To think it is very difficult to convince DC to play outside when indoors is enticing

so pleased I found this thread - this is something we really struggle with- when screens are so easily accessable- i actually find we get out more in the colder months, whether its in the sand pit, to the park, a scoot on our Micro scooters ( which they do use indoors too) - i think my little ones prefer the cooler weather too - its nice to warm up after and get snuggly- i agree its so hard to get the balance.

Lock the ipads away. Let them have an hour before supper then lock them away again.

At this time of year my DDs love being in the garden (we are very lucky to have one). They love water play, and when the paddling pool is out, they stay out for hours. We get through a lot of sun cream!

We didn't set a fixed limit, but never allowed more than 30-45min (depending on age) in one session. More than that lead to meltdowns and frustration behaviours. But once you include after-school snack, homework, 'earning' the screen time and supper, there was rarely time for a second screen session. As they grew older and supper time got later, they could earn another screen session in the same way. We never allowed screens after supper, except for watching TV together as a family. But that was when they were even older.

and then how long are you allowing them on screens ?

You need to just set clear boundaries with it and it won't be a battle after a few weeks. We did this 2 years ago and life has been so much better.

There's no screen time on school days, tv remote is put away, tablets are out of sight and teenagers phone goes away after school until he has half an hour at 7pm or if he's going to see friends he can take it.
On weekends our 6 and 9 year old have 2 hours screen time, they can have it when they want and use it to either watch something, go on tablets or play something like minecraft, but after the 2 hours are up they know they have to wait until the following weekend. We give them warnings after an hour and ask if they want to save the other hour for later or Sunday, then give another warning when there's half an hour left and when there's 10 and 5 minutes left.

One thing that has helped with our DC enjoying playing outside has been being friends with neighbours children. They play together for hours and will come up with lots of different games, or even just do things like chalk together for ages which doesn't entertain them long alone or with siblings.

My dc used to have to earn screen time by jumping on the trampoline 200 times. Often enough they'd run back in, "I've done 409 jumps!" and run straight back out again to make it a round 500. It didn't really matter how many jumps they had done. The point was to get the exercise and the fun of exercise. I spiced it up by getting them to skip rope on the trampoline, or to play catch with a sibling outside the trampoline. Swingball was also good for this.

If we think ours aren't getting enough outdoor time we tell them that they can have screen time after X amount of outdoor time.

They do have a lot of garden toys/furniture though and it's quite a big garden overall.

If you're going to get new things for them then there's these rockets that they set up, then stamp on a pump to make them fly into the air. Great fun.
But I don't recommend it because 2 of said rockets are still in our tree and it's been a year 😂

I got a pop uo beach tent and find chucking it up and giving them a messy and craft type thing to do if they're not up for running wild works well, our garden is small so it just has a slide and balls. Bubbles, water gun fights on hot days,skipping rope and hula hoop all well received. Also snacks outside and even screens if they've been running round and just want to chill. As a general rule mine prefer outside and it's entertaining them inside that's tough but they are 4 and 7. 4 yr old loves her dollhouse and dolls in general, eldest wants to role play Pokemon and sword fighting games so works best outside.

A simple:
”no screens during the day, not now or in the holidays, none”
they soon settle into organic play when they realise this.

I do things like give my DD scissors and tell her to go and snip bits off the hedge - she loves doing that haha! Have to just keep trying things until you find something that hooks them in.

Also she likes making me "pizzas" -she picks big leaves and puts flowers and grass on top and delivers them to me while I sit and read my book,

Mine generally prefer to be outside in the summer. They have a gymnastics bar, trampoline, basketball hoop etc out there so plenty to keep them amused. However they’re limited to an hour of screen time a day so maybe that makes a difference?

We had set times for iPad/ switch so not an option at other times DS would go out but did get bored. We often went park instead

A recent activity outside that mine like is some squeeze bottles of vinegar + food colouring, various tubs and scoops and syringes, and bicarb. Makes amazing potions! I put it on their tuff tray outside.

They also have in the main outdoor area they use, a sandpit/water tray (I'd like to get a big sandpit on the floor though), various plants that are mostly mine 😁, a tuff tray and various vehicles big and small, some planks of wood and a collection of stones. 😂

Great post

Great post, I’ve done the same with mine instead of micro managing.
Some kids just aren’t outdoorsy either, as long as they are out and about at school and with you sometimes then why do they need to be in the garden. I have one who is always in there and one who just doesn’t like it.

what do they have indoors? 🕵

Ditch the Screens.

Maybe think about why you want them to be outside. What are you wanting them to get from it?

There's nothing specially moral or virtuous about 'being outside' and yet a lot of people have internalised this message that it is better somehow - so maybe thinking about whether you have too, and whether you could just let them stay inside if they are getting the equivalent of what you want for them from outside.

fresh air? Open the windows.
exercise? Yes, they need some - so either being active - playing, dancing, whatever other activities indoors, or going to the park or swimming or a walk or whatever at some point, yes.
bit of sun on the skin? walk to get an ice cream or something
doing something other than screen time? Valuable. But reading, crafts, lego etc all fulfil that purpose, but inside.
learning about nature? can be done in other ways too.
looking into the distance for eye health? some walks or visiting an outdoor attraction or whatever, yes good idea

Not everyone enjoys spending lots of time outside - it can be too hot, sweaty, buggy, sticky, smelly, noisy, prickly or whatever, and so there might not be a reason to make them go out if they actually prefer to be indoors for whatever reason, as long as they are getting the equivalent of what you want them to get indoors.

But why make them be outside if you are going to let them do activities like reading or crafts or lego, if they don't actually want to be outside? It's no more virtuous to read in the garden that to read in your bedroom (speaking as a child who spent most of the time indoors!!). I did need to get more exercise, yes. But I didn't really like just having to be outside for the sake of it, and I still hate being too hot and sweaty and having prickly grass or tickly bugs crawling around when I'm trying to read!

My mum used to turn off the TV and shoo us outside. I imagine SS would be called now.

it's not an excuse at all. It's lazy parenting!

Kids are not stupid. They understand perfectly well screens for work and life admin, and screen for wasting time like MN. They understand the difference between screen for homework and screen for video games.

I think you are a bit unfair to expect them to be outside when there's not even a pool in this heat!

I mean a paddling/ inflatable age-appropriate pool kind of thing, I don't mean an olympic size construction with slides 😂

Of course you can. My dh’s screen time is very high due to his work but our dc have virtually no screen time. We also drink coffee and alcohol and use the oven on our own but don’t allow our children to. You absolutely can still be a responsible parent while having a screen yourself, that’s a rubbish excuse.