Parks and playgrounds

[Anonymous]

What’s it been like for those of you that have ventured to these places during this?

Do you notice a lot of people trying to stick to the guidelines?

Do you see things like kids sharing the same equipment and balls?

Do you see parents and nannies making sure their kids only play with kids they live with and making them avoid equipment?

I teach during the year and babysit part time. In the fall many things will change in schools. I’d like to know what will really be going on despite how hard some are working to follow the rules.


Please share you observations with me. We all want to slow the spread, but do your neighbors? Do you? Have you shut down all possibilities of sharing those spaces until this is over?


Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I was at the park Saturday. Parents brought two toddlers and a preschooler. One arrived first and cleaned the swings, picnic table and slide with Clorox wipes. Then she texted her husband to bring the kids. She kept the toddlers busy on the clean equipment. He stayed with the preschooler on the equipment or kicking a ball they brought. I was the only other person there, and I was just walking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was at the park Saturday. Parents brought two toddlers and a preschooler. One arrived first and cleaned the swings, picnic table and slide with Clorox wipes. Then she texted her husband to bring the kids. She kept the toddlers busy on the clean equipment. He stayed with the preschooler on the equipment or kicking a ball they brought. I was the only other person there, and I was just walking.

Thank you for your reply! It’s comforting to know this family is taking it serious. Sadly a park I went by today was not this way at all.

[Anonymous]

I haven’t taken my 1.5 yr old charge to a playground but we do spend every morning in a park with huge lawns and a running trail. It’s a long (two mile) park but only a half block deep. Parents and nannies have been great about choosing only empty lawns for their child to play (there are lots of them). We also live in a city that mandates face masks.

But runners and old people suck! I have my charge, in his stroller, as far to the right as I can go on the path and a few idiot old people walk down the center of the path, two-abreast, without masks. Yesterday I told one couple to please move six feet from the stroller because I can’t mask a baby. The woman told be to stay home. I called her an idiot and flagged a cop on her.

Runners coming toward us are usually good when I wave them away bit they rarely have masks on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t taken my 1.5 yr old charge to a playground but we do spend every morning in a park with huge lawns and a running trail. It’s a long (two mile) park but only a half block deep. Parents and nannies have been great about choosing only empty lawns for their child to play (there are lots of them). We also live in a city that mandates face masks.

But runners and old people suck! I have my charge, in his stroller, as far to the right as I can go on the path and a few idiot old people walk down the center of the path, two-abreast, without masks. Yesterday I told one couple to please move six feet from the stroller because I can’t mask a baby. The woman told be to stay home. I called her an idiot and flagged a cop on her.

Runners coming toward us are usually good when I wave them away bit they rarely have masks on.

You go girl! I’d definitely want a nanny with balls like you protecting herself and my child.

I live in a state where masks are still optional and was recently at a park watching many people in the neighborhood including parents and nannies maskless, chatting it up and sitting closely while watching their tween boys share footballs and preschoolers share swings and tree house monkey bar sets. I was baffled. They even have food trucks come and people were paying with cash and barely sanitizing. Once one person in that neighborhood gets it, they all will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t taken my 1.5 yr old charge to a playground but we do spend every morning in a park with huge lawns and a running trail. It’s a long (two mile) park but only a half block deep. Parents and nannies have been great about choosing only empty lawns for their child to play (there are lots of them). We also live in a city that mandates face masks.

But runners and old people suck! I have my charge, in his stroller, as far to the right as I can go on the path and a few idiot old people walk down the center of the path, two-abreast, without masks. Yesterday I told one couple to please move six feet from the stroller because I can’t mask a baby. The woman told be to stay home. I called her an idiot and flagged a cop on her.

Runners coming toward us are usually good when I wave them away bit they rarely have masks on.

You go girl! I’d definitely want a nanny with balls like you protecting herself and my child.

I live in a state where masks are still optional and was recently at a park watching many people in the neighborhood including parents and nannies maskless, chatting it up and sitting closely while watching their tween boys share footballs and preschoolers share swings and tree house monkey bar sets. I was baffled. They even have food trucks come and people were paying with cash and barely sanitizing. Once one person in that neighborhood gets it, they all will.

+1.

[Anonymous]

are people actually using playground equipment? We go on trails etc but not the equipment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:are people actually using playground equipment? We go on trails etc but not the equipment.

The family I saw over a week ago is the only one I’ve seen locally who have used the playground. But they cleaned the equipment first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:are people actually using playground equipment? We go on trails etc but not the equipment.

The equipment is a lot less dangerous than kids playing all together and breathing and coughing on each other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:are people actually using playground equipment? We go on trails etc but not the equipment.

The equipment is a lot less dangerous than kids playing all together and breathing and coughing on each other.

But as long as the equipment is available and open to play with more children will gravitate towards it and end up in the same space. Hard to keep kids from wanting to use it together or wait until one family gets away in crowded parks.

I think parks should be open in general for exercise and running etc but equipment should be taped off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was at the park Saturday. Parents brought two toddlers and a preschooler. One arrived first and cleaned the swings, picnic table and slide with Clorox wipes. Then she texted her husband to bring the kids. She kept the toddlers busy on the clean equipment. He stayed with the preschooler on the equipment or kicking a ball they brought. I was the only other person there, and I was just walking.

I would feel fine if we were the only ones on the playground. But what would they have done if several other kids showed up? I have a toddler and a preschooler. They would both be thrilled to see other kids and I don't think I could get them to keep any sort of distance.

[Anonymous]

I doubt my charge and I will go back to the playground until next year. We found a secluded park we now go to everyday but stay away from other people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was at the park Saturday. Parents brought two toddlers and a preschooler. One arrived first and cleaned the swings, picnic table and slide with Clorox wipes. Then she texted her husband to bring the kids. She kept the toddlers busy on the clean equipment. He stayed with the preschooler on the equipment or kicking a ball they brought. I was the only other person there, and I was just walking.

I would feel fine if we were the only ones on the playground. But what would they have done if several other kids showed up? I have a toddler and a preschooler. They would both be thrilled to see other kids and I don't think I could get them to keep any sort of distance.

I have no clue what they would have done. But it was very unlikely anyone else would show up:

1. It was early morning on a Saturday.
2. It’s a very small town.
3. It was very cool, kids wore jackets.
4. Other parks are more popular.

I don’t know the family. I do know they drove in separate vehicles, and they were very careful. So I’m willing to guess that they chose a less popular park on purpose and likely chose an early time as well. I have no clue if they’re townies or country, or maybe drove over from a larger town.

[Anonymous]

This is not typical