How do parents feel about everyday colds?

[Anonymous]

I’m so glad my kids were little long before Covid happened. We used to have a weekly playgroup that met at different peoples’ houses and whenever one of the host’s kids had a cold, they would generally send out a heads up email/text in advance. And everyone would show up anyway. No big deal whatsoever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would let the other parent know all relevant information and do what they're comfortable with. If a kid is testing negative and has minor cold symptoms (like a cough or runny nose that very often last a week or more in colds), I would still do the playdate, personally.

+1

A heads up would be nice in case that might affect future plans (flight, elderly relative, etc).

But 99% of the time that’d be fine for us.

This is assuming no fever for 24+ hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in camp “school is ok, playdate not.” School is less optional, and while germs spread at school… I wouldn’t want child with cold all over my child’s toys, bedroom, etc.

I also don’t love putting other parents in awkward situations. I think you as a parent should decide that cold is either super minor/almost over (and just don’t say anything) or bad enough that you should cancel. This isn’t a wedding, it’s a playdate … can easily be rescheduled.

Agree. Play dates are much more intimate than school, and very optional.

[Anonymous]

I would probably cancel or reschedule if the other kid was sick. If it was my kid I would 100% give a heads up and tell them I'd like to cancel or reschedule. If for some reason they don't care and were counting on the playdate happening, then OK, but I'd let them make that decision.

It's different to have someone in your house, touching your stuff, and close to your child for an hour+ than it is to sit near each other in the classroom all week imo.

[Anonymous]

I don’t send my kid to school sick and they don’t have play dates sick. When they are improving and return to school, if there was a placate scheduled, I’d give the parents a heads up that they’ve been under the weather, are well enough to return to school but may still have sniffles or lingering cough, and I understand if they don’t want to play or I suggest rescheduling so they’re not in each other’s faces.

Kids have to learn and go to school. They don’t need to have play dates.

[Anonymous]

DD just had a (non-Covid) cold over the weekend. She was tired - had it been a school day, I would not have taken her to school. Now she's sniffy but otherwise fine, so she went to school.

Just go with the severity of symptoms and decide on a case-by-case basis, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m so glad my kids were little long before Covid happened. We used to have a weekly playgroup that met at different peoples’ houses and whenever one of the host’s kids had a cold, they would generally send out a heads up email/text in advance. And everyone would show up anyway. No big deal whatsoever.

I feel exactly the same. They are tweens/teens now but if they get cold symptoms but otherwise feel fine, they go to school. I would not send with fever, exhaustion, malaise, etc.

[Anonymous]

If kid has cold and it's not covid and they feel ok (no fever and mild symptoms that aren't impacting energy level), they are going to school in my house.

If kid has cold and it's not covid and we have a play date planned, I contact the other family and disclose. I did this pre-covid too so not a new thing. Others seem to do the same. Once I have the information, we never cancel plans over colds and most people I interact with don't either. But YMMV. DCUM has taught me there are people who think no one should ever leave their home with any symptom of any kind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kindergartener has her second cold since school started. She had one early September. I kept her home for a day and then sent her to school with a little cough. A month later, she has another cold. I tested her for Covid both times. I considered keeping her home but I sent her to school. I also have two older kids and they basically had a cold on/off all winter when they were in preschool and early elementary.

We are invited to a play date next week at a home and I also invited someone over for a play date but have not yet confirmed since my daughter has a cold.

Would you cancel if other child had a cold?

The kids are all in the same class so they already see one another at school.

You’re so worried about a playdate, yet you send your kid to school like that every single day. I can tell you what these kids do all day - cough all over other kids and teachers, pick their noses constantly and wipe it on everything around them, sniffle and sniffle without stopping, wipe their noses with hands every minute. Once in a while they get a tissue when a teacher prompts them. So why are you worried about your little play date if you don’t mind sending your kid to school like this?

Guessing f-ing what I am a traveler from 2020 (not that poster) and from 2013 and from 2022 and you’re all trash for sending snotty disgusting kids to school. I have a preschooler and older and they don’t go to school with encrusted disgusting germ ridden waterfalls of snot. Thanks for continually keeping my kid out with your disgusting germs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kindergartener has her second cold since school started. She had one early September. I kept her home for a day and then sent her to school with a little cough. A month later, she has another cold. I tested her for Covid both times. I considered keeping her home but I sent her to school. I also have two older kids and they basically had a cold on/off all winter when they were in preschool and early elementary.

We are invited to a play date next week at a home and I also invited someone over for a play date but have not yet confirmed since my daughter has a cold.

Would you cancel if other child had a cold?

The kids are all in the same class so they already see one another at school.

You’re so worried about a playdate, yet you send your kid to school like that every single day. I can tell you what these kids do all day - cough all over other kids and teachers, pick their noses constantly and wipe it on everything around them, sniffle and sniffle without stopping, wipe their noses with hands every minute. Once in a while they get a tissue when a teacher prompts them. So why are you worried about your little play date if you don’t mind sending your kid to school like this?

Guessing f-ing what I am a traveler from 2020 (not that poster) and from 2013 and from 2022 and you’re all trash for sending snotty disgusting kids to school. I have a preschooler and older and they don’t go to school with encrusted disgusting germ ridden waterfalls of snot. Thanks for continually keeping my kid out with your disgusting germs.

Trash, or people who don't have round-the-clock nannies or stay-at-home incomes?

