If you have an only child -

[Workyticket]

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.

Themostwonderfultimeoftheyear, definitely agree. In a way, I am grateful that my dc is ok since he can at least have mental interaction with his friends, but I can imagine that it must be harder for younger children to socialise under restricted condition.
But then, missing a proper education has bigger impact on older children compared to younger ones who have years to catch up.
It's hard on everyone, one way or another.

@LittleRa yes but no social interaction! A 10 minute break and a quick lunch sat in a designated seat. No house visits/trips out/parkruns , nothing !

Absolutely xero, it sucks all round

My youngest has spent some of lockdown without siblings around when his older siblings were away at uni.

Luckily, he's a massive introvert, so has absolutely loved it and dreading going back to school anyway; he plays Minecraft daily with friends and has online lessons and that's quite enough for him.

Surely he's not the only child who absolutely loves having his own space and can entertain himself?

My little girl - 4 - has had 2 playdates with her best friend - also an only, made friends with a random boy in the park and goes to preschool (nursery). I am very glad I put so much effort into socialising her from a very early age as she is able to take charge of social situations. Probably wouldn't have bothered as much if she wasn't an only.

*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.
*
My 4yr old was like this with her bunny in the first lockdown!

Same here OP - only DS 7 - he simply misses my parents more than anything, lockdown has been cruel on him - he has no cousins on my husband's side and only sees my nephews and neices once a year - he misses his friends too but also wasn't enjoying the rules at school anyway - he hated the fact he couldn't hug his autistic friend all last year (I only mention she's autistic as she's very touchy-feely which I love about her!), they'd both get a telling off at break times when they played.
All so hard on them. Terrible really.
Hope he can form a bubble or have a distanced play out with some friends soon.

I completely agree that there should be some kind of bubble for only children. My DD7 has really struggled without the interaction of other children. As she is our only and both DH and I are one of 4 we’ve always made an effort to spend lots of time with her cousins and friends from school. I spend my life feeling guilty at the moment that even though I play with her and try to make life as fun as possible with baking, craft, treasure hunts ect it’s not the same as being with her peers. My SIL is due to have her first child in two weeks and DD said to me the other that she feels sorry for the baby as at least she has memories of what life was like before COVID and can look back and feel happy, whereas the baby will always feel sad. Completely broke my heart that she sees this as how life will be now and accepts it.

I don't have an only children and won't pretend that this is comparable but have two at different ages - pre teen and almost adult. Absolutely nothing in common.

DS1 has seen his friends once since November due to isolating pre Christmas then virtual lessons since. College is many miles away so not even friends close enough for him to meet for a week

DS2 would meet a friend for a walk but all of his friends either don't want to, or parents aren't allowing it

This whole situation is crap for everyone, but I feel particularly for children who need to have time with peers - all part of growing up IMO

Not since maybe November as there where a lot of cases in his school so we where mostly isolating before they closed any way my son is 6 he seems quite ok.

For any one with really little ones worrying about development my son saw no one but house hold family (no children) for the first maybe 2 years of his life due to being immuno compromised no play parks no supermarkets no groups he developed normal and went off to nursery at 3 like it was normal.

children are so resilient what will remain as a traumatic Time for you can easily be forgotten or remembered differently for a child.

@Minesril

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.

Yes definitely, my son is 7 and now always wants to have his favourite Pokemon plush with him at all times!

We've formed a bubble with my 4 year old son's best friend as her mum is a single parent. We're lucky that's allowed. However I've also met 2 friends and their 4 year olds, separately, for socially distanced walks or playing at the park. Like other posters have said I feel that the risk of 2 four year olds scooting side by side, or even playing on play equipment together, is small enough to justify the immense benefits.

Yes but 16yo/Yr 11 so she stays in touch with friends online.

Also I'm in Wales and under 11 kids don't need to social distance, so I don't think we're breaking any rules.

Nope. She’s three and broke up from nursery on 20th dec. hasn’t seen another child since. It’s awful.

My DS is an only. He’s always been quite attached to his bunny but definitely more so in the last few weeks too.

DS plays outside with our neighbour’s children most days. I’m not going to deprive him of that and our neighbour is happy with it too.

DD turned 9 yesterday. She hasn't seen another child since school broke up (which was also her best friends's last day in before moving school). Single parent so it's just us two, every day. Not even other family members could come to see her for her birthday. It's horrible.

Has anyone else noticed a stronger attachment to cuddly toys?

Yes. DS7 lines his up in the sofa to watch films with him. He also teaches them lessons.

It’s cute but makes me sad too.

He has an EHCP and thankfully he is in school this time. We weren’t going to send him in but his teacher called and said they thought it would be best for him. I’m really glad she did that.

Another one here who formed a childcare bubble - the friends need childcare, DD needs company so win-win (though hard work for us!).

Those saying 'children are very resilient', they aren't always. DD stopped coping during the first lockdown, would just curl up into a ball and refuse to interact with either or us. That stopped as soon as we could meet in parks in June, and hasn't returned this time as she's seeing other children regularly.

My only ds is 12 and all I can say is thank god for the Xbox. He spends many hours on it each evening playing with his friends. He’s at a bit of an awkward age though and does not want to spend time with just 1 other friend outside. He has therefore not been with a child in person since school broke up.

The biggest issue though is he’s really concerned about both dh and I dying of Covid. And being completely alone. It’s very sad.

With all due respect, the situation only children are in is completely different to anyone with 2 children that don’t get on - or 2 with little in common.

Yes. He had an outside play at a park with his friend on NYE and again on the day lockdown was announced.
He played in the snow with the little girl across the road and with some boys we bumped into at the park.
He played with a little boy at the bike track on Friday.
He is also in school 3 days a week but I appreciate we’re lucky that he gets that this time. Last time he didn’t and it was awful.

@TheOtherMaryBerry

My DS is 3 and hasn't played with another child for more than 10 minutes or so a handful of times since March 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.

Oh no! You're poor DC.

My DS goes to a preschool attached to a school and they're still open. I wonder why they chose not too and if that is allowed.

@Kittyninja

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.

I feel exactly like this too. Literally zero mum friends so the only social interaction he gets with other kids is via nursery 😫

@indemMUND

DD turned 9 yesterday. She hasn't seen another child since school broke up (which was also her best friends's last day in before moving school). Single parent so it's just us two, every day. Not even other family members could come to see her for her birthday. It's horrible.

@idemMUND that sounds really tough. I guess there is no one you could bubble with? Or neighbours kids who might allow some outdoor playing or walking?

Our DD6 is very much struggling with Lockdown this time round, I think because she is more aware than she was last time (we don’t have the benefit of good weather etc this time & the garden is a swamp) I just can’t allow allow her to feel isolated, we feel awful at the mo as she is an only one and has no siblings to bounce off, so yes we have met outdoors with her closest friend who’s Mum is my only real ‘Mum’ friend anyway - we get on brilliantly, although they go to different schools, on a number of occasions simply just to try to make her feel a little better although even that can be hard as she then gets upset when we have to leave. It’s so hard but just something I feel we have to do for our DD’s sake. It’s so bloody hard for everyone 💐