The lockdown is easing off, and children have missed their friends. There are ways to make having a playdate for your kids safe at this period.
Here are 5 tips to keep in mind:
- Start with friends and family you know well– A good place to start is family friends you know really well. How clean and health-conscious is the family? Does the family ensure that their children take their multivitamins and eat well-balanced meals? Is the family clean and observant? Ensure when you invite a family, they are people similar to yours in terms of precaution in relation to how they protect their family against the virus. You will need to ask where they have been and who they have been in contact within the last few months.
- Make sure no one is unwell – When you decide to take your children to a friend’s place or invite them over. Remember to ask if anyone has got a cold, cough, or fever in the last 10 days. Also, ask as if they have been with someone who has any of such symptoms in the last ten days. If yes it is best not to have them over or take your children there.
- Plan ahead of the play-date – Think about where the children will play. Outdoors or indoors? Ensure wherever you decide has lots of ventilation.
- Observe all COVID19 safety rules – Make sure hands are washed on arrival and frequently. Limit contact as much as possible. Will the children need to wear masks? Provide adequate space for play and limit the number of children. You might want to limit playdates to 1 hour for a start or less to help children adjust to the new play rules.
- Clean as children play – Wipe surfaces constantly, try to limit toy sharing. Wipe down all the toys that will be played with as well. You might want to ask the family to come with their children’s toys so it reduces the rate at which they touch and share things. Have wipes, hand sanitizers, and other cleaning materials at hand.