To feel a bit sad that I didn;t see a single child in the park this morning?

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I finished my Sunday morning run, by running through the park in the centre of town c. 11am this morning. It was a beautiful morning here.

It's not a stunning park, but it's green space with a fishing lake and playing fields (no play park)

Apart from the ones playing supervised football matches, I didn't see any children. No groups of teens, no 9yos on bikes or kicking a ball.

The park is backed on two sides by family homes, are people really so scared that children aren't allowed any freedom at all?

I think its a huge leap to assume that because there were no children in the park their parents must be to scared to allow them any freedom.

My DS commented on the same thing. He runs regularly on a 9 mile route at about 4.30-5pm ish and he commented on the oddity of not seeing DCs out playing on a summer's afternoon.He is young himself, so things must have changed in recent years. We made the assumption that people don't let their DCs go down to the recreation ground with a football any more.

In our family, Sunday was family time. Lying around in pyjamas playing board games til lunch then a big roast which took half the afternoon to eat. I think it is sad that you were running. Why were you not having quality family time? It is not a lack of freedom necisarily, maybe parents who don't see children much during the week like to spend time with them.

YABU.

I don't think many teenagers would be up at 11 on a Sunday morning

Oh fgs where do you live?? There are always 20 billion children out playing at our local parks all weekend.

At that time on a Sunday me and mine are in church; not that unusual an activity for a Sunday morning.

Twas a bit chilly where I live - that may have put many people off.

11am this morning all my kids are at church.

I can see why they are not around on a Sunday morning but where are they every day after school-surely not all doing homework-every afternoon including Friday?

If it makes you feel better DS and I met other parents and DC's at the splash park today to make the last of the nice weather - but found it closed. Ate in the cafe and played in the sand on the volleyball court (as it was empty!)

Come to think of it there wasn't anyone else around but imo that gave our DC's more room to run

They're all hanging out round here

(Apart from yesterday afternoon, though, when every single child on the estate behind us had vanished (I know, cos dd was looking for someone to play on go-cart with, and moaned A LOT about it.)

Rugby and football coaching on Sunday mornings around here, so that's where all the footballers are.

Lol, this morning dd was at rock climbing and ds was at football (local soccer academy) - but hey, next Sunday I'll tell them to forget their favourite hobbies and go play on the swings at the rec. instead

YABU, if there was no playpark it's probably the kind of place older children use. And older children might be more inclined to loaf about in the morning.

Mind you, I passed judgement one glorious sunny day in June when our local park was empty in the early afternoon. I'd promised the kids an ice cream from the ice cream van at the park which never showed so we went through the McD's drive through to get a slurry. McDonalds was absolutely jam packed inside and the car park was full. So that's where everybody was!!

yes a bit early! my poor son was doing his homework bah thanks school, see he should be out in the park instead!!

My local playground was deserted at 9.30 this morning - ds loved it!
By 10.30 there were half a dozen toddlers and parents. Loads of joggers and dog-walkers going round, though.

By 2pm there were about 100 kids of all ages.

At 11 o'clock this morning, we were at home, having spent an hour or so at the free family swim session at our local pool. DS2 was in his cot having a much needed nap and DS1 was practicing drums (electronically--otherwise there'd have been no napping) with DP in the front room.

Just because kids aren't in the park doesn't mean they aren't having fun.

We live near a large park and yesterday late morning there were three children in it - ds (with me as he's 6) and two ten yr old girls (who ds roped in to play with him so I could ignore him and MN instead ). We were there for nearly 2 hours and one other child visited for about 20 mins.