September 2020: Are your kids seeing friends?

[Anonymous]

Nope, not at all. We’ve been going back and forth between grandparents houses as they die from Covid to get affairs in order, clear out houses to sell them etc.

[Anonymous]

Yes. My kids are playing with friends outside and playing sports outside. These are the only riska we are taking (and yes I understand they may be big risks) besides once a week trips by one adult to the grocery store, masked, masked. The negative mental health impact we were seeing made it an absolute necessity in our opinion. I do this with the full awareness that one of them may get Covid and then DH and I will, too. We are in our 40’s and mostly healthy though I am overweight. I know many will disagree with this but One of my kids’ therapist really encouraged it and I am glad we listened because it has helped tremendously. I’m worried about winter. I imagine we may allow indoor play dates with a friend or two each.

[Anonymous]

Nope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am actually shocked at the number of no answers. I think people are either downplaying their activities, lying about what "seeing friends" means (i.e. it's not the same way they used to do it so the answer is no), or...I don't know. So many of my friends have kids who are actually going to school, whether in-person or hybrid, and while I don't think engaging in one risky activity justifies engaging in another, I just can't believe that there are so many whose kids aren't seeing others.

If your kids are not doing school in person, would you send them if (1) no one took buses or the buses were totally spaced out (like 1/4 the capacity) and everyone was masked, (2) the classrooms had a limited number of kids per room such that no desk was closer than 6 feet away from any other, (3) the school did testing two days before school and every two weeks once it started, plus random tests in addition to that, (4) there was lots of outdoor time and classes and lunches could be done outside, and (5) kids were grouped into cohorts so that they remained effectively isolated to the 15 or so kids plus teacher that was in their homeroom? If the answer would be yes, then why wouldn't you let your kids play outside with their friends more, especially if they were masked?

No to both, because our doctor told us not to.

Your doctor told you not to send your kids to school? Where do you live?

[Anonymous]

Yes. DS is 3.5 and DD is 1 and nanny takes them to the playground for many hours every day, no masks on the kids and the other kids rarely wear masks. DH is a biomedical scientist and we feel comfortable with the risk, especially because our pediatrician also encouraged it. We don’t plan on any indoor play dates anytime soon but did sign DS up for some parks and rec classes which he will of course wear a mask to participate in. His playtime with peers made a huge and noticeable positive difference.

[Anonymous]

Our kids have been seeing friends outdoors for months. Initially we made them distance, but not mask. Now, we have them wear masks and are more lenient on the distancing, but still stay outdoors only.

[Anonymous]

Yes. We’ve had a few play dates with kids my kids are in preschool with. And... they’re in preschool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, encourage social activities as much as possible. Happy for children to play outside and inside without masks.

This is us too. Most of the friends' parents are the same too. A couple of friends are not allowed to come in the house, but even they are happy with outdoor activities without masks.

In fact, if it weren't for the distant learning and the mandatory mask wearing at times, our lives are pretty much back to normal.

[Anonymous]

Yes, outdoor without masks. Indoor for our closest friends (two families) although I am a little nervous about that!

We will start scaling back now that winter is coming.

[Anonymous]

Of course. We’re not loony martyrs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am actually shocked at the number of no answers. I think people are either downplaying their activities, lying about what "seeing friends" means (i.e. it's not the same way they used to do it so the answer is no), or...I don't know. So many of my friends have kids who are actually going to school, whether in-person or hybrid, and while I don't think engaging in one risky activity justifies engaging in another, I just can't believe that there are so many whose kids aren't seeing others.

If your kids are not doing school in person, would you send them if (1) no one took buses or the buses were totally spaced out (like 1/4 the capacity) and everyone was masked, (2) the classrooms had a limited number of kids per room such that no desk was closer than 6 feet away from any other, (3) the school did testing two days before school and every two weeks once it started, plus random tests in addition to that, (4) there was lots of outdoor time and classes and lunches could be done outside, and (5) kids were grouped into cohorts so that they remained effectively isolated to the 15 or so kids plus teacher that was in their homeroom? If the answer would be yes, then why wouldn't you let your kids play outside with their friends more, especially if they were masked?

I don't think you should be shocked by the number of no answers. For months this board has been detached that direction from reality because of the extra time the ones sitting inside have to spend on here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, outdoors. I don’t really plan to allow them to see friends indoors when it gets cold though unless somehow coronavirus is gone by then.

Same. We’ve been allowing outdoor play with a few friends all summer until now. I really don’t feel comfortable with indoors .... winter will be tough.

[Anonymous]

Yes, mostly masked and outdoors but with 2 friends indoors and unmasked

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Masked and playing outside. May reassess if covid numbers go up.

Yes, maybe once a week. Not necessarily distanced but outside and masked.

[Anonymous]

My kids had play dates all summer on occasion.