Anonymous
Post 07/24/2020 10:36     Subject: I honestly don’t get the concern about kids being isolated socially
Teenagers are tricky with all the isolation. They aren't much for talking to their parents anyway, so a lot of depression and feelings of isolation can go unnoticed. In a house where both parents are gone during the day at work and teens are alone at home, there is just a lot of time for sadness.
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2020 10:14     Subject: I honestly don’t get the concern about kids being isolated socially
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It’s a little different comparing kids today to most of the parents. Most of us didn’t grow up in the age of texting, FaceTime and social media. We either talked on the phone or played outside with friends. So their social needs is more fulfilled than we need.


I think the texting and social media create more problems right now. Misunderstandings/misreadings of texts, seeing other kids together on social media, constant exposure to gloom & doom news headlines. For us parents, ignorance was bliss when we were kids.


I am the PP and I agree. 24 hour news cycle and social media is definitely not helping the parents either.
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2020 10:11     Subject: I honestly don’t get the concern about kids being isolated socially
I’m with OP.

Have 3 kids - 13/11/5. No issues from 5 and 11 YO - they are perfectly content in being at home and doing low key activities. My 13Yo chats with friends online- had one play date a month or so ago but that’s it. He’s been good as well doing activities at home, going out for walks/bike rides/etc. Thankfully!
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2020 10:08     Subject: I honestly don’t get the concern about kids being isolated socially
Anonymous wrote:I grew up in a small town. Basically Mayberry from the Andy Griffiths show. Basically me, my brother, and a redneck bully down the street that I only ran into a few times a year and normally was friends with. I had books, three channels in TV, my bike, sports gear, fishing rods, etc. The schools were in the next town over, so I would go months without seeing other kids except at church and they were usually too little.

No one seemed to be care about play dates, keeping kids busy, exercise and all that stuff.

Maybe I am remembering everything with rose colored glasses and just grew up different form others. But tons of kids grow up like this if you don’t grow up in the suburbs and they manage just fine.

My 10 year old daughter seems to be very happy at the house readIng, writing, working on hobbies, being outside with us. Yeah, she is happier when there is a friend to play with, but she seems happy as a clam right now.

Am I missing something? I don’t mind the fact she is not dependably in BFF’s and such. She doesnt either.


Wait - did you not go to school and see kids there? Because if you did, this post makes ZERO sense in the context of the current discussion regarding why parents are so concerned about how the things will look for the rest of the year with no in person school. Or are you just talking about the lack of extra curricular activities and opportunities for kids to play together.......
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2020 10:04     Subject: I honestly don’t get the concern about kids being isolated socially
Anonymous wrote:My kids don’t really ask to see friends either. They are 7 and 11. Especially my little one, she likes virtual learning more than regular school day.


So do mine who mostly just read books during the school day anyway while the teacher spent 90% of their time with struggling small groups.
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2020 10:01     Subject: I honestly don’t get the concern about kids being isolated socially
My kids don’t really ask to see friends either. They are 7 and 11. Especially my little one, she likes virtual learning more than regular school day.
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2020 09:51     Subject: I honestly don’t get the concern about kids being isolated socially
You didn't go to school for months? You meant like June-August? By the time kids here go back, they will have been out of school/socially isolated from March-February (at the earliest!).

My kids are doing ok (not great, just ok), mainly because there are 2 of them. I work outside the home in a fairly risky/close contact setting, so we as a family are isolating very strictly from relatives and others.
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2020 09:50     Subject: I honestly don’t get the concern about kids being isolated socially
Anonymous wrote:It’s a little different comparing kids today to most of the parents. Most of us didn’t grow up in the age of texting, FaceTime and social media. We either talked on the phone or played outside with friends. So their social needs is more fulfilled than we need.


I think the texting and social media create more problems right now. Misunderstandings/misreadings of texts, seeing other kids together on social media, constant exposure to gloom & doom news headlines. For us parents, ignorance was bliss when we were kids.
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2020 09:48     Subject: I honestly don’t get the concern about kids being isolated socially
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It’s a little different comparing kids today to most of the parents. Most of us didn’t grow up in the age of texting, FaceTime and social media. We either talked on the phone or played outside with friends. So their social needs is more fulfilled than we need.


