Am I too strict about playground kid mask rule?

[Anonymous]

There is literally not a single documented case of kid-to-kid COVID transmission outdoors.

The documented adult cases involved either prolonged close conversation or were indoor and outdoor exposure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think if you're outside and your kid is wearing a mask, it's probably ok to let him play. But at this point I feel like it's a free for all everywhere.

With the warmer weather you're going to see more and more people outside, and most of them will be unmasked.

For example, on my bike ride yesterday around my neighborhood I saw people outside, walking, sitting on porches, talking. No one was wearing a mask.

Wait...I'm supposed to wear a mask outside on my own porch? Or while walking and keeping well over a 6 foot distance from anyone?

[Anonymous]

It’s not too strict. The other parent should be making their kids wear masks. It’s fine to leave it for kids who are not wearing masks show up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've said so many times to kids, "Hey, where's your mask buddy?" and sure enough the kids pull it out of their pocket and put it on.

I find that INCREDIBLY obnoxious. Masks aren't legally required. Its not your job to police other people's children.

[Anonymous]

I make my kid wear a mask around her neck and do what the majority are doing. At Wheaton Regional there was 99% mask compliance so we both wore one. Local park yesterday make 25% if the kids had one on so she didn’t.

[Anonymous]

For everyone saying, kids don't get covid outdoors or on the playground...the one time I took my masked kid to a playground in the fall he got a cold, which he gave to the rest of the family.

At the time, we were working at home, doing virtual schooling, and hadn't been inside a store or visited with anyone for a few weeks. 95% of the kids on the playground were masked.

So you absolutely CAN get something on a playground if you are there for a while with other kids around. The chances are not high, but they exist.

[Anonymous]

Our rule is that if there are other kids around, MY kids have to wear masks. We don't leave if there are other kids NOT wearing masks. The risk outside is much lower than it would be inside especially if the kids are running around and don't have more than a few seconds of contact with one another.

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of neighborhood playgrounds tucked away in residential areas that most people dont' know about, and they are almost always empty. Your county will have a list of all of them. For example, in MoCo it's:
https://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-directory/

A few years ago my kids and I had a game of trying a new park each day. Only 10% of them had any kids at them.

Also elementary schools have playgrounds, so if you are not open for in-person learning at the time you plan to go, you can go there. We visit our ES on weekends.

[Anonymous]

We follow a slightly less strict rule with our 6 year old. We will go to playgrounds that have a lot of kids, provided that nearly all are masked. DD generally avoids playing with any other kids at playgrounds these days, TBH, but definitely maintains a distance if the other kid is unmasked. For playgrounds where we know there are often large #'s of unmasked kids (windmill hill in Old Town for example), I warn her in advance that if there are too many unmasked kids we won't be going there and will just take a walk instead or come back to a local playground with better mask compliance. DD must be masked regardless, as I find this to be the best way to avoid any (admittedly low) possibility of picking up covid or other viruses from surfaces (without masks she touches her face, nose and mouth constantly).

At DD's school, masks are required on the playground, so she's used to it.

[Anonymous]

Outdoor transmission is not a thing. 8 different studies showed no transmission on playgrounds. Effect size of masks is small. They make no difference outdoors. I am in a Chicago suburb now, and would estimate 1/5 kids are masked at playgrounds here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For everyone saying, kids don't get covid outdoors or on the playground...the one time I took my masked kid to a playground in the fall he got a cold, which he gave to the rest of the family.

At the time, we were working at home, doing virtual schooling, and hadn't been inside a store or visited with anyone for a few weeks. 95% of the kids on the playground were masked.

So you absolutely CAN get something on a playground if you are there for a while with other kids around. The chances are not high, but they exist.

You cannot get Covid outside. So what if he got a cold? I bet he was masked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When unmasked kids come, DS either goes to another part of the playground or, if the unmasked kids follow us around, we leave. It is disappointing, but it is what it is. We do the same when unmasked adults come around, though usually they are more predictable and don’t typically climb on the play equipment. The NOVA playgrounds are full of unmasked children and adults. I will say we had to go to Maryland a couple of times for other reason (eg an outdoor shoe purchase for DS) and have stopped at their playgrounds. Every single person has been masked there, except young toddlers and babies. If you’re reasonably close to MD, I’d honestly just drive to their playgrounds.

Same here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For everyone saying, kids don't get covid outdoors or on the playground...the one time I took my masked kid to a playground in the fall he got a cold, which he gave to the rest of the family.

At the time, we were working at home, doing virtual schooling, and hadn't been inside a store or visited with anyone for a few weeks. 95% of the kids on the playground were masked.

So you absolutely CAN get something on a playground if you are there for a while with other kids around. The chances are not high, but they exist.

You cannot get Covid outside. So what if he got a cold? I bet he was masked.

Yes you can. It’s less likely, but close proximity and lack of wind are conducive to COVID spread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Too strict. He is more scarred by lack of interaction and normalcy at this point than by playing next to an unmasked kid. Stop making your kid anxious!

+100 Agree with all of this.

And the fact that you think masked in Dunkin Donuts is safer than unmasked outside... is weird. There is ventilation literally everywhere outside, and people are moving. It is infinitely safer outdoors, even without a mask.

LOL , this. Laughing at the families who take their kids to Starbucks/Grocery store/pizza pickup with masks but won’t allow them to play outside maskless. The ignorance is astounding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For everyone saying, kids don't get covid outdoors or on the playground...the one time I took my masked kid to a playground in the fall he got a cold, which he gave to the rest of the family.

At the time, we were working at home, doing virtual schooling, and hadn't been inside a store or visited with anyone for a few weeks. 95% of the kids on the playground were masked.

So you absolutely CAN get something on a playground if you are there for a while with other kids around. The chances are not high, but they exist.

You cannot get Covid outside. So what if he got a cold? I bet he was masked.

Yes you can. It’s less likely, but close proximity and lack of wind are conducive to COVID spread.

Show me a study that shows outdoor transmission happens without indoor mixing.

It’s practically impossible. You are more likely to die while masked en route to the playground.