Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Making isolating 13 yr old not leave her room for 10 days!!

565 replies

novaparty12 · 14/12/2020 18:43

My niece is 13 and on Friday she was told to isolate by her school as the girl she sits next to tested positive. She lives in London where transmission is really high. I spoke to MIL today who said that my SIL has told her she is not allowed out of her room apart from going to the toilet or having a shower. All meals are left outside her door for her to collect and my SIL went shopping and spend £50 on snacks and drinks so she doesn't have to leave her room. MIL is really worried about her she keeps phoning her in tears. My SIL is autistic and takes everything very very seriously but surely confining a 13 yr old to her room for 10 days is going a bit far isn't it??

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Bollss · 14/12/2020 19:08

If you're shielding you can go outside.....? Bit different than being confined to a room against your will no?

formerbabe · 14/12/2020 19:08

@Bluegreen70

Lol if you actually think many parents are doing that to their primary school aged kids

I KNOW it is happening to many primary school kids. If it is necessary, then it is necessary. It depends on the medical staus of the rest of the household.

This thread is the only place I have seen any pearl clutching or winging about this.

Not one single child I know has complained. They understand, and parents make it as good an experience as possible.

Children can and are coping by the thousand.

Yet in pre covid times if a child went to school and told the teachers their parent isolated them in their room as a punishment for days, you'd be making a referral to social services I presume? But child cruelty is now acceptable to potentially prevent the deaths of people who are in the main incredibly elderly. Priorities are clear aren't they
CodenameVillanelle · 14/12/2020 19:09

@Bluegreen70

This is completely normal. Children all over the UK are in this situation. Any child sent home to self isolate who has siblings, or vulnerable family members. We expect any children we send home to be confined to their rooms. Toilet use excepted, but the toilet will need to be cleaned very thoroughly after they have used it. If there are two toilets in the house, then one for the isolator, and one for everyone else in the family.

At 13, she just has to suck it up.Primary school children are coping

Where the hell are you getting this ridiculous advice from??
tootyfruitypickle · 14/12/2020 19:10

I wouldn’t do this to my 13 year old even if she tested positive! We’re a team, and she’d be utterly traumatised if I did that ! I’m old but my chances of getting very ill are still incredibly low . We’re in it together in this house .

YoBeaches · 14/12/2020 19:10

I know a handful of 12+ kids who are doing this or have done this, around the country. My niece is on her second round since October. Where parents are key workers of additional Family vulnerabilities it's the only way.

CodenameVillanelle · 14/12/2020 19:10

@Bluegreen70

Lol if you actually think many parents are doing that to their primary school aged kids

I KNOW it is happening to many primary school kids. If it is necessary, then it is necessary. It depends on the medical staus of the rest of the household.

This thread is the only place I have seen any pearl clutching or winging about this.

Not one single child I know has complained. They understand, and parents make it as good an experience as possible.

Children can and are coping by the thousand.

It's NOT necessary and it's NOT government guidance. I don't know anyone who is doing this. My DC is isolating due to a contact testing positive and he and I are going about as normal.
tootyfruitypickle · 14/12/2020 19:11

Presumably the people doing this are the same people bleaching their fruit and veg?!

Jeez

Clockstop · 14/12/2020 19:11

I know someone who did this to their 5 yo and then had a household party downstairs to celebrate one of their birthdays and making a big point she wasnt invited. Bizarrely cruel, particularly as none of the rest of the family were in any vulnerable categories.

canigooutyet · 14/12/2020 19:12

Don't parents ground their kids anymore?

I'm sure I've read advice to others. send them to their rooms for a couple of days as a result of some mis-deed.

Oh chicken pox, yeah best to keep other household members away.

Bollss · 14/12/2020 19:12

@Clockstop

I know someone who did this to their 5 yo and then had a household party downstairs to celebrate one of their birthdays and making a big point she wasnt invited. Bizarrely cruel, particularly as none of the rest of the family were in any vulnerable categories.
Oh that's disgraceful Sad
CodenameVillanelle · 14/12/2020 19:13

@canigooutyet

Don't parents ground their kids anymore?

