Families that don't do anything with children

No, I'm saying I agree with OP and that most children thrive on being busy at least some of the time. Many of the activities she does are in walking distance or even at school. She enjoys them all and I couldn't care less if other people think she should be doing them or not. Not every kid is going to want to do as much, some are going to want to do more, but I know several kids who definitely would enjoy some of these opportunities and aren't being given them.

Whether it's term time or holidays, not allowing your kids to have a life beyond school and the 4 walls of your home is selfish and lazy. There are obviously exceptions, but I know many parents who aren't ill, or poor, or have multiple disabled kids, they just cba.

I don't believe for a minute it's lack of money for most people. The library is free. Guiding and Scouting is £3 a session and for most people, a short walk away to the nearest troop.

You are allowed to say no. Children don't get to have every single thing they want just because they want it or because their friends are doing it. I would drop the one she's going to just because her friends go.

I don't understand the point of your post.This is a post about parents who do nothing with their children.Because they probably can't afford it

It's just bragging to jump on and say your daughter does four activities a week and soon to be five. What was the point of you saying that when this thread is about parents that can't afford activities.

You point out that you don't live in a poor area.So why did you post? You are not the demographic this post was aimed at.

you came on just to brag, didn't you

I used to take DS out, his grandparents would take him out - we'd visit family, go to the park, walk into town, go to the museum, a walk in the woods... To be honest we didn't take him to as many places as I'd have liked, but we did go out.

Getting him to agree to leave the house atm is nigh on impossible. We've managed to get him out for one day to visit family, and that didn't end particularly well. He's autistic and everything is just wrong for him at the moment. Of course this means that DH and I are pretty much stuck at home as well.

I think it's ok to judge bad parenting and not doing anything is bad parenting.

It's a goady thread as others have said, working with people you should know.

You've already, as predicted, got a lot of people trooping up to say "kids just need more down time" (which is the fashionable riposte at the moment) but I agree with you OP.

It doesn't have to involve endless expensive days out to theme parks or holidays, but I do judge people who never take their kids out of the house. It shows a staggering selfishness and lack of imagination.

If children never develop confidence around these activities they will never have the confidence to do them as adults. So much of being a successful, mentally well-adjusted adult is to do with having experiences and memories and to develop confidence and resilience about trying new things. If people are never encouraged to do anything other than watch TV and look at their phones, where is this going to come from?

A lot of activities are free or very low cost. And while chronic illness and depression are understandable justifications, neither is made worse by getting some fresh air and a change of scene.

Are you within reach of coast? Mine are 14/16 now and very little in common but waterparks and beaches with body boards is always a winner with both and one if the v few things they'll enjoy together without requiring me to be in with them or refereeing.

Yes. The continental way is still the old fashioned way.

It is if you’re working. Kids are either at some kind of childcare or old enough to amuse themselves at home. Most people don’t have 7 weeks in summer to take off work and do a daily round of stuff.

By the time you exclude working parents, kids and parents with disabilities, single parents, parents on a very tight budget how many do you think are honestly sitting at home all day every day.

Most people live that way. Stop the mentoring brigade. Nobody is going tell others how to live on here.

I think it depends. My daughters didn’t want to go anywhere during one half term, just wanted time to relax at home and play with their toys. My daughters have lots of hobbies and activities during term time, violin, additional music on Saturdays, brownies/guides/ ballet/modern and tap so sometimes they just want to relax with friends at home.

We have been to Florida in July for around 10 days but again the kids just want to relax at home (we have been back nearly 2 weeks). We do have NT membership, and historic palaces and we do use them but don’t always feel the need to be out and about. I know when I need to recharge my batteries staying at home relaxing is what helps me.

I found it much easier taking my children on days out when they were younger and fairly easily entertained. They are now 11 and 13, into completely different things and quite franky difficult to please! We went to a National Trust place this week and the journey there took longer than 5 minutes. It was too hot, too much walking, too many evil wasps, too many people etc! The only parts they really enjoyed were ice creams and the gift shop!

It has become really difficult to find enough things to do with them now too, they're too old for soft play and farm parks, they like the Aquarium but don't want to go every week! We've been to the museum more than once, nothing new to see there! Another problem is how many attractions near us have now permanently closed.

We are planning on a trip to the cinema next week, after that I'm a bit stumped to be honest!

But… why?

