Chris Kemp, M.S.:
All activities carry some risk, but some clearly carry more than others. Consider the risks carefully. The best approach to controlling the virus is still strict social distancing. If you have some trusted families that have been social distancing in the same way you have, and share your concerns, you might be able to make a more informed choice and arrange for the kids to enjoy some playtime that doesn't require physical closeness, like kicking a ball around or riding bikes. Otherwise the risks can outweigh the benefit.
Alison Bernstein, Ph.D.:
Outside is lower risk than inside. But this also depends on many things because the issue is really about close contact between people.
How are the kids playing? Are they playing close or can they play apart? Are they going on a bike ride together? This is less contact than playing basketball.
Is everyone wearing masks? If the kids are wearing masks, many of these other concerns are greatly reduced.
Are the kids playing everyday, all day, or for an hour? Exposure is also a function of time. The longer the interaction, the greater the risk. Making these events infrequent can reduce the risks of these interactions.
How is your community behaving? Did your neighbors just take a trip to a state that is currently a hotspot like Florida or Arizona? If the people around you are wearing masks and abiding by physical distancing recommendations, their risk of transmitting the disease is lower and I would tolerate the risks of playing more. But if I knew that my neighbors were actively not doing all the thing they should be doing to protect our community, then I would be a lot less permissive in letting my kids play.
Unfortunately, as soon as school opens in the fall, I will no longer have this control and our success as a community will be dictated by the least compliant among us.
Good graphic here ranking activities, I’d put kids playing outside with friends between yellow and orange depending on the specifics: https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2020/5/22/21265180/cdc-coronavirus-surfaces-social-distancing-guidelines-covid-19-risks
