Confused over children and outdoor exercise. Help?

[TheWindBeneathMyPits]

I was texting a friend sounding off about how challenging DS8 behaviour has become recently so she suggested we get the children out for some exercise tomorrow with a walk.

I’ve agreed and I think DS will really benefit as he’s been so very down lately. But I’m now wondering if it’s actually ok to do what we’re planning. I know you can meet one other person outside for a walk but what happens with the children?

She has 1 DD8 . I also have a DD4. Neither of my children are old enough to be left at home alone so they would both have to come along.

Are two of the children classed as meeting one other person and then friend and I as meeting one other person ? Or is it one household can meet one other person ?

I was really looking forward to it as my DC haven’t seen any other children for months but I’m worried about breaking the rules (morally!).

Oh please go. Everyone else is and with good reason. It’s cruel to exclude 5-11 year olds from ever seeing another child. Personally I’d find a walk or football game etc safer than a playground where everyone’s touching the equipment.

Hope your DS enjoys his walk with his friend OP. I'm doing exactly the same for my 9yo tomorrow and I took my 7yo to meet his friend for a kick about in the park the other day.

I'm generally very rule-abiding, but we have met friends for a walk/play outside twice this lockdown. I have two DC and my friend has three.

My eldest DS has autism and is starting secondary in September. He needs to maintain some form of social interaction with his peers before all his hard-earned social skills are lost. I feel no guilt!

Do you have a playground near you that's open? They should be open, but some councils are are closing playgrounds because "they have a responsibility to keep us safe". Anyway in my area they are open but not in two neighbouring areas.

But if they are open somewhere near you, nothing to stop you meeting at the playground - you and your friend can chat at a distance while the kids play together but not together.

I don't necessarily agree that you should be able to go for a walk with your kids under 5/11/whatever because two adults could easily have 5-6 kids between them and that's a big group blocking paths etc. Especially once you add in dogs and the compulsory scooters. But the playgrounds are there to be used.

It heartens me a lot to see everyone is applying common sense to these utterly ludicrous rules when it comes to children older than 5 but too young to go out by themselves. We too have been meeting friends outside for walks/park trips over the last couple of weeks and have absolutely no intention of stopping.

There were a number of statements from Downing St following the story of the boys and their dad being sent home by police for making a snowman, then no.10 saying only kids without gardens should use public playgrounds leading to furore and culminating in the announcement that parents could of course take their kids to the playground for exercise abs supervising adults should keep to social distancing rules

If there was ever clear evidence that the people making policy either don't have kids or someone else does all the childcare for them.....I suppose at least they did a U turn on this. But it's hardly the level of competence and efficiency you want in those in charge in a pandemic.

Why they didn't just make under 12s exempt in terms of outdoor exercise (I think this is the case in Scotland?) and just said 'social distance where possible' like they did for tiny cramped classrooms when they were all crammed in 30 to a room before Xmas.

Yeah I was referring to kids under 5 as I have a 4yr old...

Rules are ridiculous - my child spends 3 days a week in pre school with about 30 so a walk outside with 1 other isnt going to harm them!

Pleased people are doing this and I agree the 5-9 year olds have completely been forgotten in all this. They should be able to meet a friend too and get fresh air and exercise.

Common sense should prevail.

@IloveJKRowling

There were a number of statements from Downing St following the story of the boys and their dad being sent home by police for making a snowman, then no.10 saying only kids without gardens should use public playgrounds leading to furore and culminating in the announcement that parents could of course take their kids to the playground for exercise abs supervising adults should keep to social distancing rules

If there was ever clear evidence that the people making policy either don't have kids or someone else does all the childcare for them.....I suppose at least they did a U turn on this. But it's hardly the level of competence and efficiency you want in those in charge in a pandemic.

Why they didn't just make under 12s exempt in terms of outdoor exercise (I think this is the case in Scotland?) and just said 'social distance where possible' like they did for tiny cramped classrooms when they were all crammed in 30 to a room before Xmas.

Exactly this. We've been "bumping into" people in the local park or on walks. The risk of transmission between kids skating / scooting / cycling together or kicking a ball around is tiny. There was a thread taken down this morning full of people who are meeting up with family and friends indoors because they feel it's safe. Letting your child play outside with one other child is nothing compared to that level of denial.

The weather is rubbish so we’re not going today but we’ve said we may re arrange for another day.

We live across from a park and I noticed a couple of DDs classmates in the park together (before the heavens opened) . Parents distancing but the two DC did hug a couple of times . I know one of the DC is a KW kid so has been in school.

I’m not judging at all, but it’s making me wonder how I would feel if my DD briefly hugged friends DD (also KW Dc) would the risk still be low outside?

I’ve no intention of encouraging it but DD is very impulsive even with reminders and I have visions of her jumping on friends DD as soon as she spots her .

So it’s making me wonder whether I should bother at all and then I’m getting cross with myself for being so daft

Sorry but I put my child and all the children in my family before these bullshit rules, they’ve given up enough for the older generation. Walk, meet up, let them play and interact !

