How much are your teens going out of the house?

[Hellvelyn]

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.

DD13 goes out once a week to walk with a friend. Her sister has a school place do she comes with me twice a week to pick her up.

That's about it!

Never go out generally speaking (13 and 15) although they do both go for very short runs (2.5km) about 3 times a week.

Neither particularly want to go for runs but they also don't like being unfit.

We live rurally, got fields and fields of walks from our doorstep. Y11 DD gets out about 3-4 times a week, walks alone, occasionally meets a friend (once a fortnight or so), but horrified at my idea of her meeting other friends for walks - 1 of her friends isn't allowed out for walks with friends unfortunately. Won't walk with us, won't do any other kind of exercise (we also have a treadmill and spin bike in garage, subscriptions to Peloton and Apple Fitness+), won't do any of the PE/Games lessons set by school.

DSY9, I forced him to do C25k with me over the summer, he did really well, but didn't really keep it up. Got him an Apple Watch at Xmas to motivate him, but he's not restarted. Will walk with us under duress occasionally, DH got him out for a bike ride yesterday. Games online with friends, but doesn't meet anyone for a walk. Bought him a Switch active game last night in desperation, and he seems to quite enjoy it. It's not going to make him an athlete, but gets him slightly out of breath, and at least he's moving more than his thumbs.

DH and I are both really active, so find their apathy particularly frustrating. Neither seem capable of finding any other form of entertainment than a screen. DS who already wears glasses seems to have worsened, taking him to opticians this week.

My DS (15) walks the dogs 2-3 times a week. Even in snow he goes out in a T shirt and shorts so at least he's getting some vitamin D. Otherwise he's in his cave.

My year 10 hasn't been out much at all this year - once I think to so sledging but he does do work outs. I keep trying to persuade him but he is being v resistant.
My year 13 has been out more - today she got food and met a friend for a walk. She's being sensible but it's a huge worry to me and most of my friends with kids the same age - they are turning into hermits. And don't get me on the things a 17 / 18 year old should be doing and simply hasn't, lord knows what will happen if she goes to uni in 8 months....away from home in a city she's never even visited with strangers...

DD16 has barely left the house since she broke up before Christmas. She has met up with friends for walks 3-4 times, and has been with DH at the weekend a couple of times. To be fair, she had a normal school timetable all on line every day, so it is usually dark by the time she has finished during the week.

She does do two dance lessons on zoom each week.

DSS behaved poorly before Christmas meeting friends etc. It caused a huge argument just before Christmas. Since returning here from his mum's house in the new year he hasn't set foot outside the door once. He won't come out with us for walks. He won't meet a friend for a walk. He won't pop to pick prescriptions up for his nan. Nothing. We don't know what to do. He's 17 so it's not like we can force him out.

Bizarrely he seems happy enough. Laughing and shouting on calls to his friends etc. Chatty at mealtimes. He just won't go out.

DS1 runs 5k every lunchtime mid week and plays footie with DH and DS3 at the weekends. 😇

DS2 barely leaves the house all week. I have to purposely run out of milk and bread to force him to walk the v short distance to the shop, and he moans like hell when I drag him out for a walk at the weekend.

Dd during first lockdown started running, walking or cycling everyday and kept it up through the summer. We're in Belgium and since October she's in school 50% and distance learning the rest. She normally does something Wednesday afternoons or at the weekend. Even if it's meeting some friends to get takeway chips. They did organise to go to the art museum last weekend. I am constantly telling her to be careful.

DD (16) goes out for a walk every day, and comes on family walks to the park with the dog and her younger brothers at the weekend. She’s come to realise that it makes a massive difference to her mental health and her ability to focus on schoolwork if she’s been out for fresh air at some point in the day. She’s also pretty unusual in that she’s up at 7am every morning! I was never up before midday if I could help it at her age.