Winter play dates & covid

[Anonymous]

It’s too cold for playground play dates which for us through most of the year. Anyone find a hack for doing play dates that are covid safe?

I’m trying to avoid kid play spaces, going to peoples houses and the usual indoor winter activities that we would normally do.

I think the play dates are really more for me than DD 4, I can not play 24/7/365 school/Princess/doctor/dolls etc. Need another kid to play.

[Anonymous]

Are you in DC? We are still going outside, wearing double pants etc. if you go for a hike that keeps you warm.

[Anonymous]

We are still going outside

[Anonymous]

Park playdates - not playground, but find open grassy areas. Unused tennis courts, basketball courts, picnic tables, etc.

[Anonymous]

Play dates outside. We have a very small backyard but kids play on our deck. DD brings her toys outside.

[Anonymous]

Wear a mask, stay distanced, and remain outdoors. Those are your only options if you want to be safe.

Maybe have your daughter cook with you and do other things around the house. I have two young daughters and they often think things like that are fun/play. I give them a Tide stick and they go to work on one pair of grass-stained leggings while I do the others, for example.

Also, long baths with lots of bubbles and toys.

[Anonymous]

We're still going outside as well.

[Anonymous]

We are mostly going outside but do have one playdate friend that we do in a shopping mall a couple times a month if it's just too cold (so basically just a couple in January and we'll probably do a couple this month). I was skeptical at first but the mall is completely empty if you go first thing in the morning before most of the stores are open (it's just a few mall walkers and then employees trickling in to work). We all wear masks and let the kids play on a little carpeted area while we sit on the floor or on benches with them. It's about 30 -45 minutes and then we go. We social distance while we are there.

It's not ideal at all, but when we have a whole week of cold and wet weather like the last week, it has been good to have an option for just some brief interaction (both for me and DD, who is 2.5). This is the only indoor socializing we do and no one in our household has in-person work or school, so it feels as low risk as we can get for an indoor activity with people outside our household.

[Anonymous]

Op, invest in legit winter clothing and you will find it’s not too cold for outside play. The kids are warm because they’re moving around. It’s also great for them to get fresh air and MOVE. If you are too cold just standing there, get a huge sleeping bag style puffer and suck it up.

[Anonymous]

We are still going outside. Snowpants, mittens, hats, and a warm coat -- my kid even says she's too hot sometimes! Outdoors with masks, like we have been all along.

[Anonymous]

We do some outside. We have been doing some indoor ones with people who have been vaccinated like us. And they are the only people we see indoors anyways

[Anonymous]

Your kids don't play outside in winter?

[Anonymous]

Outdoors and masked. They are shorter for sure! But I don’t do inside with anyone not in my household without a lot of protocols that aren’t worth it for a play date.

By March it will be warm enough for regular park play dates. We are almost there - don’t get COVID now!

[Anonymous]

Outside, dressed in layers, and masked. My kid strips off layers as he plays. He and his friends bring multiple masks because they get sweaty.

[Anonymous]

Also outdoors. Invest in some $30 sherpa lined sweatpants from Amazon and a thermos to keep your drink warm and you'll be fine. My kids are usually shedding layers within 30 minutes or so from running around.