Sport, children's activities and parties

Play parks are open. Children under 12 don’t need to maintain physical distancing when playing with their friends. However, children over 12 should still keep 2 metres apart from each other and from adults – our page on coronavirus guidelines for children explains more. Remember to stick to the rules on meeting up with other people for your area.

If you’re worried about staying safe when you go to the play park, here are some tips to keep everybody safe:

• Try to visit at times that are likely to be less busy, such as early in the morning.
• If the play park is crowded, come back at another time.
• Make sure you always have hand sanitiser with you, to clean your kids’ hands before and after they’re finished playing (although children under 1 shouldn't use alcohol-based hand sanitiser).
• If you’re having a picnic, it’s best to eat before the kids go to the play park, to be on the safe side. You could also wipe the equipment with antibacterial wipes before your kids touch it.
• Tell the kids to try not to touch their faces with their hands while they’re playing.
• Don’t forget that you should use hand sanitiser too if you’re pushing the kids on the swing! Unless you need to help your wee ones, try not to touch any of the play park equipment and keep your distance so there’s more room for the kids.

Soft play in level 0-1 areas can open, as long as they follow the guidance from Scottish Government. Unfortunately indoor soft play centres in other areas can’t open just now. This includes soft play areas in cafés and other venues.

Unless you live in a level 4 area, indoor activities for children and young people aged 17 and under can take place, following guidance issued by the Scottish Government.

Indoor activities include:

• organised indoor play and activity clubs held after or before school or in other community locations
• other before and after school clubs and activities, such as breakfast clubs and private tutoring
• baby and toddler groups
• home education and private tuition.

The guidance for these different activities varies depending on the activity. However, all organisations or groups must carry out risk assessments and clean premises thoroughly, in line with the guidance, before starting up indoor activities. They should look for ways to make it as difficult as possible for the virus to spread, for example, by:

• keeping everything very clean
• providing hand sanitising facilities
• keeping rooms well ventilated
• reducing the size of the groups and not mixing groups
• making the most of outdoor space wherever possible.

In addition, groups must keep contact details for everyone who attends, in case they need to be contacted by the Test and Protect service.

If you or your child usually attend a group like this, get in touch with them to see when they are restarting. Bear in mind that some groups may not be able to reopen straightaway, as they may need to make changes to the way they run to follow the safety guidance.

If you live in an area with level 4 restrictions, activities can’t take place indoors so will have to move outside.

The household restriction doesn’t apply to most organised activities. This includes activities like Brownies and Cubs and dance classes. 

For these activities, the maximum number of people who can take part in organised indoor activities depends on the level your area is in:

• Level 0: 30 people
• Level 1: 30 people
• Level 2: 20 people
• Level 3: 15 people
• Level 4: Indoor activities not permitted

There should be no more than 50% parents or carers (18+) at any one time, where they attend an activity to support their child. However, facilitators and under 5s don't count towards these numbers. The session can only have the maximum numbers of people attending if it’s safe to do so, for example, if there’s enough room for everyone to physically distance where appropriate.

If you live in an area with level 4 restrictions, activities can’t take place indoors so will have to move outside.

Children aged 5 and over may need to wear face coverings when indoors, for example, before or after an activity. The group or club will advise you if this is the case.

In areas in levels 0-3, groups like Brownies and Cubs can run. Sessions can be held inside or outside, as long as they follow guidance from the Scottish Government (see ‘can children take part in indoor activities?’ above). Get in touch with your local group to find out what’s happening in your area.

If you live in an area with level 4 restrictions, activities can’t take place indoors but can continue outdoors.

In areas in levels 0-3, baby and toddler groups can hold sessions outside or inside, as long as they follow guidance from the Scottish Government (see ‘can children take part in indoor activities?’ above). The organisation running the groups needs to ensure that strict hygiene measures are followed, such as thoroughly cleaning all toys and play equipment between each use. You can read the full guidance from the Scottish Government here.

