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Original poster

If you have an only child -

188 replies

Workyticket · 23/01/2021 17:47

have they played with anyone else since Christmas?

DS is 8. We play, chat, cook together etc and he chats with pals on the xbox but he's not played with another child since before Christmas and I'm struggling with the thought of him not having the opportunity for god knows how long

It's his birthday next week too which I think is making me feel more emotional about it.

OP posts:
PandemicPalava · 23/01/2021 17:49

Dd has an older friend from dance and they went for a walk last week and this week. Not quite the same but at least she got to see someone else

DinosaurDiana · 23/01/2021 17:49

Do you take him to a play park so that he can at least see other children and interact at a distance ?

Notsosnug · 23/01/2021 17:51

Yes I use a childcare bubble

Original poster
Workyticket · 23/01/2021 17:51

Yes - we go to the park and play footie together and he plays on the swings and stuff but he's desperately missing his friends.

Most of them have siblings which I assume takes the edge off for them

OP posts:
OverTheRainbow88 · 23/01/2021 17:52

Can’t he go out on his bike/scooter with a friend somewhere you can keep an eye on them from afar?

TweezerMay · 23/01/2021 17:53

Yup, DD turned 7 yesterday. Hasn’t been around another child since before Christmas. Her school do a class zoom every day which is good, and some of her regular groups have gone online but it’s not the same. We made a big fuss for her birthday just the three of us and she was fine with it but it did make me a bit sad for her. Didn’t let her know that though!

Fueledwithfairydustandgin · 23/01/2021 17:53

DS is 6 and hasn’t seen another child since school broke up. He’s finding it very difficult

Crookairroad · 23/01/2021 17:54

Yes, sledging. Beyond that, vast mounts of time chatting to pals and often shouting at the x box.

wineandcheeseplease · 23/01/2021 17:55

Nope. It's crap.

Cherryup · 23/01/2021 17:55

My ds (10) is an only, we go to the park once a week and he kicks a ball about with his friend, keeping distance, whilst me and his friend's mum walk around the park for an hour.

Tbh we both live for this hour each week it is so important for our mental health.

AlbertCampion · 23/01/2021 17:57

Yep. DS, 8, has had zooms with friends but that's it. He is really struggling and I am worried for him. We do loads and loads of craft projects, baking and reading together but health reasons mean I can't do a lot of physical stuff with him at the moment. We have a climbing frame and trampoline outside but he is far less enthusiastic about these over winter. It sucks.

JS87 · 23/01/2021 17:57

Not really. We’ve bumped into a few neighbours but other than that it’s all online. He does play computer games with his friends for two hours a day and that seems to satisfy him.

OverTheRainbow88 · 23/01/2021 17:58

Gosh this thread makes me really sad.

Unless child or family is ECV I would let them see a friend, if you were a KW they would be able to see peers in school with no distancing, so 1 friend outside is so much safer.

Mintjulia · 23/01/2021 17:58

I have a 12yo. Since Christmas, he has been out cycling with his friend twice. It counts as exercise, it's outside and anyway, no-one who values their shins goes within 2m of DS on a bike Smile. They chat while they cycle.

Katie517 · 23/01/2021 18:02

I would be letting them go for a walk or to kick a ball around with a friend while you and the friends parent take a little walk with them still in sight. I know how much meeting a friend for a walk a few times a week helps my mental health so I’m sure it would do wonders for children too. I am an only child and my childhood was filled with so many friends I never noticed not having siblings so anything you can do to help at the moment would be a good thing even if it is just a little kick about with one friend.

TempsPerdu · 23/01/2021 18:05

Yes, because she is only 3 and attends nursery two days a week. I am thanking all the gods right now that she is the age she is and nurseries are still open.

TheOtherMaryBerry · 23/01/2021 18:24

My DS is 3 and hasn't played with another child for more than 10 minutes or so a handful of times since March Sad
He was supposed to be starting preschool in January and I'm very frustrated that because we went for a school attached preschool rather than a nursery he can't go, despite lots of children his age being able to.

30not13 · 23/01/2021 18:29

There's no reason he cannot see a friend outside though so it's easily rectified surely?

catmandont · 23/01/2021 18:37

Until today DD hadn't seen anyone in person since before Christmas, it's all online. She's Yr 11 so it's been a tough year - constant assessments as far back as I can remember ( I think the teachers could see the closures coming) so pressure non stop, with no let up.

Today she met a friend for a socially distanced walk and a catch up and she's doing the same again tomorrow with another friend.

Popfan · 23/01/2021 18:50

My 13 year old hasn't seen another child since he broke up for Christmas. I hate the playstation but thank goodness for it in this situation.

Minesril · 23/01/2021 19:08

DS hasn't seen his friends since before Christmas, I think he pours all his attention into his baby brother.

Has anyone else noticed a stronger attachment to cuddly toys? DS has always loved his lion but now he literally will not put him down, won't even leave the house without him without a fuss! He's six.

Kittyninja · 23/01/2021 19:08

My DS 5 is an only, hasn't seen another kid since the school's broke up before Christmas. I'm not friends with any of the other mums and no other children in my family. Because of that there's no chance of him seeing another child and I feel utterly crap about it, (should have made more of an effort making friends with his classmates mum's etc...) He really loves other kids and is very sociable but doesn't seem to mind so much. My own guilt I guess.

Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady · 23/01/2021 19:10

No, not since his cousins on Xmas day.

He's coping very well at the moment. But I feel terrible for him. None of the parents of his close friends drive so we can't meet anyone for a walk, they live too far away.
No one to form a childcare bubble with and no need because we both WFH.

I've been thinking for some time that support bubbles for families with only children should be allowed. Im CV so we probably wouldnt use it but it would help many children

Themostwonderfultimeoftheyear · 23/01/2021 19:16

I will confess that we break the rules slightly and go on walks with DS' best friend's family (also an only child) as I strongly believe that it is wrong that only children can be deprived of the company of other children for months on end. I think only children should be entitled to a support bubble.

GoodGirlsRUs · 23/01/2021 19:21

My DD has her best friend across the road, they are both an only child. Today they played in the street together on their scooters just for an hour.

They stayed apart and washed their hands when they got home.

It's safer than sending her to school.

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