Social Distancing

Should Parents Let Their Kids Hang Out With Friends During This "Break"?

  • Yes

    Votes: 27 14.3%
  • No

    Votes: 125 66.1%
  • Maybe Just 1 Friend

    Votes: 37 19.6%

  • Total voters
    189

BryceC

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We're letting them hang out with kids. That said, we live across the street from a park, so it'd be basically torturing them by keeping them inside when other kids are over there.
 

adjl

Active Member
Jun 13, 2019
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We're letting them hang out with kids. That said, we live across the street from a park, so it'd be basically torturing them by keeping them inside when other kids are over there.
My youngest is 12. I did say they could go hang out outside, but that hasn't happened yet.
 

harimad

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Jul 28, 2016
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Illinois
I let mine hang out. If we had older family members with us, it would be different, but nobody in our house is among the risky age groups for this virus.
 
  • Agree
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Al_4_State

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I think the "less than 10" rule is a pretty safe one to follow.

I'd let them interact, but I would be paying close attention to how many other kids are involved. If it's just a few getting together, no big deal. If it's birthday party sized, I'd maybe pull it back.
 

Clonefan32

Well-Known Member
Nov 19, 2008
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I'm fine with my kids being around other kids so long as we know their parents. I think I have a pretty good sense of who is being smart about this, and so long as I think the parents have been cautious with who their kids are around it doesn't bother me.

They are kids. They need the social interaction.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: coolerifyoudid

3TrueFans

Just a Happily Married Man
Sep 10, 2009
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No and most of his friends have the same rules. At least for now the weather has sucked so it’s not really an issue, maybe when it warms up we’ll reconsider. They’re playing together online basically 24/7 anyways.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: DreamyCy and Angie

Clonefan32

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Nov 19, 2008
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No and most of his friends have the same rules. At least for now the weather has sucked so it’s not really an issue, maybe when it warms up we’ll reconsider. They’re playing together online basically 24/7 anyways.

This is a true point. Kids are bred for this moment.

Even before this got crazy, my nephew was at our house. Kid literally brought his own Playstation, plugged in to one of the TVs, and two of my kids and him played Fortnite against each other from separate rooms within the same house communicating through headsets. Truly ahead of their time.
 
  • Like
  • Agree
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BCClone

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Not exactly sure.
I let them hang out but in smaller groups (usually do anyhow) and pay attention to who has older loved ones that may be around.
 

3TrueFans

Just a Happily Married Man
Sep 10, 2009
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I'm not really concerned about my kids getting it, the symptoms seem to be less severe for children, although it is still a concern. My main thing is just not wanting to be a part of the problem if we don't have to be, potentially spreading something from one household to another and then to who knows where.

It's not a big deal for them to be home for awhile, they're both exceptional students, my 13 year old is in constant contact with his friends anyways. They're not going to wither and die because they couldn't hang out in person with their friends for a little while.
 

Stewo

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Oct 29, 2008
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If you're in a known "hot spot" then I'd say no, but if you're in a place like Iowa with very few known cases then I wouldn't make a big fuss about it.

I should add that I don't take my kids to the grocery store or anything unnecessary. But they've been getting outside and engaging with the neighbors a little bit.
 

mj4cy

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Mar 28, 2006
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I have chosen to keep my kids on lock down while they are out of school. Am I being unreasonable?

We decided we're going to go two weeks without contact with anyone outside the family (still going out for walks/runs), but then after that we'll reassess. The biggest thing is we can't control where other people have been but we can control ourselves.

I'd rather look back and say "man that was overboard" than accidentally have the virus undetected and pass it on.
 

adjl

Active Member
Jun 13, 2019
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If you're in a known "hot spot" then I'd say no, but if you're in a place like Iowa with very few known cases then I wouldn't make a big fuss about it.
But the cases have doubled in 2 days. If it continues to do that, we will be a hot spot quickly. Again, I don't want to overreact, but I want to be socially responsible too. It seems to be taking off fast. Many experts are saying stay home if possible.
 

Stewo

Well-Known Member
Oct 29, 2008
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Iowa
But the cases have doubled in 2 days. If it continues to do that, we will be a hot spot quickly. Again, I don't want to overreact, but I want to be socially responsible too. It seems to be taking off fast. Many experts are saying stay home if possible.
Not to get terribly off topic, but the cases aren't necessarily new, they're just being confirmed. At any rate, it's 2020. Being stuck inside isn't really that big of a deal anymore.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: Angie

MartyFine

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Jul 7, 2009
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I voted yes, but it does depend on the whether the children are healthy and whether the kids are living with a family member who is also susceptible to grave illness as a result of COVID-19.
 

twa5786

Active Member
Feb 21, 2007
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Forgive me for being direct, but if you answered “yes” to this question, you have clearly missed the point so far. This thing is about to explode, and I don’t care where you are, what your age is, or how many “confirmed” cases there are in your area. Plus, there are a lot of 20-44 year olds being hospitalized, so no adult is completely safe from its effects.

My wife works at a large hospital locally and they are hosting daily doomsday calls. This pandemic is no joke. Practice true social distancing for a few weeks or more, or risk being forced to for several months, or worse.
 

ISULibrarian

Well-Known Member
Apr 17, 2010
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My husband is a doctor, and this is the first time in our lives together I've seen him truly scared, with constant anxiety. Just last night he was saying "I didn't sign up to go to war, but it's what it feels like right now." He's really scared that they are going to run out of PPE, personal protective equipment. This article was just in the NY Times today about a 40-something attorney currently in the ICU in Louisiana, fighting for his life, with Covid-19: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/us/politics/coronavirus-heaven-frilot-mark-frilot.html.

Keep your ******* kids at home. It's not good enough if you let them play with the neighbors in a park. If those kids have played with other kids, and then they play with yours, you're forming a chain that can result in dozens or even hundreds being infected. Here's a story about a single family that has lost their matriarch, and three of her children (all in their 40s and 50s) to the disease: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-new...rsey-family-kills-3-4-more-hospitals-n1163696. None of us are as young as we think we are. Keep your ******* kids at home.