If your kids are doing distance learning, how much in-person socialization do they have with friends

[Anonymous]

We live in an area where cases are going WAY up and schools were in hybrid mode, are now going completely remote. I have two boys in 5th grade (one with a chronic health issue) who were playing outside with friends when weather permitted, mostly in the yard or at a park with masks where they could remain distant. However, we are in a northern state, and it's pretty cold and dark already. Other than an outdoor martial arts lesson and an art class my kids are at home and only socialize with friends over facetime and videogames. My husband wants to eliminate playdates all together until cases go back down. He thinks our boys will be fine with less socialization because they are so close and each other best friend. I am ok with playing outside with masks still. Is anyone else being as restrictive as my husband would like? I totally understand the need, just curious how others are handling socialization.

[Anonymous]

We have decided to cohort with another family and we do not distance at all together

[Anonymous]

No socializing even outdoors. We don’t live near other kids, in fact our kids are the only ones for about 2 blocks. Grades k and 5.

[Anonymous]

My 4th and 6th graders see their friends outside almost daily. Mostly masked. 6th grader is more of an introvert but 4th grader is out the door the moment distance learning ends to run free with neighborhood kids, even on days like today when it is cold and rainy. I realize this is not zero risk, But we otherwise stick close to home and the social time outside is really good for them. They also play well together at home though (if happily tackling each other While making fart jokes counts as “playing well”).

[Anonymous]

They usually see their friends every other weekend or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No socializing even outdoors. We don’t live near other kids, in fact our kids are the only ones for about 2 blocks. Grades k and 5.

Your kids must be losing their minds. I cannot fathom the mental health issues coming your way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in an area where cases are going WAY up and schools were in hybrid mode, are now going completely remote. I have two boys in 5th grade (one with a chronic health issue) who were playing outside with friends when weather permitted, mostly in the yard or at a park with masks where they could remain distant. However, we are in a northern state, and it's pretty cold and dark already. Other than an outdoor martial arts lesson and an art class my kids are at home and only socialize with friends over facetime and videogames. My husband wants to eliminate playdates all together until cases go back down. He thinks our boys will be fine with less socialization because they are so close and each other best friend. I am ok with playing outside with masks still. Is anyone else being as restrictive as my husband would like? I totally understand the need, just curious how others are handling socialization.

For me, it would depend on just how high risk the chronic condition makes him (either to get it or to have a negative outcome). What does your pediatrician/your son's specialist say?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No socializing even outdoors. We don’t live near other kids, in fact our kids are the only ones for about 2 blocks. Grades k and 5.

Your kids must be losing their minds. I cannot fathom the mental health issues coming your way.

Oh, those poor, poor children. Heartbreaking.

[Anonymous]

DD in 2nd has seen friends outside about once a week for the past couple of months.
DD in 4th has seen her own friends a couple of times a month but also gone to the park with her younger sister's friends.
DS in 7th has been to one outdoor kickball birthday party and I'm trying to organize something else outdoors with a friend or 2.

We're actually doing pretty well because DDs are generally happy playing together and DS has been doing a LOT of online gaming (Minecraft & Roblox) with his friends. Schools are open in our area, but the majority of their friends are also still doing DL by choice.

We're not as restrictive as your husband, but pretty close. I did not allow DS to go to another birthday party that was a rental of a movie theater - part of the issue was that it was indoors, and part was knowing the people who were going and being aware that the parents are definitely socializing more than we are comfortable with.

[Anonymous]

My kids don’t have a chronic condition, so my comfort level will be different than yours, but my kids are seeing friends every week. Usually the same family. They sleep over, and do everything as normal. They see kids from other families once every other week!

[Anonymous]

We have 5 children and they hang out and play with each other... it’s a pandemic so we are not really keen on socializing outside of our family unit.

[Anonymous]

0

I have a total introvert on my hands.

[Anonymous]

My older kid works four days a week and most of her friends are also her coworkers.

My younger kid swims three times a week and has two friends in her group. She also has a couple of friends with whom she occasionally gets together to go for walks around the neighborhood or a nearby park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have 5 children and they hang out and play with each other... it’s a pandemic so we are not really keen on socializing outside of our family unit.

Weird.

[Anonymous]

Occasional walk with one friend with parents.

Sports (very distanced)

Thats it. Mine get that its a pandemic.