Anyone worried about playgrounds & COVID?

[angel24711]

Just that really, live in London, we have stopped going, my children are NOT delighted. We see them at a distance and they are packed.
No ones socially distancing. Is it just me worrying???

I am not allowing my DC to go in them as they are quite busy and they can't be trusted not to lick their hands!

Play early before others are up and out, buy a food thermos and take some porridge or similar with you and some hot drinks. Play first then have a picnic breakfast, maybe a scoot or bike ride around the park when the play equipment gets busy head home. Lo will be tired and you can have a peaceful afternoon of pottering knowing you've already been out and about

I'm not concerned. Kids stress very very low risk, especially outdoors. Just wash their hands before and after.

*are, not stress

If they close I’ll ignore it. I suspect most will.

@thinkfast

We re in north London. On Xmas day our nearest playground only had about 5 or 6 other children so we went in. Since then it's been packed. No way social distancing is possible. Never seen it that busy. My kids haven't been allowed back in. They are upset about it but to me it's too risky.

If anyone knows of a quiet playground in north London, please let me know.

Where are you in North London?

We find the parks at Shoreditch park, Sheperdess walk, Stoke Newington Common, the quiest one we find is Allens Gardens.

I really doubt it is low risk if the new variant can infect children more easily.

If the children are distanced and don’t breathe all over each other, I doubt equipment touching is an issue. However, in crowded playgrounds I see around me (SW London) both the children and adults are far too close to one another.

However, I do recognise young children really need social interaction so, within reason, it is a matter of personal choice.

If I had confidence on this lockdown only being 6 weeks or so, I guess I would think best to avoid any non essential mixing at all as NHS is in dire position. However, it is really hard to have trust right now.

Like some PP I'm more worried about them closing. DD was so upset in the 1st lockdown about not being able to go on the play equipment - she needs the exercise and enjoys the interaction with other kids. We'll just try to keep our distance from others and use hand san/wash as soon as we get in.

hundreds of children slobbering and sneezing on never cleaned equipment during a pandemic in which the virus is known to hang around on surfaces for days afterwards.......what could possibly go wrong?!

How is everyone even so sure that "the risk is extremely low"?
To me it feels too risky too, as PP have said I can't stop my DC touching their faces and putting their hands in the mouth.

are you worrying for yourself, the kids anyone else? For example, am perfectly happy for me and toddler to go to the playground - my risk is low, his is minimal - but i am not happy for my elderly relative to come with us. So it really depends on on who you mean. Kids are much more likely to be affected by other childhood diseases than covid.

@lalalalands

How is everyone even so sure that "the risk is extremely low"? To me it feels too risky too, as PP have said I can't stop my DC touching their faces and putting their hands in the mouth.

Then don't use the playground and leave the rest of us alone!

@bookworm14

If you’re so worried don’t bloody use them. But please don’t try and take away the last vaguely social activity available to my only child DD.

This.

Not just you. Our local London pack is rammed (50+kids easily at any one time) and I’ve overheard lots of parents say no. It’s the only park within walking distance for lots of parents so it must be a really tough call. Feel so sorry for the kids but you’d be crazy not to notice that the risk of transmission must be sky high from all the kids and parents touching the same surfaces all day long.

Wouldn't give it a second thought and would continue to use them busy or quiet.

I'm not worried. We usually go at 9.30am and it's generally quiet (this morning we were the only ones at first). At weekends they're busier but I've never found it hard to socially distance - there are other parents gathering but I have no reason to be near them so it's not a problem. We're in London and there are a ton of playgrounds near us, probably 50+ within walking distance. So there are always options to go to a quieter one.
Risk of fomite transmission is very low outdoors. I feel sorrier for the kids who are kept away from opportunities to play, especially if they are being ignored at home due to parents wfh.

Then don't use the playground and leave the rest of us alone!

@alex1889 I'm not attacking anyone for using playgrounds?

Just would have found it helpful to see some studies or data that shows no-one catches covid at playgrounds. Maybe then I'd go too! It's not like I'm enjoying seeing my child miss out.

Londoner here and, yeah, it’s a bit of a worry for us too. Particularly with this new strain of virus, I have a 3 yr old but if we’re in the parks after the schools kick out, well it’s like something out of the Hunger Games! It’s manic. Now the schools are closed, the parks are pretty rammed too. Park equipment is a high touch area, rarely see anyone hand sanitising etc and kids can’t socially distance easily.

That said, we do use play equipment in parks regularly because honestly there’s nothing else to do and my DS is climbing the walls. We sanitise hands before and after but he definitely touches his face etc in between but not much can be done.

So I don’t think you’re overreacting for thinking it’s a risk area for virus transmission. Equally I’m not so worried that we’re avoiding playgrounds.