I don't say this often but check your privilege

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd let the other parent know and let them decide whether to have the playdate.

+1
And be honest about the symptoms. A runny nose is one thing, a post-nasal drip + cough is one thing, but a real cough, sore throat, fever, fatigue, etc. is another.

I hate it when people send their sick kids over. Just be upfront and let the other parent decide what they are comfortable with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kindergartener has her second cold since school started. She had one early September. I kept her home for a day and then sent her to school with a little cough. A month later, she has another cold. I tested her for Covid both times. I considered keeping her home but I sent her to school. I also have two older kids and they basically had a cold on/off all winter when they were in preschool and early elementary.

We are invited to a play date next week at a home and I also invited someone over for a play date but have not yet confirmed since my daughter has a cold.

Would you cancel if other child had a cold?

The kids are all in the same class so they already see one another at school.

You’re so worried about a playdate, yet you send your kid to school like that every single day. I can tell you what these kids do all day - cough all over other kids and teachers, pick their noses constantly and wipe it on everything around them, sniffle and sniffle without stopping, wipe their noses with hands every minute. Once in a while they get a tissue when a teacher prompts them. So why are you worried about your little play date if you don’t mind sending your kid to school like this?

Guessing f-ing what I am a traveler from 2020 (not that poster) and from 2013 and from 2022 and you’re all trash for sending snotty disgusting kids to school. I have a preschooler and older and they don’t go to school with encrusted disgusting germ ridden waterfalls of snot. Thanks for continually keeping my kid out with your disgusting germs.

Trash, or people who don't have round-the-clock nannies or stay-at-home incomes?

I don't say this often but check your privilege

DP, but I’d have to say check your privilege to the person who feels entitled to send their kids out in public sick because of your personal childcare setup, or lack thereof. SMH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kindergartener has her second cold since school started. She had one early September. I kept her home for a day and then sent her to school with a little cough. A month later, she has another cold. I tested her for Covid both times. I considered keeping her home but I sent her to school. I also have two older kids and they basically had a cold on/off all winter when they were in preschool and early elementary.

We are invited to a play date next week at a home and I also invited someone over for a play date but have not yet confirmed since my daughter has a cold.

Would you cancel if other child had a cold?

The kids are all in the same class so they already see one another at school.

You’re so worried about a playdate, yet you send your kid to school like that every single day. I can tell you what these kids do all day - cough all over other kids and teachers, pick their noses constantly and wipe it on everything around them, sniffle and sniffle without stopping, wipe their noses with hands every minute. Once in a while they get a tissue when a teacher prompts them. So why are you worried about your little play date if you don’t mind sending your kid to school like this?

Guessing f-ing what I am a traveler from 2020 (not that poster) and from 2013 and from 2022 and you’re all trash for sending snotty disgusting kids to school. I have a preschooler and older and they don’t go to school with encrusted disgusting germ ridden waterfalls of snot. Thanks for continually keeping my kid out with your disgusting germs.

Trash, or people who don't have round-the-clock nannies or stay-at-home incomes?

I don't say this often but check your privilege

DP, but I’d have to say check your privilege to the person who feels entitled to send their kids out in public sick because of your personal childcare setup, or lack thereof. SMH.

Amen. Let's sacrifice the health of several other families because you can't figure out child care for yours.

[Anonymous]

You let the other parents know. Not everyone can easily keep a kid home for a day or be home sick themselves. My kid in K has had three colds already this year, the last one was brutal and I couldn’t go in to work for a couple days. No thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kindergartener has her second cold since school started. She had one early September. I kept her home for a day and then sent her to school with a little cough. A month later, she has another cold. I tested her for Covid both times. I considered keeping her home but I sent her to school. I also have two older kids and they basically had a cold on/off all winter when they were in preschool and early elementary.

We are invited to a play date next week at a home and I also invited someone over for a play date but have not yet confirmed since my daughter has a cold.

Would you cancel if other child had a cold?

The kids are all in the same class so they already see one another at school.

You’re so worried about a playdate, yet you send your kid to school like that every single day. I can tell you what these kids do all day - cough all over other kids and teachers, pick their noses constantly and wipe it on everything around them, sniffle and sniffle without stopping, wipe their noses with hands every minute. Once in a while they get a tissue when a teacher prompts them. So why are you worried about your little play date if you don’t mind sending your kid to school like this?

Guessing f-ing what I am a traveler from 2020 (not that poster) and from 2013 and from 2022 and you’re all trash for sending snotty disgusting kids to school. I have a preschooler and older and they don’t go to school with encrusted disgusting germ ridden waterfalls of snot. Thanks for continually keeping my kid out with your disgusting germs.

Trash, or people who don't have round-the-clock nannies or stay-at-home incomes?

I don't say this often but check your privilege

DP, but I’d have to say check your privilege to the person who feels entitled to send their kids out in public sick because of your personal childcare setup, or lack thereof. SMH.

Amen. Let's sacrifice the health of several other families because you can't figure out child care for yours.

Our school has a rule. No fevers, no fresh colds (ie first 48 hours). You stay home and rest. Usually this means your kid misses at least one day of school for a cold. I find my kids generally have at least one or two days where they aren’t feeling that great — be it mild fever, malaise, or just super snotty sneezing every five minutes. I don’t think it’s considerate to send them out in public that way. As much as I hate missing work for it, I really hope other parents do the same so I don’t have to miss even more work this year.