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Reasons for/against returning to activities

27 replies

isitnextyearyet1 · 30/11/2020 11:17

Just curious what makes some people more anxious than others (excluding those that are vunerable).
Speaking with sister this morning and with lockdown ending shortly we got onto children's activities. She said her son wasn't going back to his sport until maybe new year (indoor and involves contact). When chatting further she said her and hubby feel it wouldn't be safe. Son is 11 and sis and hubby late 40's. Both parents overweight and sis various underlying issues. They live in a tier 3 area with fairly high cases.

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Aroundtheworldin80moves · 30/11/2020 11:24

My children are returning to swimming lessons this week because...

  • I'm happy with the Covid precautions in the building
  • swimming is a vital skill.

Tier 3 area, but one of those areas were cases are relatively low whereas there's a hotspot elsewhere in the county.

Cubs... Not sure on yet. We are still waiting to hear from higher up the chain if we can reopen. If we do it would outside, and probably just an hour long Christmas party. (That's me and both children).

parrotonmyshoulder · 30/11/2020 11:25

People might not want to risk needing to self-isolate due to contact with increased numbers of families at such activities. They may or may not be worried about contracting the virus, but don’t want the disruption of self isolating. They may think there is enough risk with going to school/ work.

frozendaisy · 30/11/2020 11:25

Well as you have pointed out, late 40s, overweight, underlying health issues, high local rates, it's an indoor close contact activity. Not sure it's being anxious rather minimalising risk.

It would be a completely different set scenerio low local cases, outdoor, minimal contact, normal weight, no underlying health conditions.

For an accurate poll on anxiety best to compare like for like.

Ours will go back to activities if they are open.

Lazypuppy · 30/11/2020 11:26

Straight back to everything. Dd swimming lessons starting on friday, i've booked to go to gym as no gym classes this time!

Happy with all measures in place, not too worried about catching covid, life can't be put on hold

ceeveebee · 30/11/2020 11:28

We have agreed that we won’t be sending the kids to karate and cheerleading - both indoor activités where it’s hard to distance. Yes to Football and swimming. Main reason is to avoid them catching anything that means that we and their classes don’t have to self isolate over Christmas, and to obviously protect their grandparents.

isitnextyearyet1 · 30/11/2020 11:33

Thanks for replies. Sis started to wonder if she was being mean because a couple of work colleagues had said he's 11 so minimal risk etc but sis was saying yes maybe to him but not necessarily to me and hubby or to other people.

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BeyondMyWits · 30/11/2020 11:35

Want to spend Christmas with my family. The faff of self isolating between now and then means I am not doing anything requiring mixing with people I don't normally mix with beforehand. I go to work... covid measures in place. I go to the local shop... covid measures in place. That'll do me till Christmas.

KittenCalledBob · 30/11/2020 11:37

My DC are returning to their activities (football and netball) this week and all their team mates seem to be doing the same (judging from the replies on the WhatsApp group). We're in tier 2.

Mcmole · 30/11/2020 11:42

DD has been back dancing since September - but it's a small class and the girls go to her school so there is not much more mixing anyway. Parents don't stay. She's also doing a school organised indoor sport on a weekend - again, kids she would be mixing with anyway and parents are not present.

Swimming is off until at least the new year but I doubt it will be back then - and I don't think we'll be sending her back to that if it is as have doubts about the hygiene levels/number of kids that she wouldn't normally mix with.

Think it just depends how happy you are with the covid precautions taken for each activity/level of risk.

isitnextyearyet1 · 30/11/2020 11:55

I think from our conversation it's more to do with it being an indoor contact sport that makes her a bit wary.
Mine are going back to dance but they dance in marked out boxes and no contact so I feel happy with this. Unsure if to send them the last week before Christmas in case they end up having to isolate.

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Orangeblossom7777 · 30/11/2020 11:58

They are mixing in school anyway, seems a bit mean to stop children doing activities.

isitnextyearyet1 · 30/11/2020 12:09

Orangeblossom do you believe indoor contact sport doesn't bring any additional risk to her and hubby? It's not with anyone from his school to my knowledge but will double check with her.

