Park Runs: Children - Why?

If you need to take her with you, surely she doesn’t need to run it though if she’s not enjoying it?

It's wild how some view walking/running in a safe environment for a short period on a Sunday morning with family members as cruel or torturous, explains alot about why so many people are unhealthy and overweight though.

Conversely, I am eternally grateful that my parents took me out hiking and running throughout my childhood, despite all of my complaining!

I have carried on leading an active life and have always been slim and fit.

One of my other ones complained when she first started park run too, now she runs off on her own or with friends and asks to do the main park run on a Saturday too.

Ah....but would some of the patents enjoy standing out in the cold kicking a muddy ball or watching from the side lines.

YANBU especially if the kids genuinely don't enjoy it as you say it's not the only way for kids to get exercise and it should be enjoyable.

Far from alone in this, and at least parkrun happens at known times and is over and done with, usually within an hour. Dogwalkers tend to move around in packs in our park, strolling along right across the path with dogs racing in and out. Fair enough, it's their right to be there just as much as mine.

The frequency with which I see parents dragging scooters while a miserable looking kid plods along next to them would say that that isn’t a more enjoyable activity.

There’s nothing wrong with kids learning you have to something you don’t want to look after your health. If more people had that attitude we’d be a healthier population.

this is true

however there are far far more considerate park runners than idiots and IMO the benefits to people and society as a whole (parkrun is an amazing community) that the positives far outweigh the negatives, IMOn

Just to be clear, they weren’t pushy parents any more than the behaviour being described on this thread. They would encourage me to do stuff and be excited / support school when they chose me to run or play sport in competitions. If I said I didn’t want to do something I’d be encouraged because I’d ’like it in the end’ / ‘it’s good for you’ / ‘what a honour’ type of messaging. So I gave up telling them that I didn’t like it because no one listened and people generally don’t understand that not everyone is competitive but as soon as I had any personal control over it, I walked in the opposite direction, same as lots of people.

Of course kids sometimes moan about doing stuff and we encourage them but if someone is taking their kids to park run weekly and that kid is crying / saying ‘I’m not enjoying this’ on a regular basis, ignoring that is not building resilience, it’s building an aversion to exercise.

@Knowillbeflamed are you close to Blackpool? Sounds like the one I know a lot around here take the kids to. It’s mostly for social media the parents take them imo

My kids hate anything that is good for them when they are doing it. They cheer up afterwards though when the sense of achievement kicks in. I’m hoping eventually they’ll get it.

These are the good parents, the ones that don’t try to be their kids’ mate, the ones that feed healthy food, set an example and don’t cave in and let their kids watch you tube all day. You should be applauding them as it’s likely their kids that will be running the country in 30 years time when we are all in our dotage.

Can you not just avoid it in the meantime?

There are no screaming toddlers at my parkrun. There are lots of happy children though, my own included, who are primary aged and love it! They will pester me to go on the Saturdays where I can't be bothered to get up in time! You've said yourself that you don't understand running. Maybe just avoid the area during that short period of time.

You could just have the title park runs why?

They are an odd thing imo. They come here all park on the no parking road blocking traffic and take over the park.
Seems to attract the self absorbed.

I don't understand the even split of YABU and YANBU here. Making kids run because the parent is having a midlife crisis about exercise? No that's not normal. Kids have human rights too. Stop forcing young kids to run around. Junior parkrun? Never heard of it. Yes kids should be encouraged to do activity, but with something they enjoy, not just running on the hard pavement with a much faster person (parent).

Local to me, Park runs take place in parks, which are all large enough for park run. But when I visit my home town, they take up the entire prom along the beach. No sticking to one side, they spread out across it, and woe betide you're disabled, or with someone disabled. The shouts of "out my way" or "move over" from them when I was with my mother who was using a walker summed this up. There is space, easily, for 10 people to walk side by side along the prom, but they like to spread out rather than run behind one another.

It’s an inclusive, free organised event which creates connections in the community and promotes healthy living. There is no need to be such a grinch about the event!

Having said that, this is junior parkrun and the minimum age is 4 so there shouldn’t be any toddlers running. You’d be right to query that with the organisers and they can put something on the facebook page.

Parkrunners can be annoying and take over spaces at times, I'm afraid.

Really? Why are so many very young children obese, then?

Also worth repeating that nobody has to run at parkrun, 5k or juniors, if they don't want to. Perfectly acceptable to walk instead, and that's what I see lots of families doing. Another very good habit to acquire young.

Why ask for opinions if you just disagree with the ones that don’t support your view?

Park run is amazing, as is junior park run that you refer to. It’s free and many people give up their own time to support it and facilitate it for others. I’ve actually heard of GPs prescribing park run to people. Teaching kids healthy habits is a good thing, sure it’s not great if a minority of those kids don’t enjoy it at first but you’ve made no mention of those that did? I’m sure your kids love everything you take them too, including all the usual things that kids hate. Well done on achieving that.

There's a post on our local Facebook page earlier today reminding park runners that other people are actually allowed to use the public footpaths that the route is on without impediment or abuse.
Park runners seem to be becoming as entitled as cyclists these days.

Its not just about the exercise itself though, it's ensuring they grow up understanding physical activity is part of a balanced life and builds decent habits. If some parents take them because they wouldn't be able to otherwise go themselves and enjoy it (ie single parents) then does it really matter anyway?

She also does activities she enjoys but we do park run with her two siblings and whilst she often complains when going around she is usually very proud of herself afterwards.

You sound way to invested, do you exercise

Ahh right. Thanks.

@Knowillbeflamed never met a toddler yet who needs to exercise!! I am with you OP. think its more so the parents can say to friends that the whole family went. they would not mention that the kids gristled the whole way round!

My son regularly runs in our local junior parkrun. I don't take part, I just watch and I'm always amazed by how many people deliberately walk in front of them/cause an obstruction, simply to make the point that the runners don't have the right of way. OP, you remind me of them.