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Original poster

Is it ok to have lots of days in the house with kids?

107 replies

shoppinisttimeagain · 31/07/2023 11:17

I know it's a daft question but I feel kinda bad that we haven't really done much over the summer. We haven't had an actual holiday as such but had a few days out. My kids seem happy being in the house and being off school in itself is great (they say)

I just feel so guilty

OP posts:
pinkkpanther · 31/07/2023 11:19

Not at all imo. Especially if they say they’re fine, kids would let you know if they were bored etc

Fatat40 · 31/07/2023 11:19

There a big difference between days in the house playing board games, tidying bedrooms, baking cakes, crafting etc etc OR days in the house watching 6 hours of youtube & eating crisps.

Only you know which you mean and if you have something to feel guilty about or not.

Bemyclementine · 31/07/2023 11:21

So.etimes days watching YouTube and eating crisps are needed. We're having one of those today.

I'm back to work tomorrow after a week off and DC are going to GPs for 3 days. They want to chill out at home after a busy first week off last week

It's fine OP. Maybe plan some low key activities in, bike ride, board games etc.

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PermanentTemporary · 31/07/2023 11:22

Depends what that looks like.

I do think all children need to get outside every day, unless they are actively unwell. I don't think that has to mean going anywhere in particular, some sort of green space or free-form area is important (I wouldn't count walking to a shop as being outside). A garden is fine but the tiny gardens most of us have now aren't usually enough except for the really young (baby/toddler at most).

Going to 'days out' and fancy places can be fun but is not essential.

GoodVibesHere · 31/07/2023 11:23

It is absolutely fine.

Bemyclementine · 31/07/2023 11:23

To offset our crisps and YouTube day, last week we did bowling, crazy golf , seaside, assault course, nature reserve, water fight, camping in the garden.

PilsAwfulDilemna · 31/07/2023 11:23

I'd say it's really important for dc to be relaxed and able to do nothing at home.

ImGoingThroughChanges · 31/07/2023 11:24

happy kids, happy life. Save your guilt for something more worthy and enjoy your summer 😘

Danielle9891 · 31/07/2023 11:25

Not at all. Some of my best memories as a kid was building tents and playing in the garden. We didn't have a lot of money so mam would make us a picnic for outside.

Enoughnowbrandon · 31/07/2023 11:26

Of course it's fine. Even if they have a day watching YouTube and eating crisps. 🙄
When you were a child, dis you have outings every day throughout the Summer?
They feel relaxed and safe and happy at home, which is just as it should be.😊

Cluelessat33 · 31/07/2023 11:28

Oh @Fatat40, there is always on comment like this. Sometimes a sofa minimal planned activity day is fine. Nor every single day has to be a flurry of baking, learning, crafting. Occasionally a chill day is fine. Admittedly I rarely do those, and I am a single Mum with dogs so we NEVER just stay in and do nothing. However I often find that I worry I schedule too much in for my daughter, and actually sometimes she just wants yo be left to her own devices to play with her toys, watch a bit if telly etc, without the planned fun.

CFornot · 31/07/2023 11:28

Are they getting enough exercise? The NHS says at 3 hours for under 5 yrs and 1 hour for over 5 yrs every day. We don’t have a big enough house to easily make sure they get enough if we stayed in all the time.

TheGriffle · 31/07/2023 11:28

It’s fine. We’ve been to the dentist this morning, we’re at the opticians in the afternoon today and inbetween is a crisp and YouTube day. They’re at a holiday camp tomorrow, going to see thier great grandmother in her care home Wednesday, holiday camp again Thursday and then we’ll go out for a fun day somewhere Friday. If they don’t want to watch YouTube we have crafts, paints, books, colouring and a garden they can play in.

Stressfordays · 31/07/2023 11:30

We got back from holiday on Saturday. Yesterday we nipped out to do the food shop and pick up the pets but were at home resting other then that. Today I asked what they wanted to do and they said they wanted to chill at home despite me offering a couple of suggestions. I may get bored myself and take them out later but as long as they are happy, I don't see the issue with staying home.

