To think children need to get out in the fresh air every single day

[lkissaa]

Obviously every now and again if they're ill or parents feel like a lazy day but generally, I feel it's very very important for children to be outside getting exercise every day. It helps stimulate their brain, keep them fit and healthy and helps to use up their energy so they sleep better at night. Even if it's just in the local park or even just the garden.

I've worked extensively with children with behavioural problems and while many of them have more deep-routed issues, in many cases once the parent started taking the child out every day for exercise and outside play, the behaviours improved massively and in some cases almost disappeared.

When I was a child my Dad took us out every day for walks and we loved it. Playing outside.

I hat to compare children to dogs, but dogs get very disturbed if they don't have a walk every day and in some ways I feel children are the same. They don't need walking, but they do need fresh air and a change of scenery.

AIBU to think that?

[AGruffaloCrumble]

I can't wait until her daughter goes to school as I feel so sorry for her.
You don't sound like much of a friend. Why not offer to help instead of bitching about her on the internet?

[pigsDOfly]

I like walks in the rain Unluckycat. Unfortunately my dog isn't so keen, but my DCs, if wrapped up warm and snug, never used to mind the rain; splashing in puddles is great.

[babyapril]

Thing is, most parents & humans know this &a take full advantage of the fresh air available to us!
I think you'd like your 'friend' to change her ways.
Have you asked if she'd like to go together- are your children similar ages?
Maybe she hasn't made the connection & is worried her daughter will have a tantrum when they are out?

[PuppyMonkey]

Next you'll be telling us that kids need a balanced diet and a good night's sleep. Madness.

[cuckooo]

No one has any duty to look after anyone else's child. Mum's have enough responsibility as it is without looking after friends children.

[AGruffaloCrumble]

No cuckooo but an actual friend would be supportive about it and actually encourage the friend instead of slagging her off on the internet. There could be something going on underneath the surface that makes her not capable of taking her DC out.

[user1474627704]

Fresh air cures serious behavioral problems? Wow, if only people with such children ever brought them outside! Who knew?



Jog on.

[Sirzy]

Exactly gruffalo

[Icequeen01]

I do agree with you to a point. When my DS was little he went out most days and as my mum looked after him 4 days a week, and she couldn't drive, he walked far more than any other young children I know. He is also an only child so needed to be out and about to socialise with children of his own age. Trouble is when they get older - he's now a teenager and has hardly seen the outside of his bedroom since the start of term! All the healthy eating and healthy outside activities have gone out the window

[user1474627704]

t's amazing how many people have defensive excuses for not taking their children out every day. Their child doesn't like it, their children are tired from their week at school, it's cold, it's raining, I don't have time, it's too dark, I have disabilities, I live in a flat, I live in an area without facilities

Yeah, those disabled people, just fucking lazy really, aren't they?

Is this be a dick day on here or what?

[DeleteOrDecay]

Of course YANBU but you do sound very smug and superior.

Instead of judging your 'friend', why don't you offer to help? There could be more going on than she is letting on.

[AGruffaloCrumble]

Their child doesn't like it, their children are tired from their week at school, it's cold, it's raining, I don't have time, it's too dark, I have disabilities
What the fuck makes you think that's an acceptable thing to say? People in wheelchairs should just get over it and go for a walk no matter what then? Disability is a disability not a fucking excuse.

[PeppaAteMySoul]

Cuckoo in an ideal world every child would get outside time every day. Just as in an ideal world every child would eat 7 portions of fruit and veg or have limited screen time. Some days that's not possible. Unless your Supermum/ dad.

As I said upthread I'm 8 months pregnant. We don't have a garden. DS hasn't been out since Sunday. Is that ideal parenting? Absolutely not. But it's the way it has to be at the moment. (I have SPD and still throwing up multiple times a day). To make up for it I'm trying to do lots of crafty things with him and getting him to dance to music- which we both love and both involve me getting to sit on the sofa! I'm trying to balance my child's needs with my own. Tomorrow DP has the day off so will take him out. Until then we are just doing the best we can.

[BikeRunSki]

I agree with you entirely OP, but would expand it to "everyone".

