to feel bad that my children don't play out?

[jackiejones]

I read on here all the time about mntter's children playing out and know lots of people in RL who's children 'playout'. My older two are 10 and 7, we live on a busy road. They would be fine with the road but there is actually no where for them to play, except for biking up and down the road (they soon get bored).

Are the destined to be obese? Am I going to be taking them out to the park etc for years to come?

Yes but simply admitting your laziness is preventing your children from walking such a short distance to school, doesn't make it right.

Get them out the door 30 minutes earlier and then you'll have some time to play with...and strap your child in tighter.

I suppose I'm saying....just imagine if you didn't have a car and then just do what you'd do then.

Err worra I said I'm going to give it a go.

Good, I hope you actually do it...not just 'give it a go'

Is there somewhere you could fix up a netball/basket ball hoop?
Hula Hoops? Skipping Ropes?

Jeez Worra I do loads with my children. they are all fit and healthy, why you having a go? The threads about playing out.

Mine (6 and 3) don't play out and I can't see it happening in the near future. Its quiet around here. There are some kids playing out, but I don't like what some of them get up to and it it only seems to be the ones who's parents can't be bothered too much.

My DS's (6) best friend plays out with a friend who's mum sends her DCs (5 and 4) out so she can have a sleep. They wee in car tyres, and I have heard of other stupid stuff they get up to, e.g. 4 year old pooing in park, there is bullying going on with bigger kids.

I don't really want my DCs get involved and prefer to take them to the park myself or with his best friend together.

Good ideas Bewitched

worra are you the walking to school police?

gabid interesting to hear another perspective, that would put me off too.

Ok then back on topic

"AIBU to feel bad that my children don't play out?"

YANBU. You should feel very bad indeed given that your're too lazy to walk them a short distance to and from school...therefore they really should be playing out to make up for the 40 mins you are depriving them of.

HTH

I have 3 dd's 7,3 and 18months. I allow them all to play in the garden (back) whenever they want really (even in rain just wrap up warm) abd sometimes i will let older 2 in the front garden but they know not to go out the gate. We live on quite a busy road so i am not comfortable them playing out there.

There is a lady 4 doors up from me who has opened a sweet shop in her house (ive checked her out and she seems lovely) so i will allow them to run up to hers to buy some sweets.

Oh do buzz off Worra theres a love

As my dd's do a club most nights I often have to pick 1 up and return 45 mintues later anyway so it will only be 20 mintues that I can do in the morning. Poor deprived little mites.

Oh and I didn't ask wether IABU about not walking to school.

Ok then YANBU to feel bad they don't play out...for the reasons I've already given.

Oh phew thats ok then.

i think that walking to school and playing out can make a massive difference to dc of this age. we moved so that ours could have a more 70s style -safe playing out -type childhood.

are there safer areas nearer the school/ park on quieter streets, with comparable rents? i know some people will say that this is an over reaction... but i have been in your position and moved in order to give my dc more outdoorsy freedom. for me its a massive factor in terms of quality of life.

i meant safer in terms of traffic, btw

My DC's dont 'play out' either. DS (6YO) is Autistic and has a fascination with aeroplanes, helicopters and hot air balloons and I know that if he sees one he will just run accross the road to see it more should it go behind a house. He cant cope with the green cross code and looking at said object at the same time.

DD1 (3YO) is easily manipulated and we know she will be doing whatever she is told to do and round our area it wouldnt be what I would want her doing (ie throwing stones at houses, being cheeky to passers by etc) as we dont live in a particularly nice area.

DD2 is only 6 weeks so not old enough yet.

We get round this by using our back garden a lot (it is enclosed and safe for them), going to areas where they can run about and burn off steam like the park, meet-up with other children where they are safer to run about. I dont walk my kids to school either and I admit that is because I am lazy, so sue me. I also take DS swimming regularly too. I do feel like we should do a lot more for them too.

We are also looking to move to the country, one of the reasons being that we can give our DC's a lot more freedom outside. This is something Im really looking forward to. We just need to find our house now (and like all things I want, I want it yesterday)

We don't walk to school either .But on the nights one has a club, I take the other to the park.and.we.all.go on the or.swim.on the nights they don't have a club.Children definitely need at.least an hours outdoor exercise every day.

We only live 5 min from school and DS (6) usually takes his bike, so I don't think that amounts to a lot of exercise. In summer we go to different parks, they play in the garden and sometimes we have other stuff to do.

Now in winter, we don't really get out that much. I wouldn't let DCs play out as I already said above. When DS comes out of school he has a run about on the school field, we get home by 3.30 and that's it. He is not into sports much and I feel he doesn't really get enough exercise in winter. DS eats healthily and has no tendency to overeating, but he does need more exercise - any ideas?

gabid - martial arts class? swimming? dancing? gymnastics?

Not sure what your DS might be into or what you've got locally. My DSs are both too young for playing out but I drag take them to a park most days unless the rain is torrential. I'm trying to think of something else for this winter though as the weather is bad enough, often enough that I think we need something else. I've not been swimming by myself with the 2 of them yet but I will give it a try soon!

We go swimming every 2 weeks or so, but DS (6) is not into classes. We tried swimming lessons and Beavers. He just likes to potter around at home after school. We go to the library every 2 weeks after school which involves a 20 min walk through a park. Hm, that might be better than nothing?