Social Distancing Play dates — how to negotiate

[Anonymous]

So how do these social distancing play dates work? Adults bring their own chairs and sit 6 ft apart and talk loudly at each other and kids kick a soccer ball and never leave their chalked out boxes?

[Anonymous]

Everyone I know is keeping the adults six feet apart but letting the kids play. I haven't seen anyone after phase 1 started insisting on the kids being apart.

[Anonymous]

We are letting the kids play basketball (each family has its own ball), soccer, badminton, ball hockey, etc. We tell the kids to try to stay 6 feet apart. Sometimes they run for the ball and get closer. It's not that big a deal. They are 9 and 11, so they understand the rules.

[Anonymous]

We let the kids play as usual. Kids are also in daycare and go grocery shopping with us. Can’t hide them forever

[Anonymous]

We had a friend come in our backyard for the first time this weekend. We provided drinks and individually wrapped chips.

Adults stayed apart at least 10 ft. Kids started off talking but then starting running around playing soccer, hide and seek, looking for bugs, etc. they were not social distancing the whole time. I knew kids would not be able to social distance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone I know is keeping the adults six feet apart but letting the kids play. I haven't seen anyone after phase 1 started insisting on the kids being apart.

+1. And honestly my friends and I are probably sitting 3-4 feet apart. At some point we all have to start accepting some risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone I know is keeping the adults six feet apart but letting the kids play. I haven't seen anyone after phase 1 started insisting on the kids being apart.

+1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone I know is keeping the adults six feet apart but letting the kids play. I haven't seen anyone after phase 1 started insisting on the kids being apart.

+1.

+2 I’ve been to multiple outdoor events in the past two weeks and kids’ masks come off and there is no social distancing between kids.

[Anonymous]

Without judgment, what is the point of adults distancing? I get at some point, being realistic, and kids will be kids, but if the kid gets it, are you hoping that the adult will somehow not catch is from the kid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Without judgment, what is the point of adults distancing? I get at some point, being realistic, and kids will be kids, but if the kid gets it, are you hoping that the adult will somehow not catch is from the kid?

I too do not understand this. As an adult, I know say f it.

[Anonymous]

It's whatever you and your friends are comfortable with and agree on in advance.

I've seen kids have "sides" of the yard, maybe with a guided activity like both are painting or doing a craft, or a water pool on each side. It was fine, if that's what your family is comfortable with.

I've seen parents saying "stay farther apart" and encouraging bike/scooter riding or soccer ball kicking or something that allows them to play farther apart.

And I've seen free for alls with no mention of staying apart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Without judgment, what is the point of adults distancing? I get at some point, being realistic, and kids will be kids, but if the kid gets it, are you hoping that the adult will somehow not catch is from the kid?

I too do not understand this. As an adult, I know say f it.

OP here. This gets to the root of my question. If the kids aren't SD, then why is anybody? The whole idea of "kids don't spread it" is pretty unproven just like everything else

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Without judgment, what is the point of adults distancing? I get at some point, being realistic, and kids will be kids, but if the kid gets it, are you hoping that the adult will somehow not catch is from the kid?

I too do not understand this. As an adult, I know say f it.

OP here. This gets to the root of my question. If the kids aren't SD, then why is anybody? The whole idea of "kids don't spread it" is pretty unproven just like everything else

It's all a matter of incremental risk. If at the moment you see the family only the adult is contagious, you avoid it if you are appropriately distanced.

What's confusing for me is people who don't understand increments and shades of gray in terms of risk. I really don't get this "well, if we can't achieve 100% distancing, I choose none" attitude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Without judgment, what is the point of adults distancing? I get at some point, being realistic, and kids will be kids, but if the kid gets it, are you hoping that the adult will somehow not catch is from the kid?

I too do not understand this. As an adult, I know say f it.

OP here. This gets to the root of my question. If the kids aren't SD, then why is anybody? The whole idea of "kids don't spread it" is pretty unproven just like everything else

It's all a matter of incremental risk. If at the moment you see the family only the adult is contagious, you avoid it if you are appropriately distanced.

What's confusing for me is people who don't understand increments and shades of gray in terms of risk. I really don't get this "well, if we can't achieve 100% distancing, I choose none" attitude.

True but with an incubation period of 4 days but an illness that lasts weeks, the likelihood you are in that window when only the adult is sick. I definitely agree it does increase your risk but kids are usually very physical, versus adults could be close but never touch.

[Anonymous]

We don't know all the answers but the best research so far seems to indicate that kids don't spread nearly as often as adults do. So, we do backyard playdates where we all try to social distance, but I insist on being 6-feet apart from adults, and am less troubled when the kids are closer. I still try to get them to spread out but I'm less bothered than I would be if adults were clustered together.