The maximum numbers allowed are:

• Level 0: 15 people (30 people if the session takes place outdoors) 
• Level 1: 15 people (30 people if the session takes place outdoors)
• Level 2: 10 people (15 people if the session takes place outdoors)
• Level 3: 10 people (15 people if the session takes place outdoors)
• Level 4: Sessions cannot take place indoors (15 people if the session takes place outdoors)

In levels 0-3, facilitators don't count towards the total numbers. At level 4 facilitators do count towards the total numbers.

Levels 0-2 (indoors)

There should be no more than 50% of the maximum numbers aged 18+ at any one time. Siblings can also attend, where unavoidable, and don’t count towards total numbers or households. The session can only have the maximum numbers of people attending if it’s safe to do so, for example, if there’s enough room for everyone to physically distance where appropriate.

Level 3 (indoors)

Up to 10 adults can attend a  baby or toddler group at level 3 as long as:

• all the children in the group are less than 5 years old
• there is space for everyone to physically distance
• everyone over 5 wears a face covering, except when sitting down.

Siblings can also attend baby groups if you can’t get anyone else to look after them. They don’t count towards the total number of people.

All levels outdoors

For outdoor activities for babies and toddlers, the maximum number of adults (18+) is 30 in levels 0-1 and 15 for levels 2-4 as long as: 

• all children are younger than 5
• there’s space for everyone to physically distance
• the people going to the group are fairly consistent and don’t change regularly.
   

In areas in levels 0-3, dance classes can take place. Classes can be held inside or outside as long as they follow guidance from the Scottish Government (see ‘can children take part in indoor activities?’ above).

If you live in an area with level 4 restrictions, activities can’t take place indoors but can still take place outside.

Holiday clubs can run provided they follow the guidance from the Scottish Government (see ‘can children take part in indoor activities?’ above). Regulated childcare can stay open in all of the levels (unless they have to close temporarily due to a very local outbreak). If the holiday club is registered and regulated by the Care Inspectorate they must follow the school age childcare services guidance.

Although there’s no limit to the number of groups or clubs children can attend, it’s not recommended for children to go to too many as this increases the chances of catching or passing on the virus. 

Although there’s no limit to the number of groups or clubs children can attend, it’s not recommended for children to go to too many as this increases the chances of catching or passing on the virus.

If your child usually attends a club, class or other organised activity, they’ll probably get in touch with you to let you know when they’re starting up. In some cases, the organisers may need to make changes, so times and venues may change. If you don’t hear anything, get in touch with the organisation to check what’s happening.

Children under 12 can share play equipment but the adults running the play sessions must ensure that everything is kept clean, and encourage increased hand hygiene and cleaning of surfaces during the sessions. Children 12 and over should avoid sharing equipment if possible, unless it's part of the activity.

The length of each session may have changed, and should be kept to a minimum for indoor activity.

Whatever level your area is in, children can get together to play outdoors and can even have small parties outdoors as long as you follow the rules on meeting other people. However, this shouldn’t be seen as an excuse to get lots of children together – try to limit it to a few close friends. Children spending time playing together is important, but it’s also important to be careful. Be aware of how many people your child is seeing, and try to keep the number as low as possible while still letting them have fun.

Remember, you shouldn’t share food between households. Blowing out birthday candles and singing are unfortunately also risk factors for spreading the virus, so should be avoided. We know that this doesn't sound like any fun, but it is important to keep each other safe.

Levels 0-2

In levels 0-2, your child can have a party in your home or in a public place like a café or leisure centre, as long as you stick to the rules on meeting other people.

Levels 3-4

If you’re in level 3 or 4, your child can’t have a playdate or a party with anyone from another household inside a home. However, they can have a party indoors in a public place like a café or leisure centre, as long as you follow the rules on meeting other people.

Bear in mind that if you’re in level 3 or 4 some public places may be shut.