to think that going for a walk is too bloody stressful?!

[Pishposhpashy]

We live in London. Go out for our permitted daily walk (me, dog, 4yo DD). Constantly having to dodge on the way to the park to avoid people coming in the opposite direction. Once in the park, same story. Dodging out of the way every 10 seconds to maintain social distancing. DC not understanding why she cannot run on ahead. DD touches bench before I can stop her then immediately puts a finger in her mouth. Leave to return home as park is just too busy to be able to be safe.

We dont have a garden and I desperately feel we need outdoor exercise, but this is the same story every time and it doesn't matter what time of day it is either.

YANBU, I feel the same way and have largely avoided it but luckily do have a garden so have been sending DC out daily to run off some steam. I don’t live in London and actually only live in a small town but the risk of walking past people is too much for my anxiety right now.

That should say DH, not dog!!!

It's going to be that way for a while, I'm afraid. There's not much you can do but have a wee chat with DD about what to expect, do/not when you go out and why (as appropriate for her as possible).That way, you only need to give her reminders while out and about.

I have told her but I think she just forgets and touches things out of instinct. It annoys me actually as one of my neighbours was there today with her partner and 3 kids, and yet they have an enormous garden with a slide and swings etc, so why the need to be in the park?!?!

Go walking on streets instead, backstreets if you have them. There arent many carsbaround or pedestrians, and there usually plenty of interest for 4'year old and forbdogbto sniff on lead. That is what ive been doing at busy times. Empty, westblondon, parks packed. 930ish best time for park.830 terrible.

Tried that yesterday and honest to god it was exactly the same!

I live in a small non-densely populated city and it's so different here, not many people out, everyone keeping their distance etc

How about an early walk? The streets were very quiet around 8am

We may try super early tomorrow, like 7am.

At the end of my road is woodland with the only entrance/exit. It is only ever used by dog walkers until Friday, now it’s walking/biking and running central. The problem is families all seem to want their walk at the same time. It has a gating system to stop travellers using it but this is now a bottle neck. I think the exercise will have to go. It just does not seem to be working.

but I think she just forgets and touches things out of instinct.

It's understandable - I imagine she would keep forgetting, as she's still very young.

The longer talk is just so she remembers what you're talking about when you remind her (with fewer words) every 5 mins while you're out. It's definitely not a once-and-done type of thing :)

Still it may not be helped if she is naturally the 'touchy-exploratory' type. You could just walk around with wet wipes or hand sanitizer for her, for whenever she (accidentally) touches something.

yesterday i walked back from the pharmacy getting a prescription and a man ran past me, right next to me, and basically exhaled right in my face. i'm now obviously paranoid he's given it to me.... This was my first time out in a week and i'm never going out again.

Put winter gloves on her she won't put her fingers in her mouth with those on :)

You have my sympathy, that sounds stressful!

We live in a very rural area and it is beautiful here for a walk, sunny, reasonably warm and not a soul in sight.

Totally agree, posted earlier about 20+ joggers on a small road this morning (a sight not normally seen!) while walking my dog. Most jogging in pairs and refusing to go in single file, me trying my best to keep out their way but still managing to almost bump into me.

Felt sorry for the older people who were walking with groceries having heavy panting joggers go past them and almost knocking them over.

Also in London and a quiet street was full to the brim!

I live rurally with public footpaths around the fields behind my house. I've been out there daily, weather permitting for the best part of 35 years. I rarely see anyone except the occasional dog walker. This morning it was a cross between a huge kennels and Piccadilly Circus.

Also all our parks have been closed in Hammersmith & Fulham so more people on the streets - not complaining as the park was manic the other day!

My dog is large, young , very boisterous and clumsy as hell
I used to love taking him out to the local common to let off steam but now have to keep him on the lead for fear he will knock over some poor older person who is not too steady on their feet but need to take their daily walk in a « secluded» area.
I suppose we all have to make changes right now.
The dog and I have taken to chasing each other manically around the garden,lol, for an hour.
The dog seems to enjoy it ; but it’s not quite the same...

I just drove to my parents house (to drop groceries on their doorstep) and although the roads were quieter, they weren’t exactly quiet.

There were pedestrians EVERYWHERE though. Tons of joggers, dog walkers and people just walking. Definitely far more pedestrians than I’d see on an average evening.

Totally agree Op. Just walked the dog around our estate, where I'd normally be lucky to see a handful of people in the space of an hour, and it was full of people out walking, running, cycling, including many elderly people I've never seen in 20 years of living here! And what is it with all the runners coming unnecessarily close and spitting everywhere? Ugh!
Apparently the best way to get the Great British Public to exercise is to tell them to stay indoors for the good of their health!

Dh and dd are going out late in the evening, just before it gets dark to avoid people. I think early morning if your dd is up is probably a better solution. Can you go either side of her and swing her? Children love this. Perhaps get her to take a dolly out in a pram so her hands are occupied?

My neighbours got their bikes out today that I have never seen them on. I went out an hour later to the bins and they were still trying to get the rusty chains to work. Whilst after this I do think we need a discussion on the health of the society, it’s not the right time for people exercising who haven’t for years. I seen a few joggers coughing and spitting because of lack of fitness.

yes try early morning OP.
hang in there!

Reins for toddlers?

Same issue here- I’m walking a vulnerable person’s dog for her, whilst on my way to/from her home and out with the dog I was literally walking in the road and on grass verges by the side of the pavement to maintain social distancing, it seemed like everybody else couldn’t have given fewer fucks, nobody altered their direction even a tiny bit.