About posts on fb groups..."What's on for kids today?"

[cheapandcheerful]

This really irks me and I don't know if IBU as so many people seem to do it.

My local town has a fb group for local mums and there are SO many posts along the lines of "What can I do today with my dc". It just strikes me that even the question itself is lazy. There are so many websites with listings of things to do in the local area which these people could just as easily look at as anyone else. And why can't these people just think of things themselves. The park never goes anywhere and is free.

So far I have managed to refrain from commenting ...

Do you not think this is really a form of socializing and making contact with other people?

It's like on here when people post 'what's on in London?' obviously they could go away and look it up themselves, but they'd rather reach out, hear new ideas, perhaps things they haven't heard of, and just generally interact with others.

OK, maybe IBU.

I can see why it's annoying if every mum says it (our local page asks for a nursery reccomendation every week) but they are just getting people's input

Why travel to a place that could essentially be a waste of money.

Internet pages are not always updated properly

Yabu. Those fb groups are all about community and helping each other. Sometimes people run out of ideas, have done most of the local things, are bored of the same old park and most of all are looking for recommendations. Also its great for things you didn't even know existed! FO instance today there is a free Lego club on at our local library for ages 5-12. If you haven't seen that one little poster about it in the library then you wouldn't know its on as it is not advertised anywhere else!

If you don't like the post then just scroll on by or remove yourself from the group if you can't control yourself

I also think it's really irritating. Like, narrow it down a bit, can't you? "I have 3 dcs 7, 6 and 3 driving me up the wall. We have been to x which they loved, y which was too old for the 3yo to really enjoy. Any tips for me? They really love trains/cows/abstract art so anything involving those would be a plus" would give people something to work with.

Yabu, my local area has one of these pages and frequently has this page. The reason it is asked is because a lot of the websites aren't updated often or are only updated with a few things.
I actually posted over Easter after spending 4 hours trawling the net looking for something to do with friends. I posted on there looking for ideas as a last resort. Within 5 minutes I had three replies with events going on that I hadn't heard about anywhere on the Internet.
And who says they haven't been to the park every other day that week? Maybe they'd like to take their dcs to something they wouldn't normally go to? I'd much rather go to a special event at our local library than the park again

Oh dear. OP for some parents it's literally just a way of starting up a chat....a way of engaging with others, getting advice on where's good and where isn't.

Yabu. And possibly very local to me?

I think some people might post in the hope that someone else will say "we're going to X if you famcy joining us?" Or "fancy a cuppa in soft play"

It's always best to take recommendations from people who have actually done something. Yabu.

Surely it's just socialising online just chatting about what's around and if other mums and kids liked it not everything needs googling

So....what's happening on MN today?

Ha

Wow what a mean thing to say. Sometimes I wake up and feel completely unprepared or unable to face the fay ahead wit kids and think ill ask for a bit of inspiration on a local group. It's a way of people making contact and hoping to find a last minute plan to help with their day

God the Internet is full of mean spirited people

YABU, the Liverpool Echo is great at reporting how good an event was, with pictures, the day after.

A lot of stuff is advertised on Posters in shops, especially things going on in local woodlands, if your driving about, you don't spot them.

I used to go to Wales a lot, even though I'm a keen walker, we have parks and woodland that I didn't know about.

Things like Slate mines, is something some people don't know exsist.

Also I've seen Mum's (some that don't each other well),arrange an impromptu meet up, after such a post, or a future meet up, just in a park where the kids can just play and it's a good cheap day out.

If money/time is tight, you want other peoples opinions and experiences, who have taken children a similar age.

Well people do the same on mn don't they

'What's do you feed your 4yo'
'What activities for a 5yo'
And so on

Can't see the problem, Yabu

This reminds me of a thread a few weeks back why do people ask mumsnet questions and not Google

Yabu.

Haha! Are you on a North London one by any chance? I actually replied once to check the damn listing page! She got arsey with me

YABU, and you'd look look awful if you commented. I don't understand what you think these groups are for, if it's annoying to ask about children's activities. Doesn't it also irk you when people post about scooters for sale (fergodsake: go on eBay), ask for nursery recommendations (just Google the reviews, lazy) and ask if anyone's found a red shoe in the playground (get off your arse and look for it yourself)?

Like everyone's said, plenty of events rely on word-of-mouth and local advertising. They don't have constantly updated websites. I'm also confused as to your observation that 'the park never goes anywhere, and is free'. Do you think people are posting because they've forgotten about the park's existence, or need to be reminded it's this large bogland grassy area that doesn't charge admission?

And why can't these people just think of things themselves

If we all thought like that Mumsnet would be empty

Oh gosh. Ok I get the idea

I think it's often easier to ask on these groups as many websites aren't updated regularly. I hear about a lot of places and events via word of mouth. Maybe people will arrange to go together if they ask.

I admit that when people post things like "When is GCSE results day" or "what is the address of X very well known place" gets on my nerves a bit as you can google this very easily...but sometimes maybe they want to have a chat about it rather than just know the bare facts.