Exactly
So many of these replies are about the obvious limitations eg single parent, working, neurodiversity, disability. I dont think many would argue with those issues. Age obviously also a factor eg teenagers

But in general:
One day at home slothing , devices whatever

One day somewhere local like the playground, library events etc

One day meet up at friends house. No devices allowed. Just play! Alternate houses ideally

One day somewhere further away as a day out either relatively free or paid for depending on budget

One day probably doing chores eg getting new uniform, sorting bedrooms
One day visiting relatives if close enough
Etc
Is not out of reach for most people...

You say they’re “free”. But bus to get there costs money etc. So does any drinks, ice creams etc and parents may feel an expectation if their kid asks for one

Lots of people have neurodiverse families that like to be at home. If they are happy then who cares?

Of course it’s about luck. Luck you don’t have one of the zillion health conditions that stop you from driving. Luck you are in a job that allows you to save. That doesn’t mean people don’t work for it too but it’s pig headed to pretend luck doesn’t play a large part in everyone’s personal circumstances.

I think kids benefit hugely from unstructured time running around and mingling with other random kids at play areas whilst parents are hands off and stand back. Its free, its exercise, they are learning socially. Doesn't have to be big organised days out. So many of these replies are about what the parent likes doing with their kid.

We don't stay at home every day (and my 3.5 year old is in nursery in the mornings anyway). Currently we're staying in more often than usual in the afternoons because I'm 32 weeks pregnant, have zero energy after work and it's far too hot where I am. Also half the time I suggest going out and she says no, she wants to do something else. What do we do? Painting. Drawing. Sticking - she likes to make "rippy pictures" or just stick a million stickers on. Play Doh. Jigsaws. Read stories (she will regularly bring me 3-4 books in a row shouting "read it!", the record so far was 10). Board/card games e.g. memory. Have a tea party with her tea set - just us or with her stuffed toys. Build with Lego or her building blocks. Play with her dolls - she can spend 20-30 minutes changing their nappies! Play with a ball (rolling it between us, no throwing indoors). Today she wanted to play with her trains but that doesn't keep her occupied for long. In some ways it's more exhausting doing stuff indoors because I'm constantly having to clear up one activity and get the next out but at least I can sit down for most of them and not have to lift her in and out of swings, push her on said swing and spend the next few days cleaning up sand from every corner of my home! (She gets TV while I'm cooking dinner to keep her out of mischief, but sometimes she wants to help with dinner).

I grew up in a household that never did anything (summer holidays consisted of staying indoors with no activities planned/few toys and occasional trips to the supermarket). I was looking forward to many day trips and holidays with my child, but DC ended up having significant additional needs. We go out everyday but it’s usually very limited time before I end up having to carry home a screaming overwhelmed child. Or I’m busy at home repairing the damage to my house caused by DCs meltdowns…

I loved being outside with mine. We collected bikes which I had to learn how to change a tyre on and fix bike seats to for the baby then eventually we progressed to a tagalong. We literally cycled miles or drove to forests and cycled through them. Saw our first Hare who was huge, one of the kids tumbled down over her handle bars it was all in the ride but I lost my temper with DH for telling her to brake hard. Swimming /walks, cycling football and rugby games all those lovely cycle lanes. Donkey and horse rides and endless snow play down all our northern hills and parks. Loved all that. Loved all the art sessions too.

But I don’t engage in these activities. My children do when at home- its not stuff I have to do. Although there’s nothing lazy about getting them to tidy up. I think it’s ridiculously judgey to call parents who don’t take their kids out every day shockingly lazy, and it’s also a very narrow view of childhood. Some level of staying at home being bored is good for kids, and there’s zero recognition of that from many posters on this thread, which is a sad reflection on what’s wrong with modern childhood.

*Duplicate

The projections in this thread are wild and this really isn’t the place for dissecting this topic honestly.
The conversations about financial/health/safety/access barriers are absolutely correct but that there are zero solutions for some of these are not, and it’s frustrating the work of vulnerable communities in creating opportunities and work for creative engagement gets ignored in these debates.

in my case, lack of funds, disability (mine and theirs.. i'm physically/mobility disabled/high pain, the oldest is AuDHD), and them not being interested because they're teenagers.

Keep your judgement to yourselves.

I did used to take them out when i was more mobile, but getting DS out the house took hostage negotiating skills and military level planning.. it was not fun.