Park Runs: Children - Why?

I have one who loves parkrun and one who hates it. The DC who hates it is asked if they want to run. I explain they don’t have to but 9 times out of 10 they want to run. Then they moan the whole way round and say they hate it so I probably look like one of ‘those’ parents but it is my DCs choice. The following week we go through the same routine. Mine are a bit older 8-10ish so once they start I make sure the do the whole 2km as it’s not far and good for them to finish what they start but if they choose not to run that’s also fine.

@Knowillbeflamed

All those other forms of exercise cost money, parkrun is free!

Minimum age is 4 anyway. Not seen any complaining kids at ours when I volunteer

To be honest, i think forcing children esp v young ones to do a 1.2mile run when they clearly hate it, is just going to make them to hate all activity.

My DD runs at national level, she started as a 6yo in schools XC, i used to bribe her to go to the after schools running club with chocolate but not for long as v quickly she was winning over all the age groups but she was an exception, by the time she got to comp school, all those kids forced to run by over bearing parents were doing no sport at all, a school of 1200 pupils couldn't even get a single XC team together.

I think forcing kids, instead of encouraging, to do sport is a huge mistake and Junior PR isn't helping matters at all.

One of the worst things i ever heard was a 11 or 12 yo boy being admonished by his Mum because he had a bad XC race, the boy was crying, his Dad, instead of praising his efforts shouted "what was that?" and walked off.

Todays kids are overweight because of diet, which is full of processed foods and sugary drinks, a 20min run once a week isn't going to alter that.

And then there will be another thread soon enough about overweight children....

Oh and for every whingeing child I can guarantee there will be 20 or so that are really enjoying it

also it’s free

RDs should look out for the kids that aren’t enjoying consistently (mine like it generally but do sometimes moan), but does that mean that the other 20 shouldn’t get to enjoy?

yabvu

So you hate it but you spend long enough there to examine the behaviour of lots of the families?

why not just walk a couple of KM further down the seafront and leave them to decide what is best for their family?

Parkrun is also free unlike "gymnastics, swimming, cycling, skating, horse riding etc".

Running doesn't need team mates, specific weather, times or a venue booked. As long as it's not icy or 30° plus heat you're good to go.

Ok then we should cancel lots of kids getting exercise and fresh air because it inconveniences you and you once witnessed a child getting out of breath or having a stitch or something.

If you have specific safeguarding concerns, find the event's Run Director (usually wearing a blue and white hi viz) and report it to them. Or go to www.parkrun.org.uk, find the event, and email with your concerns. Parkrun takes safeguarding very seriously and would want to know about any incidents - I volunteer regularly at our junior event and volunteers are always told to look out for parents being harsh to their kids.

I do agree that no kids should be forced but that doesn't mean junior parkrun shouldn't take place.

Some of these incidents will be pushy parents, some will be kids who wanted to do it in the morning and then moaning when there.

It's really good that there's a free initiative to get children into sport. So nice that children can be part of something that costs nothing.

Yabu. Kids don't like being dragged round the shops either, going to museums, going on walks. If parents don't expose their kids to these things though, they will never learn the joy of them. Kids tantrum no matter what, it's just part of being a child.

If it’s Sunday it is Junior parkrun which is 2k. Officially you have to be 4 to run, you do get some younger ones but not many- at ours they tend to “run” one (of two) laps only so about 1k.

I do occasionally see someone being dragged around against their will however the vast majority of parents are encouraging. My kids have turned into semi decent runners due to my enthusiastic encouragement when they were 4-6 years old. To be able to run is a great gift in life.

A couple of my DC's friends do it and love it, so I think it can be a great thing. But yeah, not if they're not enjoying it. I guess as with any snapshot you don't know if they were loving it two minutes before and two minutes after. But a family trip out with the bikes or scooters to the local park would get them just as much exercise and they'd probably enjoy it more.

OP are you annoyed by the parents who are forcing their kids to do it or by the hundreds of people who are taking up the path (for half an hour of the whole day)?

Yabu. Those young kids who are whinging while doing it probably wanted to do it said they wouldn't moan, then moaned and dragged along anyway. I used to have one dc off at the front and the other one complaining all the way round but who was chuffed once their times went up.

One of mine complains when we take her to junior park run. I think it good for her and helps build resilience so we will keep going.

I volunteer at ours sometimes, there was a period of this happening because of nob head competitive parents and the run director made an announcement that it’s for fun and if the kids aren’t enjoying it the parents need to back off. It did the trick and it’s not been an issue since. It’s an opportunity for kids to get out, have some fresh air and exercise and develop healthy habits. It also happens at the same time and place every week and is over and done with in about half an hour so it’s easy to avoid. You’d have to be pretty sour to have an issue with it.

Park run is an amazing community event. It's brilliant to get kids involved in it.

Seafronts should be reserved soley for old people with mobility scooters or claw-footed walking sticks, and seagulls eating chips. IMO.

Also it's junior Parkrun, it's for kids.

Kids actually doing exercise and being outside instead of stuck indoors staring at screens is a good thing

YABVVU.

It's an hour over the whole weekend. Hardly something you can't just avoid.

I've attended a few park runs and I've never seen loads of crying screaming children being dragged along?!? My children have run it they love it, it’s good for them, rather that than stuck on screens.

What a miserable post.