Emmamoo89 · 31/07/2023 11:31

It's totally fine x

Sherrystrull · 31/07/2023 11:32

I'm a teacher. We have many days of mooching in the holidays. My dc love to game and chill. I also need to relax as well as clean, sort and tidy the house after struggling to manage it in term time. It's perfectly fine.

I honestly don't know how people afford constant days of activity as well as all the house work.

YouveGotAFastCar · 31/07/2023 11:33

Depends on the children, I think.

People always seem to romanticise duvet and crisp days on here; and I'd lose my mind 😆 They weren't a thing when I was growing up, and I don't know anyone who does them in real life.

Our "least active" days are when my toddler helps me with some chores (he loves putting the washing machine on, washing up, etc) and then we go to the park for a bit. Generally, he needs more than that - he likes to be out amongst people, so he prefers to be out more. We usually do a morning activity, then a coffee shop for a snack before he naps, then the park or woods or something in the afternoon. Today he's helping my husband make cement while I work.

It's fine not to have constant trips to Alton Towers and the beach and things planned; but if it's actually "in the house" time, I think more than a day or so of that if nobody is ill is quite a lot. But if you and you children are happy; keep straight on!

PopsicleHustler · 31/07/2023 11:33

We haven't been out once yet, I have a sore foot and not up too much for a little while longer.
last year, we did a few days out to a farm, couple parks. Birdworld which isn't great any more and definitely not worth a hundred quid all in.

Instead, we have been doing and will continue doing arts and crafts, PlayStation games, puzzles, making pizzas fron scratch, baking, making our own board games, Minecraft, YouTube sessions but not 6 hours and loads of crisps haha! We will also try to go our for walks, to the different park, the forest with a waterfall, the castle, the river for a picnic! Shopping, library etc.

GigiAnnna · 31/07/2023 11:40

I think a few days like that are actually good for them. But I think it's good to get out most days. Mine start misbehaving and jumping off furniture because they get bored if they are in all day. So sometimes even a short walk or trip to the local park can help to break things up and give a bit of structure to the day. I know it's crap though when it's raining and they're bored of the park. 6 weeks is a long time to full with kids.

AmyandPhilipfan · 31/07/2023 11:42

I think there's a lot of pressure these days on parents to cram as much 'fun' into school holidays as possible. Social media can be great, and I enjoy seeing what other people have been up to, but if you're struggling with feelings of inadequacy I can well imagine it can make you feel crap seeing other families getting up to all sorts while your kids are lying on the sofa watching TV. But actually, lots of kids are perfectly happy lying on the sofa watching TV. They don't need outings every day. Or even adult provided entertainment non stop at home. Sometimes they want to chill out!

Social media makes it easier to advertise events too, so activities that were quiet when I took my nieces and nephews to them 10-20 years ago are now busy when I take my own kids to them. I think people get FOMO and feel like they need to take their kids to everything they see advertised. And sometimes that gets too much for some kids and they don't get a second to just relax at home!

Crunchymum · 31/07/2023 11:43

Depends on the child/ren.

I have one that needs to go out daily, she gets restless and bored otherwise. I have another child who would happily sit in PJ's all day and laze about.

Flickersy · 31/07/2023 11:48

Even 50 years ago days out were a rarity and theme parks like Alton Towers didn't really exist. When I was small (in the 90s) we had one trip to the zoo in the summer. That was it.

Kids have survived millennia without constant days out. I'm not sure what it is about recent years that means they have to be entertained non-stop rather than entertaining themselves at home with toys, books, colouring etc.

Batterymarble · 31/07/2023 11:48

I know my dc need to go outside and I know I need to interact with them but I feel terrible after 5 really busy days, there's a steady drizzle outside and I can't face it. I can hear them singing all alone upstairs, they seem happy enough but I feel even worse I just don't have the energy today.

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 31/07/2023 12:01

I want a day eating crisps and watching YouTube myself!

Needmorelego · 31/07/2023 12:02

It’s the best thing about school holidays - absolutely no requirement to ‘do’ anything!
It’s brilliant.