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Original poster

How much are your teens going out of the house?

60 replies

Hellvelyn · 31/01/2021 12:09

I have ds in Y13 and dd in y11. They are engaging with their schoolwork, (albeit in a weird routine, apart from live lessons which they have to attend on time) Like all other teens their usual activities and sport have stopped. DH and I are keyworkers and out most days or occasionally wfh.
It worries me that they don't go out of the house for days on end. They will go for a short walk under duress at the weekend. Dd asks me why she would want to go for a walk in the cold and rain and I have no answer apart from wittering on about fitness and wellbeing.
What are your teens doing? Have they also reverted to a cave like existence? Ds is doing a couple of shifts at the local vaccination centre next week marshalling traffic in the car park so will at least get a bit of fresh air! I know in the grand scheme of things this is a small worry but I hate to see my usually busy and active teens lolling round the house all day.

OP posts:
lovelemoncurd · 31/01/2021 12:13

Three times since this last lockdown. Once on my birthday, once to go sledging. Once to walk the dog with a friend! She's engaging in lots of online get togethers with friends but when I suggest she meets a friend for a walk then she is aghast at me for suggesting it!

CharadeSalad · 31/01/2021 12:16

Cave dwellers here too.. They're interacting via online lessons, messaging and gaming. But they're losing fitness at a real rate and will definitely need glasses in a week or two.

Original poster
Hellvelyn · 31/01/2021 12:16

My dd is also horrified at the prospect of a distanced stroll with a friend. Her whole life now seems to be online.

OP posts:

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Families
Pandsbear · 31/01/2021 12:17

Hardly ever! Snow day, once to take some chocolate to a friend’s doorstep for their birthday, very occasional walks (under pressure but ok once outside). It is hard work.

Chasingsquirrels · 31/01/2021 12:18

Hahahahah, okay I'll stop laughing now 🤣.
Yr 13 & Yr 10 boys.
They don't, except when I nag them to walk the dog (which youngest nagged and nagged me for and was going to walk "every day of my life" 🤨)
Youngest goes to his dads, so he at least goes out of the house to walk to the car.

Oldest was cycling miles everyday on 1st lockdown, his bike broke and although now fixed he's got out of the habit, and to be fair the weather isn't conducive.

Youngest was very active, judo, hockey, scouts.
Eldest not quite as much but does archery and Explorers plus YL at cubs.

Babyroobs · 31/01/2021 12:18

I have a year 13 ds who goes out once a week for a walk with his gf and a year 11 dd who only ever occasionally goes to the corner shop for snacks ( I know not strictly essential shopping ). Cannot persuade either to come for a walk.

Blakes77 · 31/01/2021 12:19

Every day with me at lunchtime for a quick walk and at least one day at the weekend to wander streets with mates. Yes i know they are not supposed to. Not much actual exercise going on though. They were active in sports so that worries me, how muscle must be wasting away. I am quite worried about the mental and physical health of teens in general.

Chasingsquirrels · 31/01/2021 12:19

Ds is doing a couple of shifts at the local vaccination centre next week marshalling traffic in the car park
I'm very impressed by this.

Original poster
Hellvelyn · 31/01/2021 12:20

Cave dwellers is about right. Dd now refers to her room as "my cave" Yes to loss of fitness. Dd will have the shock of her life when she finally returns to three dance lessons a week. She isn't interested in virtual dance lessons despite being online constantly. I just don't get it. Same for virtual Rangers. She really didn't like it.

OP posts:
KarmaNoMore · 31/01/2021 12:20

It is a struggle to get mine out, he has been out for a grand total of 5 hours since they broke for Christmas.

He seems very happy in his cave, he has classcharts, teams, an Xbox, a phone that doesn’t stop beeping in instagram and a full fridge downstairs.

Nobody of his friends is out so he is not interested in going out. I am wondering if he will get rickets...

passthemustard · 31/01/2021 12:21

DD13 DS16 will not leave their rooms unless it's for food (or the occasional shower)

I have bought them vitamin D supplements

Original poster
Hellvelyn · 31/01/2021 12:27

@chasingsquirrels - ds is an aspiring medic and voluntary work in hospitals is obviously impossible to come by. The vaccination volunteering seemed a good alternative and all round useful thing to do. DS needed some persuasion as it's not traditional medical work experience. He now seems quite keen but worried he'll get run down by an elderly driver! Apparently he'll be provided with high vis gear so should be OK!

