> Their immune systems are still in a learning mode. I'm not sure that it is the safest thing for elderly people to spend time with large numbers of random chil

> Their immune systems are still in a learning mode. I'm not sure that it is the safest thing for elderly people to spend time with large numbers of random children. Their immune systems seem to be in hyperdrive in my experience; a painful, wearying plague that puts me on my back is barely a speed bump for my son...just more sniffles and snot production. I think it's more their hygiene habits are still in a learning mode! As a parent and spouse of a preschool teacher, though, the kids aren't randomly selected to go to these events. It's just common courtesy to not bring your kid to interact with other kids, visit friends in the hospital, or visit with seniors when they're sick. The trouble comes when parents schedule themselves to be unavailable when their kids are supposed to be at a child care or event that prohibits sick kids and then rationalize/deny the symptoms. But as far as the seniors go, my infant/toddler/preschooler is perpetually the most popular person in the building when we go to visit Great-Grandma at her assisted living center (assuming there aren't other kids about). People come out of the woodwork when he giggles, and the nurses all say that it's great for them. Carpeted rooms with chairs and toys/activities that need some grown-up help are probably better formats for interaction than a concrete playground, though.