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Aroundtheworldin80moves · 30/11/2020 12:09

@Orangeblossom7777

They are mixing in school anyway, seems a bit mean to stop children doing activities.
The children will likely come different schools, in different classes. In my Cub pack, we have two in the same class at school, and one pair of siblings. 7 different schools for 14 children, over three year groups.
Orangeblossom7777 · 30/11/2020 12:17

They are doing indoor sport in school too Confused I just think people need to think of the risks and benefits more

Something which might have such benefits health and mental for the children, with not much greater risk given that they are already in school... anyway that is just my thought, others may feel differently which is all fine

Frazzled2207 · 30/11/2020 12:20

I’m a bit iffy about it. My sons are going back to drama, swimming and football. I’m more worried about increased chances of self isolation than them actually getting ill but none of us are vulnerable. It’s a tough call but at the end of the day the kids have had a rough year and enjoy going. Our are has been extremely high risk but much better now.

Orangeblossom7777 · 30/11/2020 12:31

Might be of interest www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-54794904

Ormally · 30/11/2020 12:35

The Information Is Beautiful data pages used to show a three-step 'Riskiest Activities' infographic at the base of the page. It's currently been removed which may suggest that this is in flux or someone's not happy about it. Instead of the rankings being static, they have changed approx. every month.

The old(ish) version of the table can be seen here now: stephenslighthouse.com/2020/07/07/coronavirus-covid-19-riskiest-activities/

Younger age groups generally mean that risk of serious illness is low, although risk of transmission overall may not be. Numbers, inside/outside location, ventilation if inside, relative humidity, and time spent in location are all things I would weigh up. Timing as regards Christmas and the trips I would like to make then are also a factor (trips not far, but not possible at all if you happen to be in self-isolation). Playdates, pools, exercise inside, and using shared public toilets all made it to the medium risk level.

JS87 · 30/11/2020 12:36

We probably won't restart indoor activities until Easter for DS. I would be happy for him to do indoor activities if it was just with people from his year at school but as cubs and cricket are likely with kids from other schools too I feel it increases the risk of him having to self isolate too much for my liking.

BiddyPop · 30/11/2020 12:48

My Cub Scouts had been meeting via zoom from Easter to summer, but we returned in person in September to doing outdoor activities only and only 2 patrols at a time (so 12 rather than 24 Cubs, with 3 Leaders). We had 2 months of boating (1 Cub per boat), and have been doing various things in the local woods and on a local beach since midterm break, again 2 patrols per session. Normally, we mostly meet in the Den but that's too small for SD (and only allowed 6 indoors right now so totally not practical); we haven't done any residentials or long hikes this year as we couldn't make it work out, normally we have 2 separate overnights in hostels (late spring and early winter) and a 2 night camping in tents weekend (summer), as well as generally 3 or 4 all-day hikes instead of a 90 minute meeting. Currently meetings are 75 minutes, so that Leaders aren't there all day (instead of arriving at 11.20 and leaving by about 13.30; we are currently doing 10.45-14.30 or later to do the 2 sessions and our planning/logistics).

We keep a register of attendance, no one allowed to come if unwell in any way (temp, cough etc), hand sanitiser for all on arrival, maintain SD as far as possible, Leaders wear masks etc.

We have a 15 minute "sanitation break" between sessions - allows 1st batch to leave before 2nd batch arrives, so almost no overlap generally, when boating we wiped down paddles etc with hand sanitiser between groups, and I have all my resources laminated now so if we do use any, they can be wiped down between uses with anti-bac wipes/hand sanitiser also. No handouts. (So there has been a lot more "whittling sticks with your own knives" going on in the woods...Grin much to the Cubs' enjoyment!).

DD has been back in hockey since September also. They are also operating in pods of 15 (which is allowed) - up to 3 pods using the pitch at a time but there is separation between them all. Register of attendance, must register on an app before attending, temperature check before attending, masks worn entering and leaving pitch, parents not allowed out of cars just drop and collect. It has been very strict across all of school, club and provincial team set ups, and very similar for all 3. No matches at all, only training.

