Will playgrounds shut again?

[GirlAfraid32]

Any ideas ? I don’t think I can cope if they are. We don’t even have a garden.

@Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum

Where do you live that you are still using playgrounds?

The weather has been so wet and cold in London for weeks. The equipment is always wet and cold. The grass playing fields are muddy and boggy. Would love to use park but it is grim.

South East and I fucking hate going to the playground in the rain but I hate spending all day indoors with a 2.5 year old is much, much grimmer. It's actually quite painful for me to take him out - I'm 34 weeks pregnant and have SPD - but it's nothing compared to the pain of not taking him out...

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

I think they should close.Hopefully parks will stay open I think if they close let’s close the parks, let’s spite everyone not just young children- walk on the roads!

Don't be silly. Nobody wants them to close but maybe they need to.

Don’t your children enjoy scooting around the park, playing on the muddy fields, climbing trees etc? my eldest is 3 and despite what everyone’s experience on mn is, she doesn’t enjoy walking without purpose. Of course sometimes we walk round the Forrest but it’s bloody boring even on the odd occasion. She wants to go on slides and swings- tbh I see adults congregating on walks just as much as in a playground. Closing playgrounds just spites children. Stop the adults that are spreading this virus.

As painful as it is I think they should. Ours is busy most of the time and children (an many parents) don't stay away from each other.

I bloody hope not. I have an 8 week old, a tantrum loving 2 year old, and no support bubble available. The playgrounds are all I have left. If they close I will be one of those awful mums throwing my kids over the fence, because there is no evidence that its transmitted better children, outdoors, by touching something. Its that or I become an alcoholic and swig from my gin bottle at 11am while I try to mentally cope with yet another painting (ie let's destroy everything within reach) session.

No they shouldn't close. Children need something to do. Endless aimless walks get very tedious.

Its that or I become an alcoholic and swig from my gin bottle at 11am 3yr old and an 8 wk old here, share that gin!!!

The playgrounds near us are very very quiet, we haven’t had to share the playground with anyone else for weeks .

No, neither have we. We also live in a flat and have a playground over the road. I'll be devastated if they close it as DS was very upset last time round, very hard to see it every day and not know why he couldn't go in. So if they do that on top of him getting excited about preschool and that not happening would be awful. We have a big park a couple of miles away with a big playground that can get busy (still not that bad in winter) and I could understand why that might close but to close all the small playgrounds that are basically deserted all the time would be a mistake.

I will be one of those awful mums throwing my kids over the fence

Yes, I really did come damn close last time but at least the weather was nice enough for playing with chalks and just sitting in the park but yeah, if they close again I'll be doing the same!

@SmidgenofaPigeon

I imagine lots of people wanting the playgrounds to close have gardens and live hear lovely big open spaces... they’re an absolute godsend for some people with no gardens and cramped living conditions and don’t have other safe big spaces to bike and run around in

I think they actually just have no/older children and a lack of empathy

They haven't closed during any Welsh lockdowns since they reopened in August.

@Omeara

As painful as it is I think they should. Ours is busy most of the time and children (an many parents) don't stay away from each other.

But the evidence for transmission OUTDOORS is minimal.

So the fact that they burn off some energy is a good thing

I’ve taken DD out to the playground most days. The only weather that will stop me is driving, cold rain. Oh and she loves muddy puddles, what kid doesn’t?!

@onlyfoolsandmothers I feel you wrote my post for me!

@Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum

Where do you live that you are still using playgrounds?

The weather has been so wet and cold in London for weeks. The equipment is always wet and cold. The grass playing fields are muddy and boggy. Would love to use park but it is grim.

SW London, and we put on our waterproofs and go most days. I’m guessing you must have a nice big garden to not to need to use parks and playgrounds!

Where I live the parks are rammed. We take the kids all year through. Even in snow. Kids don't care.
We went to one on nye and I can honestly say it was rammed like a summers day. Even the green space around it was packed with riders, walkers runners etc. If it wasn't so outing I'd upload a pic.

@Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum

Where do you live that you are still using playgrounds?

The weather has been so wet and cold in London for weeks. The equipment is always wet and cold. The grass playing fields are muddy and boggy. Would love to use park but it is grim.

Surprised at this

SE London parks are very busy, playgrounds too

We go nearly every day

@MummaBear4321 can I ask if there's a reason of no support bubble.
If u have an under 1 year old even if in a couple you can have a bubble. It changed in Dec.
It's made my life much easier thankfully.

@ImHereForTheEntertainment we have no family who live near, and the family we do have (PIL) have bubbled with DHs sister for childcare. My family live in Ireland. Everyone we know has bubbled with family. Nobody wants to bubble with me tbh.

I hope they will. The one near me has groups of parents socialising in it and no social distancing. This is why the virus has got out of control. Everyone will have to do their bit.

Our nearest playground is an unpleasant mud bath. DS loves it since he likes rolling in mud and sitting down in puddles. We've had it largely to ourselves since the weather worsened. I'll be annoyed if they shut it since we have a tiny garden that DS can't really run about in.

I wish they'd be sensible and give councils the power to make these decisions on a case-by-case basis. A lot of parents can't be bothered to take their kids to the playground if the weather isn't good so that thins the numbers out.

How many A&E admissions will be the result of playground mishaps? Particularly in the cold when fingers are fumbly and shoes more slippy. Wondering if they're trying to mitigate that risk if they do?

Agree on transmission risk is going to be from adults congregating rather than surfaces.

@catsjammies I very much doubt many a&e admissions are as a result of playground injuries, it’s a playground not a construction site

I doubt they will close them but if they do, I shall be using them regardless. Transmission risk outside is understood to be extremely low and there is very little left for children now.

@MummaBear4321

I bloody hope not. I have an 8 week old, a tantrum loving 2 year old, and no support bubble available. The playgrounds are all I have left. If they close I will be one of those awful mums throwing my kids over the fence, because there is no evidence that its transmitted better children, outdoors, by touching something. Its that or I become an alcoholic and swig from my gin bottle at 11am while I try to mentally cope with yet another painting (ie let's destroy everything within reach) session.

I put my DCs over the fence in June/ July. Better than having a depressed 7 year old.

My two don't appreciate them in the winter. DS1 has sensory issues and won't even touch the car handle if it's cold and wet.
The local park is a joyless, slippery swamp until April (like our small back garden)

The playgrounds need to remain open for other families' sanity though. The only way they're a significant Covid risk is if a child breaks their arm and you end up loitering in A&E

The benefits far outweigh the hazards. Formite transmission was dismissed asa significant source of spreading many months ago.