place, DS didn't see anyone else but he needed those walks and I would do the same again.

Does he suffer from mental health issues

Sorry forgot the question mark

@Seriouslymole

I took DS (11) out for a walk round the local woods every night after dark. I made a call that his mental health also needed protecting. His very real mental health v the potential physical health of people that we a. didn't see who might have b. caught something that as it turns out he didn't have.

We didn't have anyone to the house, DH cancelled all his lessons that normally take place, DS didn't see anyone else but he needed those walks and I would do the same again.

Children with special circumstances such as MH issues, autism etc are exempt anyway.

Do I think 14 days self-isolation with no exercise is appropriate, ethical or moral for children who are not sick or at all likely to be infected? No, I don't.

I think if you can't work out a way to exercise indoors than perhaps you need to work on your thinking critical or other

@Northernsoulgirl45

Do I think 14 days self-isolation with no exercise is appropriate, ethical or moral for children who are not sick or at all likely to be infected? No, I don't.

I think if you can't work out a way to exercise indoors than perhaps you need to work on your thinking critical or other

Absolutely

He has a tendency towards anxiety and absolutely lost it a couple of times during the last lockdown. I was not willing to put him through that again. He's not diagnosed with anything so therefore is not more "special circumstances" than any other 11 year old, but I feel they are all special circs and parents need to make that call, sensibly, on behalf of their own child. Had he had symptoms, I would not have taken him out.

@Seriouslymole

He has a tendency towards anxiety and absolutely lost it a couple of times during the last lockdown. I was not willing to put him through that again. He's not diagnosed with anything so therefore is not more "special circumstances" than any other 11 year old, but I feel they are all special circs and parents need to make that call, sensibly, on behalf of their own child. Had he had symptoms, I would not have taken him out.

I’m glad he’s ok. This is a shite time for all and although my daughter has followed the guidelines she doesn’t have anxieties and the worst she ever got in lockdown was boredom so I can’t say I wouldn’t do the same if circumstances were different.

@Pootle40

Praise be. And that is DEFINITELY NOT extending any lockdown

I would agree, it really isn’t.

Yes, I kept 13 year old in. The school sent out a letter part way through the first week to remind the year group to stay at home as some had been seen outside.

@Sb2012 and @Northernsoulgirl45: I was obviously not sufficiently specific. I think 14 days' self-isolation without an outside walk every now and then is inappropriate, etc.

We don’t have a garden so I’m worrying about if and when we do need to isolate and we have an active 2 year old

Yes kept both mine in to self isolate recently.
Stayed in the whole of both lock downs and for the 5 weeks it took to get over covid before the first lockdown.

The more people ignore the staying in thing the longer we all have to put up with this. If people ignore a quiet Christmas the whole country will be in strickt lockdown for Jan!

Christmas with support bubble only for us

@bemusedmoose

Stayed in the whole of both lock downs and for the 5 weeks it took to get over covid before the first lockdown.

Why?

The more people ignore the staying in thing the longer we all have to put up with this.

Well people aren't going to stop. They've lost faith or they don't believe in it anymore. So it will be the same people staying in and the same people doing what they want. My DC has just finished isolation as her bubble burst. Many of the kids who have also been sent home have been posting pics up of themselves out and about in groups. I'm kind of thinking I shouldn't have bothered to keep DD in tbh after seeing that.

My 13 year old stayed stayed in when isolating from school, went in garden for exercise.
She was fed up at the end, but If we all ignore the advice it’s not going to end well.

Why would you stay in for the whole of the lockdowns? You were allowed out to exercise and there was no reason to stay in for months. I sincerely hope you don’t have children. This thread is crazy.