in thinking that kids don't get to enjoy the simple things these days,

[2shoes]

like taking bottles back to the shop for 10p ,or by 4oz of sweets in a paper bag

Really?

DD had a massive strop at me in the middle of our summer holiday because, apparently, I don't let her help me wash the kitchen floor often enough .

You have always been mean avec le mop. People have commented.

I used to love taking the bottles back, wasn't it corona?

No, we have had a lovely day in our local park, took a picnic and played football with the dog, DH, DS1 and DS3. Cost nothing, as the picnic was sandwiches which we probably would have had for lunch anyway.

Today I offered DS1 who is 3 two choices go to soft play where I would have to drive there, pay to get in and no doubt buy some pop and sweets or go to the beach which would be free and he could ride his bike there. Guess which one he went for ... yep thats right we have spent the day at the beach collecting and burying pebbles and poking things with sticks. Simple pleasures are still there and kids enjoy them just as much we just have to remember to suggest just messing about as an option.

If you just let them be they find things they enjoy doing and if they're bored - great - I just say here are 100 jobs you can help me with or it's great to be bored and then they go and find something to do.

One discovered the local buses last year and realised you could travel free of charge aged 10 so they went off on their own on it.

Depends on the age of the child though as to what they want to do and when.

I remember the days of taking bottles back to the 'jug bar' in the pub, just around the corner. I doubt many pubs still have jug bars!

I would also go to the shop to buy my mum's cigarettes and they served me!

Toffee apple man, used to come round on his bike.

The 6 weeks summer holidays were hot with hosepipe bans, and were spent 'playing out' with instructions to go home for lunch and dinner time.

Im showing my age now.

oh and my dog used to go everywhere with me, without a lead!

My sister and I would spend hours agonising over the precise combination of BlackJacks/Fruit Salads when we used to visit my grandparents (my grandad would give us 2p each)

I told ds to empty all the bins (as a punishment) and he loved it, and wants to do it all the time.

Our village shop does a quarter of sweets in a paper bag

Yes we have and olde worlde sweet shop with jars on shelves and paper bags - has new world prices sadly.

I was at the pub at lunchtime today and spotted two having great fun, a boy of about 10 was staring into the river then shouted A FISH I just saw a FISH and a little girl 5 ish who was handstanding like crazy and then climbed a tree.

Not mine I hasten to add they were at home watching tv

Kids do get to enjoy simple things.

Dd1 (14) spends many of her evenings up the woods on the tarzy (rope swing) they have made.

She has also been trying to dissuade a friend from spending an evening in the middle of a local roundabout (as in road)

My dd (5) loves the 'simple things' - today she helped dh dismantle our old washing machine. She was messy, and she loved playing with the hammer and screwdriver. Not a Wii in sight! Then she played for an hour with playdoh.
Its a myth that 'modern' children have lost the ability to play. Its some parents who have lost the ability to let them.

riven you are not wrong, I do miss just going to the country side for a walk, not really do able with a wheelchair.
although when we were on holiday dd loved going for walks round the fishing lakes, they all had "paths" I think we amused the bored fishermen as well as it as a bit of a struggle and we kept laughing.

Perhaps sorting the recycling could be the new taking bottles back to the shops?

And pick n mix is in paper bags still.

Argh I hate "these days" threads tears hair out.

It's all about the choice YOU make as a parent.

We choose not to have a TV, Playstation, go to theme parks etc etc. We chose to live in deepest darkest ---shire precisely so the kids CAN dam streams/poke things with sticks/climb trees.

As a parent, YOU make the choices about how to bring them up int he way that's important to you. You are not powerless. Now stop pretending you are.

We had a lovely day at a local country park today. Watching the ducks and swans and people swimming in the lake! Ds got to burn off some energy in the playground and poke things with the obligatory stick. :o We had a great day and spent no money at all at the park, as we took a picnic. I'm pleased my dc's seem to enjoy simple things, as I am trying to cut back on spending on days out.

LittleSilver - I agree with you. We live in an urban city but still make time to drive out to the country for the sake of the dc's, as I feel it's important.

littlestar, what made you think my op was a serious omg kids today are...... thread.
it was a light hearted op
why do people always take offense on mn?

Nowt else to do! Someone's getting a bun out on another thread. They just wait in for it

Riven and 2shoes I don't know where you live but have you a Forestry centre nr you, There are accessible paths at our local one my sister has taken my neice who has complex disabilities, she loves trees, we think its the way the light changes as you move the wheelchair.
No hoist in the loos though Riven I don't think I have ever seen one in a public place.I hope you can find somewhere with decent paths so your children can enjoy the outdoors.