Wag Idamay Lahat Ng Bata’: Parents React To Possibility Of Kids Being Banned From Malls

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 Amid talks that minors who have yet to be vaccinated against COVID-19 may again be barred from entering malls, parents whose children have been stuck indoors for almost two years because of the lockdowns couldn’t help but react on the issue.

While final guidelines have yet to be released, news reports said that Metro Manila mayors were set to meet yesterday, November 18, 2021 to discuss movement of children in public spaces. This was according to a statement by San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora.

On Monday, November 15, President Rodrigo Duterte asked NCR mayors to pass ordinances that will limit access of minors to shopping malls after a post of a 2-year-old reportedly contracting COVID-19 after a mall visit went viral on social media.

Should kids be banned in malls?

On our official Facebook page, SmartParenting.com.ph readers were divided on the issue. Some parents agreed that unvaccinated minors should not be allowed to enter mall premises, while others think it is time kids were allowed to move freely while outdoors.

"Ang saya makita na masaya ang anak mo, but since ‘di natin makontrol ang magulang, might as well we control the situation by putting limits. ‘Di ikamamatay ng pangarap ng bata ang ‘di pagpasok sa mall.

"Pili ka? Papasukin sa mall tapos pasok anak mo sa NICU or ‘wag pumasok sa mall para ‘di ka maka-experience ng NICU?" — J.Y.

"They will not allow entry sa kids dahil hindi vaccinated and prone to get the virus, so dapat pati mga unvaccinated adults huwag na rin papasukin sa malls para fair!

"Instead of not letting kids go in, mall admin should control the entry of people to avoid overcrowding. Malls should refrain from doing weekend sales so as not to attract people to go to malls." — B.S.

 "Not just malls but any place na prone sa siksikan. Wala pang vaccine for kids so magtiis na lang muna." — L.A.

 "Bring them na lang sa mga parks or any open space. Kung hindi talaga maiwasan na dalhin sa malls, ‘yung need mag grocery tapos wala mapag-iwanan, make sure they are protected." — G.G.

Don't ban all minors

Some parents felt that the viral post that fueled the talks on setting guidelines should have been investigated first before being disclosed to the public. Health Usec. Rosario Vergeire earlier described it as "unfortunate," adding, "its exact cause will remain multifactorial and uncertain."

"OA! Live and let live. [The kids] are wearing masks and no sane parent would deliberately expose their own kid to any harm. Super OA na." — A.C

 "Pwede pa rin siguro kung al fresco. Like sa Trinoma, may garden sila sa taas. Baka pwede naman bata ron. Tsaka ‘yung sa seaside ng MOA." — K.C.

 "An isolated case that should have been well investigated before being disclosed to the public. As DOH mentioned, the cause may be multifactorial, meaning it could have been from the transportation, the mall, or [from] wherever the kid was.

"Kids should no longer be banned [from malls]. If the majority of the countries are letting people inside facilities regardless of age, why can’t we?" — M.L.

Bringing kids to malls should be up to the parents

With kids staying indoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, moms and dads continue to worry that it will affect their social skills and make them anxious and scared of the outside world. 

"‘Wag idamay lahat ng bata. They have a life to live, too, and mental health that needs to be protected. If need talaga i-ordinance ito, then children without masks should not be allowed to enter the mall." — R.L.

"Pwede naman kasi sana magmall kaso wag naman ipasok mga batang kapapanganak pa lang at hindi pa aware magsuot ng face mask.‘Wag na kayo pumila sa mga matao like arcades at groceries. Kahit ako na adult na, iniiwasan ko talaga yun." — L.C.

"Kung concerned ka sa anak mo, ‘di mo dapat dinadala sa madaming tao." — C.C.

"Isama ninyo lang mga anak ninyo if need bumili ng new shoes or clothes. But just to eat out or pasyal, ‘wag muna." — E.B.

"It’s a matter of disciplining the kids and educating them, but not limiting their whole life because of COVID scare. Kung alam mong hindi pa pwede magsuot ng mask ang anak mo kasi sobrang bata pa, ‘wag mo nang dalhin sa mall." — J.B.

We should not be quick to judge parents who allow their children outdoors, especially as the lockdowns have been hard for all of us. With Metro Manila easing quarantine restrictions to Alert Level 2, kids are now allowed to travel for leisure.

If you do decide to bring your kids outside, remember to take precautions as the threat of COVID-19 still persists, despite the more relaxed rules. Make sure to follow all the basic health protocols such as wearing masks, physical distancing, and washing or sanitizing your hands.

Avoid crowds if you can. As Usec. Vergeire reminds, "Kapag nakita natin na parang crowded na ang lugar, huwag na nating isama ang ating kabataan."

Additional research by Darlene Estandarte

Click here for tips from pediatricians on how to prevent your child from getting COVID-19.