To think this is desperately sad?

[IronicSeraphim]

I live on a block of six semi's, all with big gardens.

All but two of them have young children in. One, has five (aged 4ish to 16ish).

Two of those houses of children (including the one with five kids) never play in the garden. Never.

I've been a SAHP for three years and I've NEVER seen these kids in the garden. I know they're still there as o see them coming and going and on the school run.

I know it's nothing to do with me, but I can't help wondering why you'd do this?

[Tigger001]

My DS loves to be out in the garden, he goes out to play after he has finished his tea until we have supper, (Even wrapped up with a hat and coat on ) but not everyone is the same

I don't think i would probably notice, and I wouldn't imagine the kids to not get any fresh air or outdoor play but I do think it is a waste of a good space if it's an unused garden and sad if they don't want to use it.

[slipperywhensparticus]

Neighbour's complain a lot about renters daring to use the garden

I have druggies at the bottom of my garden the kids want to go out but the stench is appalling

[ShinyShoe]

YABU. My kids are rarely outside regardless of the weather. When they get home from school they are knackered and just want to veg in front of the TV. They’ve been running around doing work and play all day. They need some downtime. School makes them go outside. So nothing wrong in them enjoying their own bedroom or slobbing on the sofa when they get back in my opinion. The worst thing is a pushy parent who won’t just let their kids alone or let their kids relax and recharge their batteries.

[IronicSeraphim]

@justloseit

Who the fuck are you? Kate Fucking Middleton?

[InadvertentlyBrilliant]

@OP
How do you actually know this? Isn't there any fencing between your gardens? How can you manage to see 6 gardens?

[FlossieTeacakesFurCoat18]

@justloseit if they're living in semi detached houses with big gardens they're not likely to be poor

I agree it's sad OP. And it's weird that so many people here are like "Maybe they're going on outings / to the park." It's not the same thing at all! Playing in the garden means having a bit of independence from your parents and not having them watching you all the time. I used to spends hours in the garden practising my cartwheels, climbing trees, sitting on a tyre swing reading comics, making mud pies It was just like another room of the house, but a lot more spacious!

[CondomsAreCnts]

I take mine to the park rather than garden usually. We live opposite one so the garden seems boring in comparison.

[Clankboing]

I agree OP. My children are in our garden quite a lot though much older now, but so am I. I've also noticed that the park near our house is unused. My son would like to make more friends and goes there but confirms that it's always empty. Similarly the park near my workplace. I can hazard a guess why!!

[InadvertentlyBrilliant]

Maybe they've always gone round to friends and played in their gardens?

[TheFaerieQueene]

It is sad. I spent the vast majority of my childhood outside. It was fun.

[Backwoodsgirl]

We spend as much time in the garden as possible,

[MeakTiger]

Mine are allowed to but rarely do - our garden is small and in shade, the lawn is full of weeds no matter how much I try and sort it out. There are brambles everywhere too. I try and get out there but work with a three hour commute each day and DH works too albeit with a slightly shorter commute.

It’s small and a mess and I don’t know where to start really! So no the kids don’t play outside and I don’t sit outside. Hopefully we can work on it but it will always be small, damp and shady.

[Dyrne]

I have to keep my children out of the sun between 10-3 in the Summer as their skin is extremely sensitive. They may be out playing before and after that time but usually we’ll have gone out for the day to a shady woodland walk or similar.

If someone’s looking into my garden when it’s “lovely and sunny” in the middle of the day they won’t see my children playing; doesn’t mean they’re stuck to their screens all day.

[FenellaMaxwell]

We live 5 mins from the beach and 10 mins from my mum, who has a much bigger and nicer garden, and she spoils DS rotten so he has a nicer playhouse, huge sandpit, climbing frame, slide etc at her house.

We work full time so while we spend a lot of time outdoors at weekends, we prefer to do it somewhere nicer than our small, boring garden.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Kids tend to copy their parents too. DH and I eat breakfast outside in the summer and mostly take our coffee out too. We have a table and chairs just outside our patio doors so lots of evening meals are simply relocated to the patio.

It’s a very cheesy phrase, but our garden is an extension of our home.

[Rosesaredead]

Desperately sad is pretty dramatic. Like I'm sure the kids aren't imprisoned in their rooms. I didn't play in my own garden much as a kid because I was always out and about - in the park, at the beach, or the country park, or swimming, playing tennis, museums, doing hobbies, etc. Much more fun than pottering in the garden.

[BigRedLondonBus]

Do you feel “desperately sad” for all the kids that live in flats then that have no outside space at all? I live in london, plenty of families with small children in high rise flats.

[NataliaOsipova]

oh come on, if you know the kids are at home but are never outside, it IS sad.

Not everybody is an outdoorsy person. I’m absolutely not. I never go outside “for choice”; always prefer to sit/eat indoors. My kids aren’t particularly outdoorsy (although they do sometimes enjoy playing out, more often than not they choose to play inside). What’s “sad” about it?

[loulou0987]

Build a snowman on a Saturday morning? Are you in the UK op?
If you are outside spending quality time with your children (building snowmen) how can you see what they are doing?

[nethunsreject]

I agree with you, op. My neighbour never lets her kids play in the garden: it's 'hers', apparently. Ffs.

[balloonyellow]

Mine have played in the garden probably twice. Paving is cracked and could trip etc. Plus smoking neighbours and their dog mess. She plays outside daily at preschool and we go to the park, walks out etc. It’s a lot to presume from garden use

[HairycakeLinehan]

How on earth have you even noticed this OP?
I genuinely couldn’t tell you what my neighbors are up to unless they’re encroaching on me in some way. I’m far too busy in and out, walking ddogs, heading out for the day, getting the bbq going, if it is snowing on a random Saturday morning (rare) then I’m getting stuck in and playing with DD.

I think it’s “desperately sad” that you seem to be watching this house so much you know the families movements and “moved” so much by it you start a thread on MN about these people who could be all off out at different activities, hiking, camping, spending a weekend with grandparents etc.
Get a life.

[IronicSeraphim]

I'm actually amazed at all these days people who are so totally and utterly engrossed in everything they do, that they are completely oblivious to everything going on around them.

Must be nice to be so focused!

[Lweji]

It even feels nicer not to stake out the neighbours' houses.

[Babuchak]

Most people manage to notice when their neighbours are home and need to collect a parcel from them, I don't buy for a minute that you do not notice at all if your neighbours are around - or it means they are locked inside and never put a foot outside ever