Toddlers

Ease restrictions on activities for our youngest children. As the winter months approach it isn’t feasible for these children to meet outdoors.

Why the contribution is important

If you are a baby (under 12 months) you can go to baby groups. Over 12 months is allowed if capacity is halved. This has already been highlighted as not finically viable for business so toddlers are left with nothing.

All age groups except 1/2 year olds can socialise at these groups, nursery, school, college or in public places such as cafes, bars etc.

This age group have went through full lockdown as babies. They experienced their first year of life with little, to no family interaction or social stimulation. As every other age range has some option to socialise this is the age group that is being left behind.

by MRae136 on October 05, 2020 at 06:41PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.7
Based on: 45 votes

Comments

  • Posted by rebeccacv October 05, 2020 at 18:58

    I feel this is so important. Not just for the development of babies and toddlers, but also for the well-being of new mums

  • Posted by mariannemca October 05, 2020 at 19:28

    This is SO important. Babies and toddlers have missed out on so much already, their normal is so altered from older siblings. Nursery and school kids are mixing, and safely, so it must be extended to toddler groups. For their mums also! First time mums will be negatively affected, I see a big increase in PND esp first time mums ☹️

  • Posted by Pat_Abz October 05, 2020 at 19:43

    ScotGovt consistently say that early years are a priority, but they have been a low priority during this pandemic.

  • Posted by Kayrob October 05, 2020 at 20:08

    The government have based their political drive on the young generations and their commitment for education and wellbeing. And now they take away this with no clear data behind it. If we feel it safe for our children to play together and learn together then let us in a safe monitored environment.

    I am a first time mum, who before my baby was confident, outgoing and friendly. Now I have sever PND and I was slowly clawing my way out of it when class's started for my little one, only for it to be taken away without a thought. I needed to see other mums, and other babies. I didn't even talk to them, but seeing them made me feel like I wasn't completely alone. My mental health along with so many other mums cannot take much more. Let us have the freedom to decide our own risks regarding our children and let us have the opportunity to nurture and develop their bodies and brains as much as we can.

  • Posted by Hannahm92 October 05, 2020 at 20:43

    My daughter turned 1 yesterday and now I am unable to take her to any classes, I was able to attend a class last week which is now not running due to it no longer being fees-able to run on the current restrictions. I was last able to take my daughter to a baby class when she was only 5 months old so she has missed out on 7 months of development and interaction due to Covid and now we are back in the same boat but if she was still under 1 we would be fine to attend a class. It’s so unfair on children over 1 who don’t attend nursery or anywhere else that they can interact with other children. They have already missed out on so much of their first year of life, things that are crucial for their development and social skills. How can every other age group mix but not 1-2 year olds.

  • Posted by lmccallion October 05, 2020 at 20:44

    This is so important for toddler development. I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old. My 4 year old is in nursery so is getting the chance to socialise and develop but my 2 year old is left with nothing other than parks which in the winter months is not going to be possible with the weather. My 2 year old really needs his toddler classes back.

  • Posted by DawnC1234 October 05, 2020 at 22:51

    Agreed the Scottish Government are quick to underline the importance of the Early Years in childhood development and yet this groupd has been largely ignored.

  • Posted by Lslc October 06, 2020 at 07:43

    Couldn't agree more, and cannot overstate the importance of parents and toddlers being able to socialise and build their relationships with other parents and children together.

    It really does "take a village" and the removal of every form of face to face community activity and support for new parents in lockdown was brutal - even if it was necessary. For those families without close relatives nearby this isolation continued even after the gradual easing of restrictions because the re-introduction of early years activities came much later.

    Please consider some form of ring-fencing for these activities in any future tightening of restrictions. Perhaps because they don't constitute childcare, per se, they've fallen through the net a little. That's understandable, but while half an hour of nursery rhymes and songs for a mum and her toddler on a Thursday morning might sound trivial, actually it's a foothold in that mum's week and a serious provision for her child's development and wellbeing that she's researched, budgeted for and committed to.

    Sincerely asking that the government makes good on its promise to get it right for every child by meeting parents half way. Smaller classes, social distancing and restrictions on singing if that's what it takes, but please leave us with something.