OP posts:
houseyhousey · 31/01/2021 12:29

Mine don't leave the house Monday to Friday unless it's a quick dash to the shop for essentials. - we both work FT and there's no way we'd get them out without us nagging, persuading etc. Ds 15 does gardening for a neighbour every Saturday for 4 hours which has been a god send and we drag them on walks at the weekend or if we have the odd day off.
Pre-lockdown they were all sporty including one playing at county level training 6 times a week in one form or other. Along with most of his team mates, he's ground to a halt with fitness and training this latest lockdown (& I sympathise as my usual 3x a week runs are hit and miss) .
Bring on some lighter evenings and warmer weather!

Original poster
Hellvelyn · 31/01/2021 12:29

Vitamin D supplements here too. Plus well stocked fridge.

OP posts:
julesover40 · 31/01/2021 12:33

I force dd 14 out one a week, but it costs me a Costa on way back from a long walk. Shes not interested in meeting a single friend for a walk, and her friends dont seem to be going out either x

Chasingsquirrels · 31/01/2021 12:33

[quote Hellvelyn]@chasingsquirrels - ds is an aspiring medic and voluntary work in hospitals is obviously impossible to come by. The vaccination volunteering seemed a good alternative and all round useful thing to do. DS needed some persuasion as it's not traditional medical work experience. He now seems quite keen but worried he'll get run down by an elderly driver! Apparently he'll be provided with high vis gear so should be OK![/quote]
Good on him (and you for persuading).
That made me laugh!

mootymoo · 31/01/2021 12:34

My dd lives in a virtual world and is quite happy with that. I make her go fetch me things sometimes and refuse to buy crisps etc so at least gets exercise getting snacks from the shop. She has been out for a walk with us once but rarely wakes before 3pm anyway. I'm cutting her slack - it's horrible for them

Glittertwins · 31/01/2021 12:38

Ours go out for a walk on the school lunch break. The school has also recently pit this suggestion in their newsletter too. It's not just the fresh air, it's loosening up their shoulders from sitting down for much more than they would at school and also for their eyes to be away from the laptop screen

Idaofmarch · 31/01/2021 12:40

Year 10 DD.
Nothing Mon-Friday. Meets a friend every Sat and Sun for a walk. Different friend every time which I'm not thrilled about but they stay outside and none of her friends are doing much else either. She's massively sociable and I'm really worried about her so we're letting her get on with it.

Chasingsquirrels · 31/01/2021 12:42

Right, I'm going to tell them they have to take the dog out today.
To be fair to ds2 he will take him when I say, but the last month there has barely been any daylight outside school hours and the weather has been rubbish. At least the daylight situation is improving.
Ds1 did actually go out of the house yesterday to burn some stuff with DP.

Oblomov20 · 31/01/2021 12:50

Cave dwellers aswell. Both go out for a run. That's it.

Original poster
Hellvelyn · 31/01/2021 12:59

DS went to the tip with dh yesterday. He said it was "a great trip!" Oh dear. Their lives are shrinking day by day. If a trip to the tip is "great" things are not quite right!

OP posts:
Prokupatuscrakedatus · 31/01/2021 13:00

DD has not been out of the house since last August (she does exercise indoors and has full time uni courses all online)
DS (AS) not since online lessons started last school year unless to see our GP (He too exercises inddors.)

A walk round an inner city block of flats is not much fun for a teen and as everything else is cancelled or closed or involvest travelling on public transport.

AveEldon · 31/01/2021 13:03

One goes out 2-3 times a week to kick a football or meet someone for a walk
The other doesn't leave but is doing online exercise

Chewbecca · 31/01/2021 13:08

Virtually never. On multivitamins too.

Yr 12 potentially an aspiring medic here is on a virtual work experience session today - have you found any of those?

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