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Original poster

7 person gathering -yes or no?

82 replies

UserTwice · 26/04/2021 10:03

DS is in a friendship group of 7.
His birthday is coming up.
He wants to invite all of them to a "garden gathering".

I am an inveterate rule follower and am really struggling between the rationale of "7 rather than 6 is very little extra risk" and my must-follow-rules inclinations.

Would this bother anyone else? Other than it being "the rules" is there a good reason why we shouldn't have 7 people in the garden?

OP posts:
steppemum · 26/04/2021 10:06

there have been almost no recorded cases where they were outside.

so in terms of risk, it is very very low

MRex · 26/04/2021 10:11

It isn't 7 if you have at least one adult there, it's at least 8. Just hold the party a little later this year when everyone can come.

Overthebow · 26/04/2021 10:11

Depends how big your garden is. Is it's big enough they can all spread out and distance then 7 won't really make much difference from 6. If it's a small garden with no room to distance then no, 7 isn't ok. Also depends if you will need to be there to supervise (making it 8) or if they are old enough to to be left to it.

steppemum · 26/04/2021 10:12

how old is ds

jellyfishinatent · 26/04/2021 10:13

It's really not long until the rules change to allow more, personally I would just wait until then

therestissilence · 26/04/2021 10:15

God, this is depressing (no offence, but arghhhh).

No, there is asolutlely no reason why 7 is worse than 6. Hell, have 20 - they are children and it's outside. Inveterate rule-following has massive downsides - such as losing the ability to see things clearly and use one's own common sense and judgement. It's a slippery slope.

The most important thing is your DS's birthday. I hope he has a brilliant one!

LST · 26/04/2021 10:17

We've been camping for 2 weekends on the trot and there were literally no groups of people less than about 20 both weekends.

7 kids in a garden is not an issue.

idontlikealdi · 26/04/2021 10:19

Is he in school with them, mixing indoors as a class? Then yes I would have the 7.

Original poster
UserTwice · 26/04/2021 10:20

@MRex

It isn't 7 if you have at least one adult there, it's at least 8. Just hold the party a little later this year when everyone can come.
Adults will stay inside.
OP posts:
CeibaTree · 26/04/2021 10:20

Wouldn't bother me at all - I presume they are at school together all week anyway. You've just got to use your common sense in this kind of situation and ignore people shrieking about 'THE RULES' Hope your son enjoys his birthday, especially after the year everyone has had :)

Original poster
UserTwice · 26/04/2021 10:21

@idontlikealdi

Is he in school with them, mixing indoors as a class? Then yes I would have the 7.
No. I think there's only a couple he mixes with indoors at school.
OP posts:
Original poster
UserTwice · 26/04/2021 10:23

@jellyfishinatent

It's really not long until the rules change to allow more, personally I would just wait until then
I do agree with this - but unfortunately we don't actually know when this will be and the earliest possible date is the 17th May. It's then half term and everyone will be using the holiday to catch up with far-flung family once it's allowed. So we'd be looking at, at least the middle of June. I know it's still not far, and is definitely plan B.
OP posts:
MRex · 26/04/2021 10:23

You need them all to be able to use the toilet, ideally run in if it rains, grab toys from inside etc. We're probably 7 weeks away from being able to have anyone inside at all, at which point you can go all out on a proper party. It's up to you, as others have said outside transmission is really low and actually cases are really low (depending on where you are, obviously still a little higher in Yorkshire, Leicester, Luton and one or two other places). I just think a real party where they can behave totally normally would be nicer when it's so close.

smithyca · 26/04/2021 10:25

I can just imagine covid circling the garden doing a headcount and waiting to pounce. The rule is ridiculous, if he's in school with these children plus another 20 then what's the problem?

Alfaix · 26/04/2021 10:25

Plan it for the weekend after 17th May. Not long to wait now.

NoSquirrels · 26/04/2021 10:27

Ask the other parents. If they don’t care, do it.

Bluntness100 · 26/04/2021 10:27

Can’t imagine this would bother me remotely.

sirfredfredgeorge · 26/04/2021 10:30

grab toys

Sounds like they're quite a bit older, if it's a no adult party.

The other entirely legal option would be an organised activity where the limits aren't 6.

canoenewbie · 26/04/2021 10:31

Grab toys 😂 OP doesn't even know who they are and is planning on leaving them to it. Doubt they'll be grabbing toys.

itsgettingwierd · 26/04/2021 10:51

We've done 7 outside a few times.

There's 7 of us in my immediate family and if all attending it means missing out a family.

We do still sit SD outside and don't hug etc but we aren't worried at distance

LadyCatStark · 26/04/2021 10:54

Absolutely 100% do it. It’s one other person FFS. I don’t know any one else who wouldn’t do this so don’t let your boy be the one that’s missing out!

Oysterbabe · 26/04/2021 11:36

I'd do it, absolutely.

DrFoo · 26/04/2021 15:28

Just do it for godsake. All this hand wringing over 7 instead of 6.

DrFoo · 26/04/2021 15:29

@Alfaix

Plan it for the weekend after 17th May. Not long to wait now.
Why? Is Covid on his jollies after the 17th May? What's the difference. It's all frankly a bit daft now.
LucilleTheVampireBat · 26/04/2021 15:36

Plan it for the weekend after 17th May. Not long to wait now

Why? What will happen at 11.59 on 16th May that will suddenly make it "safe"? Can people really not assess risk and make judgements without an announcement from the government giving them 'permission'?