Is it safe to have play dates now?
With schools closed and extracurricular activities canceled for months because of the COVID-2019 pandemic, most children have not seen their friends or peers in person for what may feel like eternity for them. And for children, time spent with peers is a vital part of growing up and an essential part of their social and emotional development. So as states begin to reopen, parents may wonder if it is OK to allow play dates.
Posted — UpdatedWhile it’s understandable that children—and parents—want to see friends and loved ones, it still can be risky. There is still a pandemic —we don’t have a vaccine or an effective treatment—and the risk of contracting the virus remains very real.
So what do you do to keep everyone safe if you want to plan a play date for your child?
The experts say:
Play dates are possible, but they’re going to look and feel different than in the past.
Outdoor activities are preferable to indoor ones because fresh air dilutes the virus. Masks also help prevent the spread of the virus.
“I know it’s not necessarily intuitive, but if you get a mask that is comfortable for your child and teach them how to wear it properly, I feel that it is a learned behavior that the majority of children can be taught to do,” Dr. Blyth says. “Even with young kids, you can mention germs, and make sure your child is reducing their exposure to other people’s germs.”
Factors to consider:
“Kids have gotten more comfortable through some of their schoolwork interacting on the computer and using video features,” says Emily Sickbert-Bennett, PhD, director of UNC Medical Center Infection Prevention. “There are even games and crafts they can do with their friends virtually, so they are socially connected but physically apart.”
“Talk with the other families to make sure they’re being safe,” Dr. Blyth says.
How to stay safe:
Keep the play date short, and set a timer so the children know when the play date is over. “Have a reasonable time period that both families agree to, such as 30 minutes or an hour. And everybody knows that when the time is up, you go back home,” Dr. Blyth says.
If your child does not want to wear a mask and cannot stay at least 6 to 10 feet apart the entire play date, consider a virtual play date instead.
“I consider play dates a ‘less safe’ activity because generally children are not as good about social distancing and avoiding touching their face and washing hands,” says Robert Hutchins, MD, MPH, UNC Health internal medicine physician. But “if the kids you are setting up the play dates for have been isolated at home for three months without doing anything, it’s safer than those who have been out and about.”
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