[Love51]

I usually think this. Unless the weather is crap, when I decide that going swimming / to soft play is just as good. But yes, I remember when mine did long childminder days, on the rare occasion they hadn't been out to the park or spent hours in the garden, I would create an errand to walk to the corner shop. But I have a history of anxiety and depression, so I see it as a preventative measure to immerse my children in the outdoors. But I hate the cold, so I don't always manage what I aspire to, but I figure it all helps.

[ChicMomma]

YANBU children need fresh air to boost their immune system and keep them healthy, my DH aunt is in her 30's her child is almost 2 and they never take her out and if they do she is well covered up even in warm weather she also is suffering with extreme eczema on both her little cheeks this is going on since she's only a couple of months old they always have their fire lighting and ALWAYS have their heating on really not good for anyone and not helping this poor little girls cheeks either, never opens a window for fresh air or to even air their house out. Me and DH called one day and I was about 6-7 months pregnant with DC1 and they had the heating on fire blazing and the baby sitting in her bouncer and the same height as fire, needless to say this was in august September which wasn't very cold at the time. I came out with 2 sweat patches under my arms DH hates calling their which we rarely do anymore.

[MuffyTheUmpireSlayer]

YANBU but I have to agree with PPs who have said you come across as very smug.

Yes, it's good for children (everyone) to get a bit of outdoor time each day. Yes, you do this already. Now what?

[yellowsquarepostit]

In the gentle sleep book, this is one of the things the author suggests, everyday, around midday try to get some outdoor fresh air and daylight. My son benefits definitely.

I deliberately buy good wet gear for the winter and have good coat for myself and make myself a hot chocolate in order to go and be outside for as long as I can cope! It was hard when he was a bit younger as I got so very cold!

I teach SEN children and we used to do a daily fitness session outside. Many of our autistic children ask to go outside which we allow work done etc. We allow / schedule a lot of down time in the day for this.

There is actually a Japanese approach for teaching autistic children mainly through exercise; Higashi schools.

I wrote an essay on it once, can't remember the specifics - over all the school wasn't that great however there was a lot to be said for lots of opportunity for social physical activity.

PE and sensory time is when we often learn the most about our children, get the most interaction etc. And especially the trampoline.

"Physical activities have a significant role in the curriculum. The aim is to stop any unproductive activities, which usually lead to tantrums. Dr Kitahara believed that rigorous physical activities would release endorphins (chemicals created by the body to suppress pain) and thereby control anxiety, which is the cause of tantrums in autistic children. Through physical activities children may also better control their behaviour and establish a rhythm of life. The children are taught language and mathematics to stimulate their intellect and art and music to enable them to express themselves and increase their self-esteem." www.henryspink.org/higashi_school.htm

In my mind doing it outside is only going to be more stimulating and help set the circadian rhythm which many of the children with ASC seem to struggle with. (Sleep issues)

[yellowsquarepostit]

^^ I could pick holes in the theory behind the higashi approach as described above, but it's only going to be beneficial.

[SnipSnipMrBurgess]

I fucking hate walking.

And smug people.

[Keepingupwiththejonesys]

I have one day a week when we stay indoors, otherwise we are out for most of the day. I need the day we stay in to do the bulk of the cleaning and I also do a lot of batch cooking on this day. The kids have a craft day and I have a cooking and cleaning day. Otherwise I hate staying in and the kids (4 and 2 ) don't react well to it. I'm 25+5 weeks and have changed some of the things we do recently but still make sure we go out. We had to stay in from Tuesday until Sunday last week coz the kids where unwell. It was hell

[madcapcat]

I seem to remember a news article linking a big increase in short-sightedness (in children in south Korea?) to a corresponding decrease in exposure to daylight outdoors?

[Crunchymum]

DC1 has been in full time preschool since he was 3.2 (got a full time place early) so I make sure he has one day a week indoors

[memyselfandaye]

You seem to be criticising other parents, without mentioning your own children.

Oh and "close" friends don't slag each other off the way you just have, if it bothers you that much tell her, but be prepared to be told to keep your beak out.