Other clubs in school are functioning - lego club was late to get going to work out logistics (as needs relatively close proximity across years but is a small group). Choir is happening but over zoom. Other non-contact sports and clubs like debate, social justice and model UN are also happening with social distancing and normal school covid protocols in place.

Kids sailing has also continued locally throughout this autumn lockdown - in solo boats. Double handers have just restarted again, but larger crew boats are beached.

I am vulnerable, but happy to keep doing Cubs in small groups outdoors (and parents have been sensible about illness). Generally, most clubs and groups, if meeting, have put in place clear protocols and expectations. And so far, the parents seem to be abiding by those. We have quite a low incidence rate locally anyway (I still only personally know 1 person to have contracted it and that is "down home" 175 miles away), and if there is a break out, we have protocols to shut down immediately and reassess.

MaudesMum · 30/11/2020 13:07

I've been participating in an indoor adult education class throughout as its one that can't be done online - pottery, since you ask. Maximum numbers reduced, one way systems where possible, masks worn and windows open etc. Several members have withdrawn, because they are older or care for older family members. I have stayed because I'm neither, and for me the benefits of attending are more than the risks. So, I think everyone needs to make their own decisions, based on their individual circumstances.

isitnextyearyet1 · 30/11/2020 13:44

Thanks all, some interesting views and hopefully sis will not feel quite as bad as work colleagues made her feel for not wanting him to return until new year.

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BogRollBOGOF · 30/11/2020 17:02

At this time, my DCs should be swimming. Instead they're gawping at screens. I had been trying to take them off to a park after school to replace their actvities, burn energy and reduce screentime, but by the time they finished school today, light was fading rapidly and it was that unpleasant in-your-face drizzle.

All members of our household are u50, healthy weight, no known or suspected health issues. DH is largely working from home, I'm a SAHM. While we obviously don't want to be ill, we'd be unlucky if it was more than a mild inconvenience. We don't want to SI, but it wouldn't financially ruin us or disturb a wider bubble.

The definite benefits of picking up as many as the DCs activities as we can outweighs the balance of probability of potential negatives.

It's already frustrating that the DCs have not egaged with scouting for 8+ months because they don't cope with zoom and the leaders have no appetite to return (my Brownies, same venue did return F2F outdoors in term 1) and parkrun is not yet running.

Without activities, the DCs struggle with their social and physical energy and tend to divert it into bicketig and scrapping.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 30/11/2020 17:10

I wouldn’t be doing an indoor contact sport either so wouldn’t send children too. Outdoor classes I’d have no issue with.

It’s all about minimising risk, just because something can be done doesn’t mean it should be.

Frazzled2207 · 30/11/2020 20:42

@BogRollBOGOF

At this time, my DCs should be swimming. Instead they're gawping at screens. I had been trying to take them off to a park after school to replace their actvities, burn energy and reduce screentime, but by the time they finished school today, light was fading rapidly and it was that unpleasant in-your-face drizzle.

All members of our household are u50, healthy weight, no known or suspected health issues. DH is largely working from home, I'm a SAHM. While we obviously don't want to be ill, we'd be unlucky if it was more than a mild inconvenience. We don't want to SI, but it wouldn't financially ruin us or disturb a wider bubble.

The definite benefits of picking up as many as the DCs activities as we can outweighs the balance of probability of potential negatives.

It's already frustrating that the DCs have not egaged with scouting for 8+ months because they don't cope with zoom and the leaders have no appetite to return (my Brownies, same venue did return F2F outdoors in term 1) and parkrun is not yet running.

Without activities, the DCs struggle with their social and physical energy and tend to divert it into bicketig and scrapping.

Agree 100%. My son has just finished yet another zoom Beavers session which he really struggles with but to my surprise they said at the end that they are 90% certain they can return in person next week. Bring it on.
Coasterfan · 30/11/2020 22:40

DS11 will be going back to footie Thursday and Saturday. We are tier 3. Training is indoors, matches outdoors. He loves it, I want some normality for him and it’s much lower risk than school due to being only 10 people (there are 35 in his class at school) and for less time and I have no concerns about him being in school.