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Only child report on the news.

11 replies

summ3rs · 31/05/2020 20:45

Did anyone else see the BBC report about only children on the news this evening (Sunday 31st May). Certainly didn’t help my anxiety about my little man not having any interaction with children since March.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
KellyHall · 31/05/2020 20:48

No, and I can't fins it. Can you share a link please?

FTMF30 · 31/05/2020 20:52

Or could you provide a summary of what was said?

summ3rs · 31/05/2020 21:54

I can’t find it on my BBC news app but I watched on tv earlier this evening.

Basically saying over 3 and a half million only child families in UK and that the NSPCC were worried that the isolation was hitting this group really hard. Showed two boys from two separate families who were alone and how they missed their friends etc. I’m probably feeling over sensitive to this atm as my boy has been struggling lately.

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BooseysMom · 31/05/2020 22:37

Hi @summ3rs
Sorry to hear you're struggling. I feel this way too. It's so hard. My DS just wants to play all the time, games that he should really be playing with other kids. I do my best but am really feeling my years atm!
I haven't seen this prog and think i'll give it a miss

KellyHall · 01/06/2020 09:33

It is tough. Dd hates me working from home because she feels like I'm ignoring her, she doesn't understand that I always did work but she was at nursery playing with her friends.

We do lots of video calls so dd can still interract with some other children. She's also going back to nursery tomorrow for a few hours, a couple of times a week.

M1220 · 01/06/2020 13:56

I saw this title and I hoped for something positive but it sounds the opposite and whatever it said who says its true anyway.

mylittlesandwich · 01/06/2020 14:00

I haven't seen it myself but these are hardly normal circumstances. DS will probably be an only (only 6 months just now). He will usually interact with plenty of other children as hopefully worldwide pandemics will be rare. It's hard on everyone please try and cut yourself some slack.

Purpleartichoke · 01/06/2020 14:02

I agree it’s been stressful. I wish dd could play with other kids.

We gave massively relaxed our online socializing rules to help compensate. Thankfully most of dd’s friends parents have done the same, though it’s definitely the other only children who have been allowed to reach out the most.

elQuintoConyo · 01/06/2020 14:30

We have one 8 year old. We-re in SPain, so very strict lockdown here. DS has been fine, like a pp a little frustrated when we're both working, and he HATES his schoolwork with a passion.

But he was doing the Lego Challenge with two friends and his cousin, so daily videos to compare what they'd made. Every Sunday he plays an online game with his cousin in NZ, they've never actually met but have developed a lovely relationship with this. They play at the same time while comandeering my phone to simultaneously whatsapp video each other.

He's done a handful of whatsapp calls between family/friends, but unless they're all doing something (roblox, chess, Bingo with my dad!) the calls are rather boring for him.

It's got better in the last couple of weeks as we're allowed to socialise with 2m distance. He's been to the beach a couple of times with his BFF, bike rides/scooter through town. This Friday he's going to a friend's house with a pool to splash each other stupid!

He is a very secure little boy, used to entertaining himself. But we've also been playing boardgames as a family, reading, making crap with old boxes, baking, housework etc. Or just watching a film together. He is very sociable but has seemed fine staying at home (no real bloody choice!) and i'm sure he'll get back into the swing of things with friends and school once all this calms down.

That's not to say he hasn't had his pissy moments, mostly surrounding schoolwork or trying to get him off minecraft. We have no outside space (flat with no balcony or shared garden), but a nice view of the sea so he's spent nearly 3 months spying on boats with his binoculars and drawing flags Grin

Jillyhilly · 01/06/2020 15:57

Just ignore it. It matters not a whit - the important thing is the child in front of you, now, and a peaceful household with a parent who feels ok about things. Not what the NSPCC and the BBC tells you to think about the situation, especially if it’s going to make you anxious.

My DS is 7 and currently having a love fest with his iPad, eating chocolate in his bed and shouting for apple juice. He seems happy right now. That’s good enough for me.

KellyHall · 02/06/2020 15:25

My neighbour has two boys, I saw them in the garden the other day. They were sat leaning against the shed, the big on was tapping the little one's head against the shed repeatedly. I couldn't help but think they probably both wish they were only children!

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