Are you taking your kids to the park?

[Needausername99]

Parks are open within the rules this time so I have been taking mine but they've been really quiet.

Now we're being told we all need to do more and act like we all have the virus - obviously if this was the case then we wouldn't be going to the park.

So have I been selfish and pushed the boundaries or should I keep on going?!

We are going to the park. We struggled during the first lockdown with lack of activities but at least we had the paddling pool, garden play, sand pit, bike rides etc. It’s just too muddy / cold for those things now. The park is all we have.

Yes most days.
One local one though I've avoided as been busier than the summer! Prob over 100 kids in there when we went. Plus parents.

The Government are the problem not us, and their underfunding, cuts and mismanagement of the NHS has caused the NHS to spiral because of it, so the easiest excuse is to blame the public instead.

Go to the park and let your kids play and get some fresh air.

We haven’t because our area feels really busy with people out and about at the minute. We’ve been going on daily walks and taking DD out on her bike but not stopping to play on equipment.

Yes I took my baby for their first go on a swing today there was only one other family there. Baby groups are cancelled and aside from walks with other mums there is nothing to do. We love being outdoors so this is something else we can do to add a little variety to an otherwise very dull and depressing maternity leave.

@Thislittlefinger123

I'm taking my DC anywhere we fancy that's open outside. We've stuck to the rules for nearly a year, their education is not being prioritised and I feel we've contributed enough to the collective effort. We will obey social distancing but are going outside as much as we like.

This

Yes.

There is literally nothing else for kids to do. We drive at weekends a short distance (5 ish miles) to one that is part of a managed complex as the ones in my village are littered with glass and drug paraphernalia.

I am a key worker, dd is in school as I am a single parent with no other choice as my work have refused to furlough me and my job cannot be done remotely. A couple of hours wandering the estate, feeding the ducks and playing in the park is doing both of us the world of good. I don't go out in the week aside from work so I will make the most of my unlimited exercise at the weekend.

No, we have lots of forest area to walk in where we won’t see anyone else. The parks and playgrounds here are busier and cases are out of control.

The way I see it now (after being super strict for 9 months) is that kids won't be vaccinated anytime soon... So once the vulnerable are vaccinated, kids will go back to school and the covid will rip through the schools and most kids will get it.... I can't see them getting kids to isolate from school for 2 weeks if they are positive from covid for another year or 2... So I've accepted my kids will probably have to catch it. So I'm less scared of taking them to a park and I've let my 3 year old return to pre school otherwise they are going to miss out for everyone else's cause but their own. I bet those who have been vaccinated won't sacrifice them going out and about once it's only the kids left to catch it either!!!
Playgrounds are for kids too so in theory no vulnerable people will be going there unless they've weighed up the risks and decided they will chance it

Yep and even bought a non essential cake and coffee from the cafe...gasp!!!

Yes

Act like we have the virus???
What good will flopping around the bed/ sofa in a dressing gown of doom, eating tomato soup, coughing and using poorly voice achieve???

Yes, we go out to parks and playgrounds. The risk is still very low and outweighed by the benefits.
A significant proportion of people with the virus are in hospitals/ carehomes, so they're not hanging around in playgrounds.
People in need of the dressing gown of doom are also not hanging around playgrounds. So the chance of meeting someone infectious is already significantly lower than thd headline local rate.

My children have already lost organised sport (some since March), the brisk walk of the school run. Daylight is limited and consumed by homeschooling. I'm not going to deprive them of the few crumbs like playgrounds from an irrational level of fear.

Yes I'm taking my toddler. She's been having lots of fun at different playgrounds and I won't take that opportunity for play away from her. To be honest I still feel like I'm 'making up' for the lost play opportunities we missed when they were closed, and I'm making the most of the time they're open, in case they shut again. Sometimes they're busy, sometimes we're the only ones. I don't meet up with anyone else or interact with any other people there

Absolutley! We have one accross the road from our house. Literally a 30 second walk.

I can see who is on it before we leave. It is very small so we go if it is empty which it is most days atm. spend 20 mins and thats it.
I see very little risk as they cross the road and wash their hands straight away.

Yes we go to our village park on foot/scooter/bike, rarely anyone in it. We also take the football and have a kick about.

We have even driven to two local village parks that are about 5/6 miles in different directions. Rarely anyone in them.
We have been a low case, rural area throughout. Happy to take them, they have been denied every other enjoyable activity to them.

We walk round the park and feed the ducks. We don't play in the play park. We don't have a garden and the park is 4 doors down so it's the only real option for outside space that isn't just walking on a pavement round the streets.

@Thislittlefinger123 couldn’t agree more.

Park yes, playground no

Yes, everyday. I'm surprised at so many people saying the parks are quiet where they are, they're pretty busy here! All the kids are kitted out in snow suits and boots etc. I think it's so important that they get out and interact with other children and get fresh air and exercise.

Yes, 7&8 year old. Pretty much at home 24/7 since March (except sept-Dec for school) except for parks/ outside. Don’t go in play equipment if other children around. Seems extreme but it’s keeping out the way & kids don’t notice (I wouldn’t take them at lunchtime but may go 8am)

Took our grandchildren out a walk after dark before their tea with their new torches we got them. They loved it, it was quiet they had great fun fresh air came home hungry for tea.
Both pre schoolers at our for childcare 1 day a week, our play park is very quiet since Monday so will take them there if that’s what they want. Wipes and hand gel at the ready.

Yes.

Not aimed at you at all, but we need to have a serious conversation as a society about childhood inactivity and obesity once we get back to some semblance of normal. It is going to take a long time to undo the damage caused to children's health, especially children from poorer backgrounds, by the past year.

We go to the park every day but not to the playgrounds as of last week. The rate where we live in London is really high, and among the key worker bubbles at.my DC's primary school.for the first time all year there are multiple children getting sick and/or giving it to their families.

We're climbing trees, bike riding, playing football, popping bubbles, digging dirt, making 'fairy shelters' with twigs etc. Would all be very wholesome fun if only I could.have a friend or two join, but it's all a bit tedious now!

Playpark this afternoon.

Nice walk there. They had a play and noone else around.

Slapped a bit of hand gel on and then nice walk home.

There was nothing more upsetting that seeing playgrounds blocked off 1st time around.

Yes, park and play ground , at least 3 times a week