I'm sure I've read advice to others. send them to their rooms for a couple of days as a result of some mis-deed.

Oh chicken pox, yeah best to keep other household members away.

No, I've never grounded my child let alone confined him to his bedroom
Hoppinggreen · 14/12/2020 19:13

Both my 11 and 15 year olds have just gone back to school today after 14 days of isolation due to (2 different) classmates testing positive
They didn’t leave the house but apart from that we didn’t do anything different, no idea we were supposed to but I wouldn’t have shut them in their rooms anyway

tootyfruitypickle · 14/12/2020 19:13

When dd had chicken pox aged 11 she literally lay on me for a week!!

Bollss · 14/12/2020 19:14

@canigooutyet

Don't parents ground their kids anymore?

I'm sure I've read advice to others. send them to their rooms for a couple of days as a result of some mis-deed.

Oh chicken pox, yeah best to keep other household members away.

When they've been grounded they've done something wrong. What has this child done wrong? (To be fair I wouldn't ever confine a child to their room for days in any circumstance)

When ds had chicken pox we didn't confine him either.

When my brother had it, my mum didn't quarantine him. I got it at 18 and was very ill but I wouldn't have wanted the poor child locked away to save me from it because I'm not a total monster.

OverTheRainbow88 · 14/12/2020 19:14

I KNOW it is happening to many primary school kids. If it is necessary, then it is necessary. It depends on the medical staus of the rest of the household.

If it’s a 2 parent household would make more sense for the vulnerable adult to stay in one room for those 10 days than the child.
Well that is what I would do.

pringlebells · 14/12/2020 19:15

Awful and I would report them

treening · 14/12/2020 19:15

We expect any children we send home to be confined to their rooms

What utter shite.

Meredithgrey1 · 14/12/2020 19:15

@Clockstop

I know someone who did this to their 5 yo and then had a household party downstairs to celebrate one of their birthdays and making a big point she wasnt invited. Bizarrely cruel, particularly as none of the rest of the family were in any vulnerable categories.
!!! That’s awful
olympicsrock · 14/12/2020 19:16

I think her not leaving the room is a good thing. Can she get a test after 5 days? They could open the door and talk to her form the doorway but good not to have her moving through the house potentially spreading virus to other household
Members. As long as she had stuff to do - books/ tv and some company by phone or from the doorway she will be fine.

treening · 14/12/2020 19:16

I teach in London, and it certainly is the norm.

It really isn't.

canigooutyet · 14/12/2020 19:17

Self Isolation from the NHS

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/when-to-self-isolate-and-what-to-do/

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/how-to-avoid-spreading-coronavirus-to-people-you-live-with/

The very first thing on the second links says

stay on your own in one room as much as possible and keep the door closed
There is no disclaimer about unless....

Bollss · 14/12/2020 19:18

@canigooutyet

Self Isolation from the NHS

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/when-to-self-isolate-and-what-to-do/

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/how-to-avoid-spreading-coronavirus-to-people-you-live-with/

The very first thing on the second links says

stay on your own in one room as much as possible and keep the door closed
There is no disclaimer about unless....

That's if you have symptoms... She doesn't...
treening · 14/12/2020 19:18

How would you propose I keep my four year old confined to his bedroom?

sunset900 · 14/12/2020 19:19

My DS is currently isolating as a close contact and some people are surprised I am not making him stay in his room. To my mind no-one in the house is vulnerable and I wouldn't dream of confining him to his room for any other illness, even if he definitely had it.

CodenameVillanelle · 14/12/2020 19:20

@canigooutyet

Self Isolation from the NHS

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/when-to-self-isolate-and-what-to-do/

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/how-to-avoid-spreading-coronavirus-to-people-you-live-with/

The very first thing on the second links says

stay on your own in one room as much as possible and keep the door closed
There is no disclaimer about unless....

The first link says exercise in the garden and nothing about staying in one room

The second link is for people with SYMPTOMS which children whose bubble have burst do not usually have