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?

[madmomma]

So you'd walk your kids round the local precinct and retail park worra? Every day? I have a car so we drive for 15 mins to go to the park, but plenty people don't ha e cars.

[Matchingbluesocks]

How likely is it that people never go anywhere else though mad mamma? In your example everyone stays in the house all day and never visit is anyone, does activities or chores, and if they weren't wandering around the retail park would be in their house 24/7. Not realistic really is it?!

[formerbabe]

I cringe when children aren't taken out for a run around and adults constantly tell them to 'calm down' and 'sit still'...I feel like screaming "they're kids, they need to run round, take them out for gods sake!"

[AmeliaJack]

OP would I be right in guessing that you don't have children of your own?

I agree that getting out to play in the fresh air every day is a good idea and I certainly did that with my own children, often in waterproofs.

However, if I'' right and you don't have your own DC, you may be underestimating just how hard it is to get a small child out of the house and how hard some parents, especially if they are struggling otherwise, find it.

If you want to help your friend why don't you ask, without judgement, what you could do to help.

Could you take the child to the park while the Mum gets a sleep for example?

[Sirzy]

I would imagine generally people without cars need to go out pretty regularly on foot to do shopping and things anyway so in that sense "fresh air" isn't that hard to plan in generally speaking

[Marynary]

Surely, the main thing is that they get exercise. I don't think that there is any evidence showing that it is beneficial to be outdoors per se, especially in winter.

[honkinghaddock]

Mine wouldn't walk anywhere in a busy area. It is too stressful for him. We are lucky that we live in a village but someone with a similar child living in a city would find it difficult.

[formerbabe]

Genuine question here...are there honestly places in the UK without parks or playgrounds? I live in London and feel incredibly lucky that I have 3 parks in walking distance from my house...do people really live in areas where you can't walk to a piece of green space, recreation ground or such like?

[flippinada]

Well yes, it's good to get out every day if you can, this is hardly some revolutionary concept which no one thought of before you mentioned it.

[WorraLiberty]

So you'd walk your kids round the local precinct and retail park worra? Every day? I have a car so we drive for 15 mins to go to the park, but plenty people don't ha e cars.

Yes of course. What do you think people when they have dogs? They take them out in the streets for a walk.

Why would walking with kids be any different if you know they need exercise and fresh air too?

I haven't owned a car for nearly 16 years btw, which is why we get the bus to the park, if we don't want to walk to our local one.

You don't need a reason to go for a walk, other than it's good for us.

[flippinada]

Also, your comments about your "close friend" don't paint you in a good light at all. I daresay she won't consider you any sort of friend if she finds out you've been criticising her on an online forum and inviting others to join in.

[user1474627704]

Yes of course. What do you think people when they have dogs? They take them out in the streets for a walk

Children aren't dogs. And apparently we need to walk the children even if we can't actually walk. Didn't you see the posts that said being disabled was no excuse?

What about people who work all day? Are we supposed to put the toddlers on a leash and walk them in the dark round the streets?

[GreyBird84]

I try to get DS out for fresh air every day - whether it's out in the buggy, local park or even going watching diggers / tractors.

When I'm at work I know he spends most of the time running about my parents garden looking for muddy patches.

However I am.10 weeks pregnant & feeling rubbish do if we end up with the odd pj day I doubt it'll harm him.

[Beautyandtheyeast]

Yanbu and it's not only little children. It's teenagers too. In fact, teenagers even more so. Most small children will get out a bit, unless their parents are total hermits, but the teens I work with, omg.

They are in school by 9am. They get out at 3.30. Many of them have a commute of 40 minutes to an hour home, that's if they aren't doing a music lesson, drama rehearsal. It's often crap weather at lunch, there's indoor lunchtime clubs etc, so at the maximum they get out for a brief stroll around the playground. It's a huge school, and really rather dark. Sometimes when I'm finished work, I'm desperate for some natural light and fresh air, but at this time of year it's hard to come by. So many of them, even at the weekends, are on their phones, in their houses.

The sporty ones do well, but most average teens who don't have a specific outdoor hobby seem to spend so much time indoors. It can't be good for them- some disruptive children, I would just love to say, you know what, go outside, do a few laps of the playground then come back in and try again.

[Love51]

beauty I had really bad period pains at school once. My teacher told me almost exactly that! Except the school didn't have a playground, so it was the car park.
It did help!

[Matchingbluesocks]

user1474627704 I work all day. I expect my children's childcare providers to ensure they have daily fresh air, which they should do any way as part of the early years curriculum.

Or are we now saying the children are also stuck at home all day on an industrial estate with nowhere to go?

[WorraLiberty]

User I didn't say children are dogs.

The disablist comment was disgusting.

I would expect people who work all day, to ensure the childcare provider will be seeing the DC are getting exercise.

Yes, I think a leash and a muzzle would have been excellent for my kids when they were little.

Actually more so now they are teenagers...

[DancingWithWillard]

Greenifer your daughter sounds awesome, what a great imagination! OP yes, kids so need fresh air and exercise, but some need more than others. I was quite happy as a kid reading a book or listening to music for a day or so. I think you should ask your friend if she is OK, she may have a touch of depression if she is actively avoiding going out.

[Nemomemo]

YANBU we go out every day rain or shine. Lots of lazy parents about that just stay in all day everyday. Then wonder why their kids are running riot in the house.

[Matchingbluesocks]

Fuck me! What's smug about going outdoors?!

[memyselfandaye]

Nothing smug about going out, we all do it, but it's the ones that are proclaiming they go out no matter what, like they want a round of applause.

The OP who has fucked off and clearly has no children of her own, but is an expert on how to bring up her friend's child, and can't wait for her friend's kid to start school is most definitely smug, and over invested in their lives.

[DotForShort]

In general YANBU. Children absolutely need to be out and about, ideally every day. Of course there are exceptions (illness, etc.), but outdoor activity is so important for children. And adults too, of course.

Many school districts in the US have curtailed or completely eliminated outdoor playtime. I think this trend is extremely harmful and will not achieve anything positive in the long term (or the short term for that matter). The ostensible excuse is to devote more time to academics, but cancelling playtime is a very counter productive approach IMO.

[KindergartenKop]

They're like dogs, they need 2 walks a day.

[user1474627704]

TWO walks a day now?

Children are not fucking dogs. What is wrong with people?