At my house, the 4- and 6-year-old natives are growing restless. The backyard isn’t cutting it anymore, biking up and down the street is growing old, and running around in the sprinkler now holds as much joy as a root canal. The parks are calling our name.

But is it safe?

Let me let you in on a little secret – there’s so much we still don’t know about this virus.

And by “don’t know” I mean, there are no great, large, long-term studies about the virus out there. My guidance for you is, at best….educated guessing. So bear with me.

In my office, I’m constantly asked “well….what are YOU doing with YOUR family, Dr. Diane?”

Well, I’ve read a lot. And it seems like the conditions ripest for catching the virus are in enclosed spaces with a large number of unmasked people, within areas of poor ventilation.

So…playgrounds and parks seem low risk. With some planning.

What is my family doing?

1. We have a heart-to-heart each and every time we go. If a playground has more than 1-2 families presently playing, we will try again later, or try a different park. My kids no longer melt down if a park is too full; it’s part of the game plan to be as safe as possible. They know this is part of the deal.
2. Also – we talk about keeping distance from other families. The CDC recommends keeping 6 feet between households if possible. In most playgrounds this is feasible, if not too many folks are there. My kids have adapted to the idea of “well, the swings are full, so it’s see-saw time until that family is done using the swings!”
3. This may not be easy for little ones, like those under age 3, so it’s important to watch over your kids and gently guide their curiosity to other parts of the park if they seem to drift towards new friends.
4. The CDC says if you can’t keep 6 feet of distance between your family and another, to wear masks if over age 2. In the Texas heat, my kids just wouldn’t be able to deal with this. Also, I’m just not comfortable with crowded parks yet. So we leave the playground if lots of people arrive – and again, that’s part of the heart-to-heart talk we have before we go.
5. We pee before we go. Using public restrooms ups your risk. If you have to use them, wash hands thoroughly afterwards.
6. Some news sources are telling you to “wipe down surfaces before your kid plays on it." I feel like park time is so chaotic, this would be really difficult for me to do. Constant movement and large playground pieces make me feel like this is near impossible. Studies show that the virus can live anywhere from 5 hours to 3 days on metals, which is worrisome, but the virus degrades pretty quickly on hot surfaces (thank you Texas sun). I think if you have wipes and your child is super focused on a favorite piece of playground equipment, absolutely, wipe away. But I think handwashing at the end of your trip is more important.
7. I keep hand sanitizer in my car and we use it the moment we get in. We also wash our hands thoroughly once we get home for at least 20 seconds.

I know it’s sad to think of all this THINKING for something as simple as a trip to the playground. But it won’t be this way forever, you guys. Being careful like this buys us time, resources, education, medications, and possibly a vaccine soon. It’s not forever – but why not keep things as safe as possible in these uncertain times?

Get outside and enjoy this summer safely.

Dr. Diane

Related Stories:

• Cook Children’s Physicians Create Guide to Help Kids Safely Return to School amid COVID-19 Pandemic
• Should My Chld Go To Summer Camp?
• When Can My Child Start Playing Sports Again?
• Should I Take My Child To Daycare?
• Helping Families Manage COVID-19 Stress

"My mom used to say, 'When God closes a door, He always opens a window.' I have found that to be true many times in my life. My life as a pediatrician is a result of crawling through an open window when the door I thought I was supposed to walk through was closed to me."

Jason Terk, M.D., Keller, Keller Parkway

"Florinda Peak, the most amazing Mommy in the world, to 5 year old Dr Sandra Peak who did not want to practice reading… 'You have to learn how to read…because when you do the whole world opens up to you!'”

Sandra Peak, M.D., Lewisville

"The best advice my mother ever gave me was to give to others without expecting anything in return. (She also told me to never go outside with wet hair because I’d catch a cold, but medical school later disproved that. Sorry mom.)"

Diane Arnaout, M.D., Willow Park

"The best advice my mother ever gave me was, “never miss the chance to use a perfectly good bathroom” when you are out of the house."

Audrey Rogers, M.D., Fort Worth, Forest Park

Nicole Wineriter, M.D., Keller, HeritageTrace

"My mom told me to respect (be nice) to the nurses because they can either make or break your day."

Samuel Sheng, M.D., Arlington Neighborhood Clinic

"Encourage others. She always wrote notes to people for accomplishments, during sad times and just because."

Justin Smith, M.D., Lewisville

And finally, our favorite advice ...

"Marry Joan."

Tom Rogers, M.D., Forest Park. Dr. Rogers and his wife Joan have been married 59 years and today, she is a proud mother. "Joan worked to pay my way through medical school, gave me two great kids who are both pediatricians, and has allowed me to work without having to pay attention to small things like finances, maintenance of our house and yardwork. I couldn't be where I am today without her," Dr. Rogers said.

Happy Mother's Day from all of us at Cook Children's ...