To take the kids to the park at 7am?

[ViolentDelights]

We have an hour and a half before we leave for school. They've been up since 6am. They're breakfasted, dressed and getting bored. This is a regular occurance but now the weather is nicer I had a brainwave that a trip to the park would help pass the time.
Or will we become the weird family of the village?

Do it. Best time. All the nasties are still in bed.

A P whose DC are up by 6, who has the strength to ban early morning TV, have the essentials sorted, and contemplating healthy activity at 6.52 is , in my book, a giant among parents, and has no business applying the words parenting fail to themselves. Yes that. :)

I often stop at the park if the trains have somehow delivered me to nursery early. Nursery opens at 8 so occupying them on the swings etc is a no brainer for me. I'm not sure why you'd even be questioning it?

I don't see why not, as long as you can sort some way of not getting the uniforms filthy. I don't get the noise issue - the DC would be playing in a park, not right next door to someone's house?

In your shoes I have to say I'd be encouraging them to read/play quietly in their rooms or downstairs till 7 (assuming they are school age), so I could get more sleep. But perhaps you are an early riser too OP and don't mind it

I wouldn't. Only because, like a pp, I would havery them read in their rooms until 7 or so. Once my kids were out of babyhood they were taught that they didn't have to sleep but they did have to stay quietly in their rooms until it was a reasonable time to start the day. Do they go to bed very early? If not they would likely benefit from more sleep and might start to go back to sleep if they read in bed.
If the kids have had early nights and you're happy with the early start/up early yourself anyway though I see nothing practically wrong with the park at that time though. A bit of fresh air/exercise before school is probably better for them than an hour and a half of TV.

The 9-5 thing is a pointless argument. Of course not everyone works 9-5. So by that logic do we have to tiptoe around all day for night workers who sleep all day? Or shift workers?

On weekdays it is perfectly normal to be up and about early. The majority of people are awake and getting ready for the day by 7pm.

As I said, as long as the kids aren't screeching their heads off, there is no problem with using public spaces like a park early.

On weekdays it is perfectly normal to be up and about early. Again, you are speaking about yourself. Unless they are commuting, most people are NOT up at 7am, or just about. Ask anyone if you can drop your kids at 7am and see how many households are up and ready by then.

And yes, it is common sense and basic manner to prevent your kids to scream like animals at any time of the day if the park is surrounded by private houses.

Going to the park is perfectly fine, assuming that the world is awake because you are is entitled at best.

I think its a brilliant idea. Lots of exercise, healthy body and mind.

Wow! Bundles of energy in the morning 👍🏻
I don't see the harm tho I wouldn't as my daughter is soooo messy and would be all muddy and grass stained xx

I'd admire a parent who did that! Great to have a bit of fresh air and exercise. I used to walk the dog before school. Great start to the day.

A P whose DC are up by 6, who has the strength to ban early morning TV, have the essentials sorted, and contemplating healthy activity at 6.52 is , in my book, a giant among parents, and has no business applying the words parenting fail to themselves

What a generous post...I quite agree!

Not everyone works 9-5. If you work shifts inconsiderate people really wind you up!!
Surely this would be true at any time though? I know someone who works early shifts of I think 3am-9/10am. She's probably asleep when school closes at 3.30, but you wouldn't expect DC to be quiet then.

We go every morning before school - 7.30, as have to travel to school and go early to pick up a friend on the way and avoid commuting hell after 8.

It can be damp - we aso go scooting or play football, its a large park away from residential properties.

It's nice to build in some exercise and it's often quite pretty / calm.

It's a nice thought, when the weather permits. Also means you get more play time with them too. I wouldn't mind doing this when my son starts school, he's just starting afternoon sessions in nursery after the Easter holidays, but our nearest park is a haven for drug users and is absolutely filthy! We went down once in the middle of the afternoon and there was used needles and condoms in the park! Our decent park is at the top of a hill, way up in the country (Hence why it's called the Country Park), it's out of the way but takes a good half hour to walk up there so that's a no go due to my laziness at that time of the morning haha

Wow you're much nicer than me, I make them practice spellings do their homework and read their reading books in the mornings, they'd think they'd gone to heaven if I suggested the park!
I say go for it.

You've made me think about our mornings. Often we have 3/4 of an hour spare, in which we dot about doing...I dunno really. Might just make 8am go for a half hour walk time.

Also if they arrive at school muddy so what? Obviously not sopping wet but if they can get muddy at break/lunch time then why not before school.

YANBU as long as they aren't shouting and being noisy - really great idea IMHO better than sticking the telly on etc. Nice way to get their recommended exercise

We don't have telly on in the mornings either during the week

I do it sometimes but closer to proper summer weather only because the grass is wet.

Yes I do think consideration for where park is would be relevant. It isn't just working people, parents who have had a long night and don't need to get up, I could list many reasons why someone wouldn't be up at 7am and yes I consider my neighbours at that time.

I also walk my son and minded children to school every day as I hope it helps then sit still a bit in the morning.

Of course it's fine. If you were saying 5am then fair enough for be comments about neighbours, but 7am is totally acceptable. (My mum once took my brother to the park at 3am once 😳 - she was having a hard time after my dad left and my brother was around 4 and not sleeping- don't think that's ok really!)

Definitely. Children need more activity than the TV. A park would be great. Fresh air. Exercise. What could be a better way to start the day. Laughing at those who are asking 'what about the neighbours'? It's 7 am - people go to work at that time. Cars are on the road.

I often go for a run. Most parks are pretty away from housing anyway. It's not an unreasonable time. I'd do it.

Yes do it!
When ds1 was little, we used to hit a meltdown spot in the evening after dinner but before bedtime. I started taking him with me for a dog walk. Best thing ever! Especially in winter when it got dark early - he felt excited at being out with the streetlights on, and we used to have some great chats as we walked around the block.

I am shocked by the number of people who think rising after 7am is early/normal! After 7am is fair game. Those of you who force your kids to stay silent until 7am, you are setting them up to be miserable and resentful when the real world of work, school, uni etc requires them to rise before then. It isn't the 'only' decent time ffs. I can understand quiet before 6am but really 6 is a perfectly respectable time and necessary for many families. But you know, if you're lazy and selfish brainwash and shame your kids for their healthy sleep habits why don't you.

Also I've never seen a park where the playground is bang up against houses ... its usually in the middle of a park. Racking my brain and never come across one.

Go over on the dog page and tell them to keep their dogs quiet while you're at it.

MN bullshit that would not be said in the real world AGAIN.

Frustrated ah but dogs and cars aren't kids and people, revealing that they force their kids to be silent and are lazy. It's the awkwardness.

pointstaken what lazy-arsed world do you live in where sleeping in past 7 on weekdays is normal! It sounds blissful, mind you...