Screen contact doesn't replace the need for real live social contact with people. Not for adults, not for kids.


I never said it did. I said it’s more social fulfilling than good old telephone. Kids can share pictures, articles, video and FaceTime each other.
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2020 09:40     Subject: I honestly don’t get the concern about kids being isolated socially
Anonymous wrote:I think it does vary with different kids, but I also think there is a lot of exaggeration from parents about how miserable their kids are. Some extraordinarily extroverted kids are having a hard time, but I think that most kids can manage ok. It’s not as if there is no socialization, there are people around them all the time! Socialization is not confined to same-aged peers. What I have noticed, though, Is that my kids want my attention more than they did before and I’m sure sure that’s a function of less kid-to-kid interaction. Overall, OP, I agree with you and I think most of the grumbling parents are just agitating because they want school to open in person (I swear all this “concern” over those poor little less advantaged kids was NEVER such a focus on DCUM!) and missing their own pre-covid lifestyle.


You're saying this based on what?
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2020 09:39     Subject: I honestly don’t get the concern about kids being isolated socially
Anonymous wrote:It’s a little different comparing kids today to most of the parents. Most of us didn’t grow up in the age of texting, FaceTime and social media. We either talked on the phone or played outside with friends. So their social needs is more fulfilled than we need.


Screen contact doesn't replace the need for real live social contact with people. Not for adults, not for kids.
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2020 09:38     Subject: Re:I honestly don’t get the concern about kids being isolated socially
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Your life as a kid looked nothing like what my 6 yo is experiencing. From March-early July she didnt see another kid in person other than her little sister. She wasn't allowed to run around outside, but did hours of school Zoom calls. She can't go outside without an adult and a mask. She had zero freedom. She was ragey, lonely and miserable. Even a vacation with the family didnt help. She has gotten much happier now that we're letting her have socially distanced playdates. We are worried about the fall with 5.5 hours of DL per day, less favorable weather for outdoor playdates, and the chance of another lockdown.


Wtf you didn't let your kid go outside for 5 months?
By herself? In the city? Not in a park? During a pandemic? Why is this even a question?


Because the MD Public Schools forum believes that everyone lives in a detached house on a cul-de-sac.
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2020 09:37     Subject: I honestly don’t get the concern about kids being isolated socially
It’s a little different comparing kids today to most of the parents. Most of us didn’t grow up in the age of texting, FaceTime and social media. We either talked on the phone or played outside with friends. So their social needs is more fulfilled than we need.
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2020 09:37     Subject: I honestly don’t get the concern about kids being isolated socially
I think it does vary with different kids, but I also think there is a lot of exaggeration from parents about how miserable their kids are. Some extraordinarily extroverted kids are having a hard time, but I think that most kids can manage ok. It’s not as if there is no socialization, there are people around them all the time! Socialization is not confined to same-aged peers. What I have noticed, though, Is that my kids want my attention more than they did before and I’m sure sure that’s a function of less kid-to-kid interaction. Overall, OP, I agree with you and I think most of the grumbling parents are just agitating because they want school to open in person (I swear all this “concern” over those poor little less advantaged kids was NEVER such a focus on DCUM!) and missing their own pre-covid lifestyle.
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2020 09:36     Subject: Re:I honestly don’t get the concern about kids being isolated socially
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Your life as a kid looked nothing like what my 6 yo is experiencing. From March-early July she didnt see another kid in person other than her little sister. She wasn't allowed to run around outside, but did hours of school Zoom calls. She can't go outside without an adult and a mask. She had zero freedom. She was ragey, lonely and miserable. Even a vacation with the family didnt help. She has gotten much happier now that we're letting her have socially distanced playdates. We are worried about the fall with 5.5 hours of DL per day, less favorable weather for outdoor playdates, and the chance of another lockdown.


Wtf you didn't let your kid go outside for 5 months?
By herself? In the city? Not in a park? During a pandemic? Why is this even a question?