Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am curious about the posters saying they are letting their kids play with neighbors' kids for their "mental health". Do you really think your kids would suffer that much having to hang out with their parents? Even if you are tied up with work a lot of the day? I am finding that hard to believe in light of what we know about actual traumatic stressors that affect children. I think the parents allowing this are doing this to make their own lives easier but telling themselves it's for the sake of the kids.

+1.

+100

Agree, it’s rationalization to assuage parental guilt more than anything else.
We all feel sorry and worries for our kids not socializing with their friends, onlies or not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:can someone explain to me the functional difference between daycares being allowed to be open and kids playing outside while parents work?

daycares being open to essential employees means that essential employees can actually go to work.

My husband and I are both considered essential employees but we are able to work from home so we're cobbling together a very half hazard tag team approach to parenting and working from home to make this work

In VA the daycares are open for more than just essential employees.

And, to the other PPs, I do think being able to see other kids even from 6 feet away is good for mental health. In VA the orders are supposed to last until June, and I don’t even think that will be “good” enough.

Anonymous wrote:We are allowing our kid to play with one neighbor kid- they are both onlies and I trust the parents. For us, the mental health of our kiddos balances out the small risk to us as parents. Maybe I would feel different if she had a sibling 🤷‍♀️

It’s no different than if you both had ten kids, the same risk level. You know it’s not OK but it’s easier for you so....Yes, it sucks to have an only child right now but lots of things suck right now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am curious about the posters saying they are letting their kids play with neighbors' kids for their "mental health". Do you really think your kids would suffer that much having to hang out with their parents? Even if you are tied up with work a lot of the day? I am finding that hard to believe in light of what we know about actual traumatic stressors that affect children. I think the parents allowing this are doing this to make their own lives easier but telling themselves it's for the sake of the kids.

+1.

+ 2

I agree that this is more about the parents than the kids, and they're using their kids as an excuse.

People are still going to the grocery store, picking up food, ordering packages... so while I get the idea that you *think* you're keeping the circle small... it's a facade. And a profoundly selfish, stupid thing to do.

Come up with other plans. I know people are frustrated, but so is everyone. Doesn't mean you have to stay locked indoors all day every day, but enact a little discipline.

+1000

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’re personally following the rules and not having play dates, but I understand the logic or forming a relative closed circuit with another family. It does increase the risk but pretty minimally.

At a minimum, it doubles your risk.

This is true, but 0.02% is double 0.01%. I'm a NP and I'm not doing it either, but just saying.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am curious about the posters saying they are letting their kids play with neighbors' kids for their "mental health". Do you really think your kids would suffer that much having to hang out with their parents? Even if you are tied up with work a lot of the day? I am finding that hard to believe in light of what we know about actual traumatic stressors that affect children. I think the parents allowing this are doing this to make their own lives easier but telling themselves it's for the sake of the kids.

+1.

+ 2

I agree that this is more about the parents than the kids, and they're using their kids as an excuse.

People are still going to the grocery store, picking up food, ordering packages... so while I get the idea that you *think* you're keeping the circle small... it's a facade. And a profoundly selfish, stupid thing to do.

Come up with other plans. I know people are frustrated, but so is everyone. Doesn't mean you have to stay locked indoors all day every day, but enact a little discipline.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am curious about the posters saying they are letting their kids play with neighbors' kids for their "mental health". Do you really think your kids would suffer that much having to hang out with their parents? Even if you are tied up with work a lot of the day? I am finding that hard to believe in light of what we know about actual traumatic stressors that affect children. I think the parents allowing this are doing this to make their own lives easier but telling themselves it's for the sake of the kids.

+1.

+ 2

Anonymous wrote:We've been having playdates with the same family for a few weeks now. We don't go anywhere, they don't go anywhere so we feel pretty safe. I would not have playdates with multiple kids and yes, I believe strongly in vaccines and that the world is round.

So none of you are going to the store? And none of you are having food or any other packages delivered?

Anonymous wrote:We’re personally following the rules and not having play dates, but I understand the logic or forming a relative closed circuit with another family. It does increase the risk but pretty minimally.

At a minimum, it doubles your risk.

Anonymous wrote:can someone explain to me the functional difference between daycares being allowed to be open and kids playing outside while parents work?

daycares being open to essential employees means that essential employees can actually go to work.

My husband and I are both considered essential employees but we are able to work from home so we're cobbling together a very half hazard tag team approach to parenting and working from home to make this work

We’re personally following the rules and not having play dates, but I understand the logic or forming a relative closed circuit with another family. It does increase the risk but pretty minimally.

I can’t stand when people claim it is for the mental health of their kids. I think we can all agree kids would be much better off in school, socializing, and living their lives. You make it seem as if YOUR kids need social interactions more than other kids OR you’ve ever so carefully selected this other family so the risks are low. You understand a risk occurs with every mail retrieval, grocery store run (touching money, your phone, fruit containers, plastic on meat, etc).

Your kids need no more or less social interaction than others’ kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am curious about the posters saying they are letting their kids play with neighbors' kids for their "mental health". Do you really think your kids would suffer that much having to hang out with their parents? Even if you are tied up with work a lot of the day? I am finding that hard to believe in light of what we know about actual traumatic stressors that affect children. I think the parents allowing this are doing this to make their own lives easier but telling themselves it's for the sake of the kids.

+1.

+100

Anonymous wrote:I am curious about the posters saying they are letting their kids play with neighbors' kids for their "mental health". Do you really think your kids would suffer that much having to hang out with their parents? Even if you are tied up with work a lot of the day? I am finding that hard to believe in light of what we know about actual traumatic stressors that affect children. I think the parents allowing this are doing this to make their own lives easier but telling themselves it's for the sake of the kids.

+1.

I am curious about the posters saying they are letting their kids play with neighbors' kids for their "mental health". Do you really think your kids would suffer that much having to hang out with their parents? Even if you are tied up with work a lot of the day? I am finding that hard to believe in light of what we know about actual traumatic stressors that affect children. I think the parents allowing this are doing this to make their own lives easier but telling themselves it's for the sake of the kids.