Government guidance re under 5’s and exercise updated today

[Honeydukesmum]

www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home#meeting-other-people

It’s been updated for under 5’s exclusion from numbers for exercise

I thought that was already the rule

It doesn’t help that much. It was made when they were all in school. But my dd was 5 last week. I can no more leave her to meet my mum for a walk then I could then so now I just can’t do it? Scotland’s rule is better.

@Superketchup

It doesn’t help that much. It was made when they were all in school. But my dd was 5 last week. I can no more leave her to meet my mum for a walk then I could then so now I just can’t do it? Scotland’s rule is better.

Absolutely. I can't leave DS at home alone, so during the week when DH is at work, I can't walk with another adult as he's with me. Similarly, DS can't exercise with another child his age as they can't go out without adult supervision.

With primary schools shut, this rule really needs reviewing.

Could your DS go out for a walk with another adult (eg, auntie etc) to give you a break?
(Assuming primary age so can do up his own coat, can be told to look both ways when crossing the road etc.)

We don't have any family nearby, unfortunately, otherwise that would at least vary it up a bit.

I also think the fact that he cannot see another child face-to-face legally shouldn't be overlooked. Under 5s are rightly excluded from the numbers. Senior school children can walk alone with a friend. Primary aged children, nothing. Just being able to go and kick a ball in the park with a friend, rather than always having to exercise with mum, would be very welcome for DS.

@Superketchup

It doesn’t help that much. It was made when they were all in school. But my dd was 5 last week. I can no more leave her to meet my mum for a walk then I could then so now I just can’t do it? Scotland’s rule is better.

Just do it, nobody knows she turned 5 last week.

The rule needs to be updated to cover all primary school children.

I now can’t meet anyone because I’ve dc in the week and when dh is off at weekends I’m not allowed to go.

Note that although it's on the UK government website that isn't the rule in Scotland where children under 12 don't count towards the 2 person rule.

With a child who can be sensible without an adult immediately next to them you could walk somewhere safe with another parent whilst the children walk in a pair a little way in front. I saw this quite a lot in the first lockdown.

That's a great idea, thanks @Spikeyball. DS is 9 so that would work.

I've written to my MP to ask if this rule can be reviewed in light of primary schools being closed.

There is no time to go for a walk. My 4 year old is tied to the kitchen table most of the day fullfilling the school curriculum timetable!! These are crazy days.

The guidance seems a little unclear to me- so it’s ‘exercise’ as opposed to a run around in a park? As that would be the two adults meeting socially??

Surely exercise for the under 5s is running around in a park or a playground? Mine's not doing laps of the park in lycra with a fitbit yet .

People must remain socially distanced when exercising with someone from outside their household so no running round a park or playground is not appropriate as this wouldn't remain so. Your children can cope without social contact for a couple of months so stop trying to bend the rules to suit yourselves. This is exactly the thing the police should be focussing on because people behaving irresponsibly could cause severe and irreversible economic damage if further restrictions have to be placed on businesses.

@StatisticalSense. Then why are playgrounds still open if children aren't allowed to use them?

@MessAllOver
Children can use them on their own or with siblings but should not be doing so at the same time as friends as this causes unnecessary socialisation between parents which is completely illegal and it is extremely unlikely that social distancing will be maintained which again would make it illegal. Personally I believe playgrounds should have been shut for this exact reason as social restrictions are so much less damaging than economic ones.

@StatisticalSense so you think it’s ok for children to have no social contact for a couple of months? Wow. I can’t believe what we our doing to our children. This is so very wrong.

@statisticalsense
I disagree, children cannot and should not have to cope with no social contact for months. Many poster on here have posted about the impacts it had on their children last time.
I for one will be taking my child to the park/playground so she does still have the social skills such as waiting for a turn on swing, learning how other children play.
Reception is all about play based learning. They can't be in a solitary bubble for that.

@MotorwayDiva
Children can cope without social contact if the alternative is coping without food or access to healthcare. People refusing to break social chains of transmission are showing a total lack of respect towards society and are effectively causing millions to become unemployed and thousands to die.

It doesn't work like that anyway @StatisticalSense. Toddlers tend to play alongside each other not with each other in any case and children don't necessarily prefer the children of their parents' friends. DS has instantly hit it off with children we've never seen before while politely ignoring the children of my friends .

@Superketchup

I now can’t meet anyone because I’ve dc in the week and when dh is off at weekends I’m not allowed to go.

Why aren’t you allowed to go at weekends?

And to be blunt - you have a DH and DC and phone/internet, it won’t kill you not to meet anyone face to face for a while.

Of course children need to social contact. DS is behind on his building relationship and play skills, months and months will no contact is only going to make this worse. The risk outside is really low, if it was soft play then maybe but not a normal park

@StatisticalSense who’s trying to bend the rules to suit themselves?