I was abiding by the rules but last weekend decided enough was enough. Until then DD8 had done all her socialising via my phone, so more screen time, and no exercise involved with that. She's an only child, I'm not a key worker (could blag it but trying not to use a space unless essential), and nearly two months with no face to face contact with other children has left her sad, flat and quiet. To date I'm unaware of any social experiments trying this level of isolation out on children but can confirm the affects are very very negative.

I felt so so guilty but met a friend and her son for a walk on Monday. Quiet area, peeing down with rain so saw no one else. It felt amazing but still riddled with guilt afterwards which seems insane.

I hoping they consider these children when they review the rules on Monday so I can have another walk minus the guilt and paranoia.

I collect DS1's (10) friend on foot and take them to the park. Friend is still below the age of criminal responsibility
This week I bought DS2 (7) along as well.

DS2 doesn't have friends of his own any more. He loathes remote communication, and his old friends continued on school in his absence since last March, and he couldn't work out how to slot back in after having close to no opportunity to interact with other 7 year olds for nearly 6 months. Being dependent on an older sibling with ASD as his only child companion has been awful for his social confidence. A huge amount of damage has been done, and his behaviour is often angry or symptomatic of depression.

The chances of a pair of children denied access to school, going nowhere other than their home, stuck with parents WFH/ SAHP managing to to give each other a virus while playing in a park is as pretty damned close to 0% as you'll ever manage.

This piece of law is an ass.
So are the ignoramouses who created it with not a jot of regard for the development and physical health of children who are too young to go out independently.

I wouldn't as it's against the law. If everyone bends the rule that affects them the most, it would take even longer to get through this.
I do agree there may be times when you need to, but really only when absolutely necessary. In most cases it's not reasonable, in my opinion.
Hope everyone is getting through half term ok!

I agree with others that the rules have ignored the needs of 5 to 9 year olds. It seems the only option for this age group is to 'run into' each other at the playground.

@kowari
Indeed. How is that safer than a walk in the countryside?
I emailed my mp about this exact issue. No response as usual

@Weekends

I wouldn't as it's against the law. If everyone bends the rule that affects them the most, it would take even longer to get through this. I do agree there may be times when you need to, but really only when absolutely necessary. In most cases it's not reasonable, in my opinion. Hope everyone is getting through half term ok!

Oh do fuck off! If its OK for 2 adults and 2 4yo to meet it should be ok for 2 adults and 2 6yo to meet. I wish people would back off with this pretentious crap.

Since you asked my 11 and 14yo are getting through half term fine because they can see a friend for a walk or bike ride without adult supervision. My 6yo however is absolutely sick of the sight of me and after spending the last 6 weeks seeing most of in class actually in school via zoom and asking every day why he's not allowed to go in. He is also not allowed to see his friend at the park like his siblings can and do you know who he blames for this? Me! He thinks I'm being cruel withholding him from the things that everyone else around him seems to be allowed to do. So for him half term sucks as he puts it thanks for asking!

For those saying it’s wrong because of the ‘rules’.

So it’s ok for two adults and two 4 years olds to meet. But the minute they have their 5th birthday this suddenly becomes a huge Covid risk?

Maybe apply a bit of critical thinking here. It’s a sad state of affairs where everyone blindly accepts rules and laws that make no sense..

@Delatron exactly! Critical thinking seems to be a lacking trait on MN lately

I'd do it OP. My DC have been meeting one friend outside for exercise. They're older than your DC so I don't need to go too, but it's so important for them (for fresh air and exercise and social reasons) that I would definitely be breaking the rules in your shoes.

Please do it, OP. This ‘rule’ is damaging, nonsensical and not even consistent across the UK. I don’t think there have been any outbreaks in Scotland associated with two under-12s meeting up along with their parents. 🙄

Ha yes, the science must be different in Scotland 🙄!

@Delatron

For those saying it’s wrong because of the ‘rules’.

So it’s ok for two adults and two 4 years olds to meet. But the minute they have their 5th birthday this suddenly becomes a huge Covid risk?

Maybe apply a bit of critical thinking here. It’s a sad state of affairs where everyone blindly accepts rules and laws that make no sense..

Exactly. We're not asking for special treatment for these children, just for them to be treated in the same way as under 5s. Both groups of children need adult supervision so the rules should be the same for both groups to reflect this.

@3littlewords I was replying honestly, with my opinion, to the question that the OP asked.
Not enjoying lockdown either and agree that inconsistencies with rules between nations, ages and also between lockdowns themselves don't help at all, but this is the conclusion I have come to from my experiences of the pandemic so far. Any good news on 22nd Feb can't come soon enough for me!

Just do it OP. It's gone on too long. I would do it if I hadn't found another way round the problem. DS1 is old enough to go to the park with a friend. DS2 is 9 and has been playing outside with a friend from a few houses down.

We stuck to all the rules and still caught covid late last year. Even if we hadn't caught it I would still be making sure the DSs have some social contact. The effects of them being isolated for so long is worse than catching covid IMO. The chances of you catching anything outside are minute.

The government hardly seem to give children any thought at all I'm really sick of it 😡