If you have a garden do your kids not use it much?

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If you have a garden do your kids not use it much?

They sometimes do in warmer months and when friends could come over but if its cold and just them, then no. They have a den, trampoline, swing, basketball hoops, various racquet games but it's still impossible to get them out there for any length of time. They prefer a woodland walk or play park.

We have a very big garden, complete with big climbing thing, trampoline, bikes etc etc etc. They would rather go to the park or for a walk. It’s very annoying.

I wonder why they won’t use the garden?

+much

During lockdown mine are out in the garden nearly every day. Would be less if we weren't in lockdown.

I found the garden very useful with mobile babies and toddlers, but after that the main appeal of being outside involves interaction with other children, or at least being around them, or exploration of new environments. School age children will almost always choose a park or wood or beach etc. over their own garden for that reason, unless tjey have friends over.

Do YOU use your garden?
Are you out there pottering all year?
Do you have meals out there?
Do you sit and read out there?
They will follow your lead.

Now mine are older (8 and 13), not so much. In toddler years a lot more.

No not really. We use it to sit out and sunbathe but they don’t use it much ..

Mine would live in the garden given half a chance. In fact they did last summer for a while.

DH and I will happily spend long periods of time put there as well, so it's normal to them.

Warmer months yes, out there all the time. At the moment it’s dark when they come in from school and it’s very boggy and muddy out there. Although 4 year old was mixing potions this weekend. 9 year old has a football goal and will often go out to do football. But far less than in summer.

My oldest teen actually gardens in the spring / summer/ early autumn, and sits out there to read - she uses the garden as yn adult might. My younger two do things outdoors in reasonable weather, like an additional room, and we eat outside etc. but they'd always prefer a new to them or public (others their ages about) outside space.

Have recently moved and gone from having a tiny, city garden (horribly overlooked, cat / fox poo everywhere, next doors dogs barking and jumping against fence) to having a large, peaceful country garden.

My DC used to beg to go out and I'd be reluctant to let them. Now that we've moved pretty much for a nice garden they are not interested.

DC(6) spent 5 mins out there today, and was bribed with a chocolate biscuit to do so.

We don't have a garden at all - we live in a town centre flat. I've heard from many people that we aren't missing out. In fact it's a bonus as there is no maintaining a garden that no one uses.

My 10 and 6 year old use it loads. Always on the trampoline - even in winter. In warmer months we are out there all the time with the paddling pool and water slide etc.
They've spent two hours in the garden today playing on the trampoline even though it was covered in ice first thing.
We live a 5 minute walk from the beach but they much prefer being out in the garden.

We don't really use ours. In fact, when we eventually move, I'd probably sooner not have one. It causes more work in terms of maintenance than it's actually worth.

From Spring to autumn we use it lots but barely go out in the winter as it becomes a bit of mud pit!

DD12 very rarely goes out in the garden, even to see the rabbits, but it is incredibly muddy at the mo & she needs new wellies. The most annoying thing was the fact that we bought a summerhouse ( £400) & did it up for her last summer but she rarely used it, despite nagging DH endlessly to get it done. DH & I used it way more.

Yes, in spring/summer/early autumn. It’s straight to the garden after school and we usually eat in the garden too, if we can. Our garden is not huge but enough space for a small kickabout or swingball.
We have a play house and summer house and a few garden games but they don’t particularly use them an awful lot. They just enjoy being outside.
Agree with PP who says they may be following your lead as to how much you use it?
We made DCs a veg patch and gave them some pots to grow flowers in. They’ve become quite territorial over those! I love being in the garden and it becomes another room.

Mine use it all year round and the dog because we have (what everyone on mumsnet seems to hate but it has been a game changer for us) artificial grass.

Me and dp sit out when its nice in the summer as well next to the chimnea

Mine only use it if I’m playing with them or gardening (the latter’s annoying as they want to help and end up making a huge mess or crushing flowers!)

They don’t like going out in it unless it’s really warm.

When it's warmer they spend most of their time out there, not at the moment though.

It’s used for 2 months of the year. The dc love a paddling pool in the summer but quite frankly I’d happily move into an apartment with just a small balcony to sit out on during the summer. For like 10months of the year it’s just more hassle then it’s worth and for the small part that we use it - we could just go to a park.

Quick run out to use the trampoline and back in. Only way to make them use it is for me to go and sit at the bottom of it for 5 minutes to get some peace, then they will instantly appear.

All the time. Not right now as the entrance to it is a building site. But normally they use it a lot.