  • Posted by RachelBrykajlo October 06, 2020 at 09:06

    I’m a mum to a 2 year old that before lockdown we spent time at soft play and being able to meet up with 3-4 other children for play dates/coffee for us mums.
    Now we can’t do anything. The class he goes to cannot financially run with 4 families with the new guidelines, soft play is closed and as it’s now the winter, even having one friend round outside is difficult. 1/2 year olds are being forgotten about, not all children go to nursery (mine goes to a childminder 1.5 days a week) so there is not the same level of interaction for them.
    Please please think of them and find a way of allowing them to get some of their social interaction back. Also for the soft play businesses, they are not going to be here at the end of this if something isn’t done. We can go to the pub or a restaurant but not to a soft play that can clean and have correct hygiene just as easily

  • Posted by Marielle October 06, 2020 at 09:37

    It has been shown extensively that babies and toddlers thrive on social contact with other children. They learn through play from others and their development will be impacted if the restrictions are not eased. If we have the best interest of our young children at heart, clearly this must be relaxed.

  • Posted by Lmc90 October 11, 2020 at 14:19

    This is so important. My daughter is 15 months and has barely had any interaction outwith our household. We put our son (2.5) into nursery one morning a week so he has the opportunity to play with other children his own age. It's a private nursery, costing £150 per month for one morning a week as we don't qualify for funded hours until he is 3, I'm working (furloughed) and my partner isn't. We're lucky that we can afford it, but we can't afford for my daughter to also go as £300 per month on a furloughed part time wage is completely infeasible. If classes were allowed to open back up with track and trace or something similar then I'm sure people would jump to it. There are a lot of families who can't afford to pay for private nursery, whose children are missing out on very important social development.

  • Posted by mofirth October 11, 2020 at 15:25

    I see this as a high priority

  • Posted by Kirs10park October 11, 2020 at 16:54

    My wee boy is unable to socialise, there is nothing to do. I can't afford nursery. He is 2 in December. He use to do playgroup, classes, bookbug but there is nothing now for him. The only age group now forggoten about by the government

  • Posted by GMack October 11, 2020 at 19:39

    My daughter is 2 years old and doesn't attend nursery as I am in the fortunate position of having parents and inlaws who are able to provide childcare for me. Prior to lockdown my daughter would attend playgroups 3 times a week, bookbug sessions, music makers and shakers toddler classes and other organised activities. I fully appreciate that these are unprecedented times, however my issue is the inconsistencies applied to the guidelines. Children under 12 can play indoor contact sports, outdoor play parks are open where multiple children (and adults) touch the same surfaces all day long, I have never seen an adult wipe down the parts of a swing they would touch to push a child, the number of adults in a gym is only restricted by the space available. So why then are the number of adults and children limited in a toddler group? We sit at our designated space, stay 2m away from all other households, wear our mask until we get to our space, the children do not share toys and there is currently no singing. I feel much safer at these classes than I do having 15 adults at a sweaty indoor bootcamp gym class or sending my child to nursery where she will interact, with no physical distance, with multiple children from other households and multiple nursery staff also from other households.

  • Posted by JennyNeil October 11, 2020 at 21:25

    Turning 1 doesn't make them higher risk, turning 18 and being allowed to goto pubs does, allow environmental health the power to decide on an individual basis if classes are covid secure, and remove this ridiculous limit! Also regulated children's classes, including (contact sports) have no number limitations, yet toddlers limited to 4 per class, what a ludicrous decision. Higher risk going to the shop!

  • Posted by Ljmphelps October 11, 2020 at 21:36

    I think it is so important that the future of our society has the opportunity to develop skills that are required to make them successful learners and responsible citizens.

    The Scottish government have highlighted this importance in their experiences and outcomes that now started at level 0. Therefore it is crucial that the young people have the space to experience these and develop them over the next few months. Not only is this important for the health and wellbeing of the young people but the people who look after them.

  • Posted by Pandamamma October 11, 2020 at 21:45

    The first few years of a child’s life are so important for development, they need to have the ability to socialise with other children in safe environments, but at the moment there are no places other than nurseries that this important interaction can take place, toddlers have been completely forgotten about but are going to be some of the worst affected by the lockdown as their development was halted and their mental health severely affected. The government need to reverse this decision immediately

  • Posted by Louiseboyd83 October 11, 2020 at 21:47

    My son is 2 and from the moment lockdown started he became very clingy and has attachment issues. It is proving very difficult to get him back into any sort of routine with childcare and he has absolutely no social interactions with other children. If he was at nursery it would be deemed safe for him to be there so it should be safe for him to go to a soft play or toddler group. Children need normality to grow and become independent and parents need interaction with other parents so they are not isolated
Log in or register to add comments and rate ideas

Idea topics