to think that children should be made to exercise?

[manicinsomniac]

unless they are ill, injured or disabled?

I've lost track of the number of parents I've heard say, "Oh but little X doesn't like running around, little Y is more of an indoors person, little Z is not the sporty type" etc.

a) the vast majority of children love being active and will enjoy the right exercise given the opportunity.

b) even if they do hate it - so what? Many adults hate it too, we still do it or suffer the consequences.

I really think that exercise should be built into a daily routine for a healthy lifestyle.

AIBU?

But it is weird how they run around like maniacs but flump for a short walk to school

Perhaps the idea of having to go to school made them "tired".

my DD is a wee goddess she loves climbing trees and playing football, she loves dance class and gymnastics she wants to do football thru the summer the only thing she isnt into is her karate but for 5 quid an hour im happy for her to sit in a corner as i get peace and quiet in the cafe across the road

Vnmum, yeah distraction can help. I used to get dd to walk halfway home then let her get in the buggy, getting her to race to the next lamppost helped. If she started moaning about how she couldn't walk any further, I would say, I bet you can't make it as far as the postbox, or whatever, and then she would carry on to prove me wrong.

Dont know how right this is, its just an observation i have made. My kids go to a school which is out the catchment area where the intake is from 2 private estates. I live on the council estate next to it.

My dd's 7 and 9 had taken their bikes to the local park, probably about a 10 minute bike ride away. One of the parents from the school was at the park with her kids and she was horrified they were at the park by themself and send them home. Some of the parents have also said i wouldnt let my kids play out when i have mentioned mine are out all day on a weekend and every night after school. Not doing sport just playing out.

When you walk along the private estate there are hardly any kids playing out compared to where i live.

And dd would quite happily run around all day, except when actually being expected to walk somewhere,.

This would be less of an issue if all schools had playing fields for the children to play on.

Play is what keeps children fit and healthy- in most cities there are a large number of children who never get to do this.

our backs is like a football pitch and has a bowling green on the back of that, plus we live in a cul de sac so the few kids who live round here can get a right good run around if their bored in the house. nearest park is 5 minute walk but wouldnt let DD go on her own as its down a mid - busy road which busses etc use plus involves one road cross which i trust her completely to do but still no, im dementedly mildly over protective

I think walking in a straight line to school with a deadline and no opportunity for entertaining diversions along the way is very different to running around like a maniac. I can quite see why a child might moan about walking to school but be happy to race around when they are free to do whatever takes their fancy.