How Kids Can Have Safe Playdates During Coronavirus

Kids who are normally in school together for six hours a day are now home without their peers—and the emotional effects of this isolation can be significant. While we are seeing that children generally experience mild symptoms if they do contract COVID-19, they are “absolutely little carriers of this infection,” says Sandra Kesh, M.D., doctor of infectious disease at Westmed Medical Group. However, kids need social connection with one another to feel supported and calm according to Tovah Klein, a child development psychologist in Manhattan. It also makes them feel “less anxious, which is particularly needed during times of change or stress.” Like now, for example.

So what can families do to keep their kids social while still social distancing? These tips from Wendy Proskin, M.D., pediatrician at Westmed Medical Group will help you keep your kids safe should you allow them to have playdates during coronavirus. If you’re just not comfortable with that just yet, we’ve included some ways your kids can be social with friends while they are apart.

Can my kids have indoor playdates right now?

Indoor playdates are tricky right now because kids often have trouble keeping their masks on and wearing them properly. It's probably possible for older kids to have safe, socially distanced playdates, according to Dr. Proskin, but not for children younger than 3rd grade who do not yet understand the concepts of personal space and social distancing. While parents know their own kids and what they are capable of, Dr. Proskin suggests more supervision than pre-COVID playdates. 

What kinds of activities are safe for socially distanced playdates?

Luckily, the weather is warm again in New York and if you choose to allow your child to have a playdate, it can be done outside. Dr. Proskin suggests activities like bike riding (with helmets!) and playing catch and frisbee (as long as kids can remember to keep their kids away from their faces and wash their hands as soon as they’re done playing). Contact sports like basketball, football, and soccer are not recommended right now.

What safety measures should parents take for kid-to-kid interactions?

As we have been doing since the start of the coronavirus, continue to remind your child the importance of hand hygiene and keeping her hands away from her face. Older kids should keep their masks on if they are in close contact with their friends, but it is best for them to stay six feet apart at all times.

Here are seven ways kids can socialize with their friends other than playdates:

Set up an online playdate

Using a variety of social apps, such as Zoom, Facetime, Google Hangout and House Party, kids can arrange to "meet up" with one another in a virtual arena. There are opportunities for one-on-one hangs or group get-togethers—depending on what your child craves. Some even stay online together while doing homework or chores—just to have the peer company that they’ve been missing. Thanks to livestreams, kids can take 'field trips' to an aquarium or even a museum together.

Play a game online together

Another way kids can interact is to join in on a simultaneous activity—like a game. For example, Pogo, Pokemon Go and Facebook Games allow friends to engage in the same game while chatting with one another. They could also meet on a virtual playdate and play the same board game in their own houses. Battleship anyone?