I recommend against Old Town Alexandria. Whenever we visit or walk past playgrounds there we see at least one group of kids without masks, usually congregating on the playground equipment.

I also don’t understand the reluctance to wear masks outdoors when close to others. At least in Alexandria, people who refuse to do so are violating the rules, because you’re supposed to wear a mask outdoors if you can’t maintain a distance from others (and kids on playground equipment are not maintaining distance). Masks also help avoid transmission through the playground surfaces (yes I know surfaces aren’t the primary means of transmission) as they cover the nose and mouth, so it’s much easier to avoid having your kid touch their mouth or nose after touching the surfaces.

I’m in Arlington and our Elementary playgrounds are almost always empty even though they are in neighborhoods.

Other than that, it’s a crapshoot. My kids wear masks and I’m not chatting up other parents, so we just go at off peak times.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess the answer is drive to a Maryland playground...

Nope. There are just enough anti Maskers here to screw things up for the rest of us.

Sorry. It’s not the maskless kids at the playground. It’s the adults socializing indoors, the gyms, and the bars.

Primary doesn't mean only.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why it feels like such a big deal to some folks to wear a mask. Maybe covid won’t spread outside at a playground, but maybe it will. And wearing a mask is so easy for our kids to do. One of the PPs said her kids do it at school and then she has them take the masks off at the playground. Whhhhhyyyy? I really don’t understand the mask reluctance.

I mean you really don’t get it? It’s nice to be out in the sunshine and free of wearing a mask while running around and playing.

In my case, my kids are 2.5 and 4, and it is very hard to get them to consistently and correctly wear masks.

Then you need to buy different masks or model better behavior. My 3 year old knows he wears a mask or we're going home. Every single time.

It took awhile to find masks that fit correctly and it took awhile for him to accept the mask wearing. But honestly it was harder to find the right mask than it was to get him to wear it.

Agree that mask compliance has been pretty high in the DC playgrounds we’ve been to. I’d say at most there’s one family where none of the kids are wearing a mask and are old enough to be. I actually think it helps that kids are all wearing them because then my kid doesn’t feel like he’s the only one being required to wear a mask. Kids like when things are fair and if everyone has to wear it, then it’s not as big of a deal for him to wear it too.

Anonymous wrote:Don’t encourage OP to come to DC. Stay in your own neighborhood. Also—kids touch hands and cough and sneeze and bump each other and talk and stand too close and crowd in lines for slides and ok climbers. People who don’t think they can spread germs that way are idiots.

OP here. For me, a big reason for my kid to wear a mask is because it keeps him from doing all of those things. It also keeps his hands out of his face and mouth.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why it feels like such a big deal to some folks to wear a mask. Maybe covid won’t spread outside at a playground, but maybe it will. And wearing a mask is so easy for our kids to do. One of the PPs said her kids do it at school and then she has them take the masks off at the playground. Whhhhhyyyy? I really don’t understand the mask reluctance.

I mean you really don’t get it? It’s nice to be out in the sunshine and free of wearing a mask while running around and playing.

In my case, my kids are 2.5 and 4, and it is very hard to get them to consistently and correctly wear masks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess the answer is drive to a Maryland playground...

Nope. There are just enough anti Maskers here to screw things up for the rest of us.

Sorry. It’s not the maskless kids at the playground. It’s the adults socializing indoors, the gyms, and the bars.

Anonymous wrote:I guess the answer is drive to a Maryland playground...

Nope. There are just enough anti Maskers here to screw things up for the rest of us.

I don’t understand why it feels like such a big deal to some folks to wear a mask. Maybe covid won’t spread outside at a playground, but maybe it will. And wearing a mask is so easy for our kids to do. One of the PPs said her kids do it at school and then she has them take the masks off at the playground. Whhhhhyyyy? I really don’t understand the mask reluctance.

Don't encourage her to come to Maryland either. No one at the playground where I live wears masks but we have all decided playing at the playground outdoors with out a mask is an acceptable risk. Sounds you need to invest in some back yard play equipment or go to the park early in the morning or after dark.

Don’t encourage OP to come to DC. Stay in your own neighborhood. Also—kids touch hands and cough and sneeze and bump each other and talk and stand too close and crowd in lines for slides and ok climbers. People who don’t think they can spread germs that way are idiots.

Thank you! This +1000.

Don’t encourage OP to come to DC. Stay in your own neighborhood. Also—kids touch hands and cough and sneeze and bump each other and talk and stand too close and crowd in lines for slides and ok climbers. People who don’t think they can spread germs that way are idiots.

Anonymous wrote:Please point me to any study where outdoor transmission occurred, especially in young kids outdoors. The SCIENCE indicates kids dont transmit and outdoor transmission among kids OR adults is very rare. I take my kids to the playground every day after school (where they wear masks) and they do not wear masks there. We've gone to a playground pretty much every day since April. We are in NoVA and mask wearing is about 50/50. I have no problem with people that wear masks outdoors, but personally its foolish and not something I'm forcing on my kids.

I agree with this. We live in DC so my kids have to wear masks at the playground and everyone in my Ne neighborhood wears one. I do think it’s unnecessary. But if you want to go to a playground where everyone is masked, head to DC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please point me to any study where outdoor transmission occurred, especially in young kids outdoors. The SCIENCE indicates kids dont transmit and outdoor transmission among kids OR adults is very rare. I take my kids to the playground every day after school (where they wear masks) and they do not wear masks there. We've gone to a playground pretty much every day since April. We are in NoVA and mask wearing is about 50/50. I have no problem with people that wear masks outdoors, but personally its foolish and not something I'm forcing on my kids.

If your kids are over 6, they are required to wear a mask in public places... whether you like it or not.
Maybe you are right, but I prefer to be extra careful and make sure my kids 7 and 5 wear masks when outside

I'm aware of the indoor mask mandate, can you point me to the outdoor mask mandate?