Neighborhood play groups

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids are allowed to play in groups of 10 or fewer in phase 1.

Sure, if they're wearing masks or staying 6 feet apart. That's not what's happening in my neighborhood.

No daycare groups are not in masks or expected to distance, at least here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're in northern VA, and over the past week, our once-cautious neighborhood has become less so, and the kids are playing outside in groups. My 6-year-old son REALLY wants to join a group of his friends but we're so far saying no. The parents of some of the other kids are essential workers so their exposure is probably greater. Are we being too cautious at this point? I really don't like depriving my son of all contact with peers, but I also don't want to get Covid.

I’m curious what your plan is. Keep him inside for 18+ months until a vaccine is developed?

[Anonymous]

One thing I think is kind of funny is lots of people I know are fine with their kids playing with other kids on their block, but they won’t invite over a friend that lives 1/2 mile away or something. It’s a little weird to me, and not entirely rational, like if the kids are from the block it’s “safe” but other friends are not. I think it’s fine to allow or not allow but you need to be aware of what you are allowing and the exposures that are occurring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP says you can listen to her and ignore everyone else because she is the only one who is right.

I tend to distrust that kind of person. Especially in a situation where things are moving quickly and we are learning more every day.

We are doing small group play dates outside. You make your own choice.

Why no! I'm PP and I'm not the only one who's right. OP is right too!

Enjoy your play dates. You made your decision, as you say, and it's one that would make me distrust you. We are indeed learning more every day. And what we're learning is not necessarily good. But a lot of parents are choosing to focus only on "learning" what fits what they already want to do. Your decision, after all.

See, but I think you are the one with confirmation bias, who only remembers articles if they confirm the sky is falling because it “fits what you already want to do,” which is panic and feel superior. You can’t have it both ways.

[Anonymous]

We let my son play with two friends outside. The kids are 11 and 12, so they are not all over each other. They ride bikes or skateboard. You don't have to let your child play with neighborhood kids if you are not comfortable with it, of course. That's a reasonable choice, but I think letting (at least older) kids out to hang out with one or two friends is reasonable at this juncture as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One thing I think is kind of funny is lots of people I know are fine with their kids playing with other kids on their block, but they won’t invite over a friend that lives 1/2 mile away or something. It’s a little weird to me, and not entirely rational, like if the kids are from the block it’s “safe” but other friends are not. I think it’s fine to allow or not allow but you need to be aware of what you are allowing and the exposures that are occurring.

I don't think it matters where the kids come from (although its certainly more convenient to do kids on the street.) In my case, I just want to stick to the same few kids on repeat rather than cycling through a bunch of different families. Maybe that doesn't matter but it makes me feel better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids are allowed to play in groups of 10 or fewer in phase 1.

Sure, if they're wearing masks or staying 6 feet apart. That's not what's happening in my neighborhood.

Soure?

I don't know where you're located, but the social distancing and face covering orders are pretty limited in scope. In Maryland they basically only apply to businesses and public transportation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're in northern VA, and over the past week, our once-cautious neighborhood has become less so, and the kids are playing outside in groups. My 6-year-old son REALLY wants to join a group of his friends but we're so far saying no. The parents of some of the other kids are essential workers so their exposure is probably greater. Are we being too cautious at this point? I really don't like depriving my son of all contact with peers, but I also don't want to get Covid.

I’m curious what your plan is. Keep him inside for 18+ months until a vaccine is developed?

I really wonder about this, too. I have a lot of friends that have been on a tight lockdown for a while now, and it's not clear what their end-game is (short of a vaccine).

My kids are pretty young, and haven't been asking to play with others. We'd probably let them at this point, if we knew the family well enough to trust that they're not making particular bad decisions. For instance, we'd want to trust that they're not currently, or had no recently, been sick even with mild symptoms.

But even that hasn't come up yet. It's sort of weird situation. Social norms concerning the response to COVID have become so polarized. Even if I was comfortable with my kids playing with those from another family, I don't feel comfortable asking the other parents yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing I think is kind of funny is lots of people I know are fine with their kids playing with other kids on their block, but they won’t invite over a friend that lives 1/2 mile away or something. It’s a little weird to me, and not entirely rational, like if the kids are from the block it’s “safe” but other friends are not. I think it’s fine to allow or not allow but you need to be aware of what you are allowing and the exposures that are occurring.

I don't think it matters where the kids come from (although its certainly more convenient to do kids on the street.) In my case, I just want to stick to the same few kids on repeat rather than cycling through a bunch of different families. Maybe that doesn't matter but it makes me feel better.

It matters. The fewer people you mix with the slower it spreads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids are allowed to play in groups of 10 or fewer in phase 1.

Right but most of the time playing is not 6 ft apart, so then what do you do??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids are allowed to play in groups of 10 or fewer in phase 1.

Right but most of the time playing is not 6 ft apart, so then what do you do??

What's your point? Social distancing isn't legally required outside some limited situations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids are allowed to play in groups of 10 or fewer in phase 1.

Right but most of the time playing is not 6 ft apart, so then what do you do??

What's your point? Social distancing isn't legally required outside some limited situations.

People are still supposed to be social distancing in Northern Virginia where OP lives. That is explicitly stated as part of Phase 1. There is no exception for kids who want to play together. That is the point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids are allowed to play in groups of 10 or fewer in phase 1.

Right but most of the time playing is not 6 ft apart, so then what do you do??

What's your point? Social distancing isn't legally required outside some limited situations.

People are still supposed to be social distancing in Northern Virginia where OP lives. That is explicitly stated as part of Phase 1. There is no exception for kids who want to play together. That is the point.

Are any Northern Virginia jurisdictions still at phase 0 with the stay-at-home order in effect? If no, then I think the rules in Northern Virginia are like MoCo: the stay-at-home order is lifted and social distancing requirements only apply to businesses.

I know the websites say more than that, but read the executive orders. At least in Maryland, the executive orders are consistently more narrow than the websites imply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids are allowed to play in groups of 10 or fewer in phase 1.

Right but most of the time playing is not 6 ft apart, so then what do you do??

What's your point? Social distancing isn't legally required outside some limited situations.

People are still supposed to be social distancing in Northern Virginia where OP lives. That is explicitly stated as part of Phase 1. There is no exception for kids who want to play together. That is the point.

Are any Northern Virginia jurisdictions still at phase 0 with the stay-at-home order in effect? If no, then I think the rules in Northern Virginia are like MoCo: the stay-at-home order is lifted and social distancing requirements only apply to businesses.

I know the websites say more than that, but read the executive orders. At least in Maryland, the executive orders are consistently more narrow than the websites imply.

You are incorrect. Social distancing applies beyond just businesses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids are allowed to play in groups of 10 or fewer in phase 1.

Right but most of the time playing is not 6 ft apart, so then what do you do??

What's your point? Social distancing isn't legally required outside some limited situations.

People are still supposed to be social distancing in Northern Virginia where OP lives. That is explicitly stated as part of Phase 1. There is no exception for kids who want to play together. That is the point.

Are any Northern Virginia jurisdictions still at phase 0 with the stay-at-home order in effect? If no, then I think the rules in Northern Virginia are like MoCo: the stay-at-home order is lifted and social distancing requirements only apply to businesses.

I know the websites say more than that, but read the executive orders. At least in Maryland, the executive orders are consistently more narrow than the websites imply.

You are incorrect. Social distancing applies beyond just businesses.

Can you provide a citation? The only references I see to social distancing in executive orders is specific to businesses. I know the websites recommend social distancing in more cases, but it's not required by law.

If it's really there, it shouldn't be hard to link to applicable executive order.