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

[Redviolet1]

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

This is interesting. I'm in a flat, which I love, with a toddler and 5 mins from the beach and multiple parks. I still always thought we would have to get a garden eventually but this is making me think. Especially if we had to move away from the beach to afford one.

I've just moved from a flat to a house with a large garden. My dc go out there all the time. Maybe it's the novelty. Me on the other hand. Too cold so I sit inside with a cup of tea watching. For me this makes having a garden vs being forced to go out with them much better.
Did I neeeeed a garden though? Not really.

@UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme I have snow envy now

@Defaultuser

This is interesting. I'm in a flat, which I love, with a toddler and 5 mins from the beach and multiple parks. I still always thought we would have to get a garden eventually but this is making me think. Especially if we had to move away from the beach to afford one.

My personal experience is that once they get older the average garden isn't big enough to play cricket or football etc anyway so off they go to the nearest playing field or beach anyway. I'd say my son had outgrown our garden for games by 7 or 8. My daughter will potter about, sir outside to eat, drink, read etc. But could do the sane in a sunny yard or a balcony. But I'd always choose location over house, that's my thing.

My DC's are nagging me at 7am to go in the garden in the summer but they're not as interested in the winter. I think they find it too cold in the winter and warmer and more interesting taking their scooters out in the winter (we don't have space in the garden as whilst a decent size it's mostly boggy lawn).

@UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme

I’d have to tie my two to their chairs to stop them being out in the garden in that that kind of weather. Seriously.

I agree with pp who asked if you use it much. DH and are out there a lot so it's normal to our DC. They are primary age though.

@Redviolet1

Mostly yabu? In what way?

Asking a confusing question with a negative in!

DS gets thrown into the garden to run off steam regularly. Swings in the dark, helping me garden etc. Less time at this time of year, but it’s still a very helpful space.

Our garden is unofficially out of bounds Nov to March. It sounds awful but it's fairly small with limited paths/ paving and mostly lawn on heavy clay soil that turns very easily into a mud-swamp. It's better to not use it when it's sodden and have a lawn left when it dries up in the spring than have to re-seed it and not recover until about June.

We do go out and about a lot although admittedly that's got more than tedious since December.

I'm really surprised how many kids don't use their gardens. Ours (11 and 9) need a lot of encouragement to get out there in the winter but have a lot of fun once out. In the summer they're out there all day.... but then so are we I suppose.

We have a 60ft garden with a built in play area. Last time we used it was maybe October. Just too cold & wet right now.

12 and 10 year old. 10 year old outside daily on trampoline and swing.

Big garden here. One of the main reasons we chose this house.
In the summer we spend most of the time in the garden, including eating meals.

Winter obviously use it less but DC still use it for an hour or so most weekend days (is when not at nursery)

I have 3 under 12. They use it for an hour or two a day over the cooler months and substantially more in the warmer months.

From about March to October it's in constant use. It's a decent size for a city garden, enclosed, grassy with nature areas, dens, plants, pots, trees. We eat out there in the summer and we camped out a few times in the first lockdown.

I Potter, sow, plant, create a beautiful space, eat outside, older dd is hard to get out there.. I wish I could afford swing chairs etc.

Absolutely loads.
We have patio doors from our lounge to the decking so the kids free flow when it's warm. And they have to pass the garden to get in the house after school, so usually don't make it in for a while when it's light after school.
We have decking and eat out there a lot. Even in Winter we sometimes have fires.
We have a framed pool for half the year.
Also a pond, veg patch, play house, slide, swings, football goals. It's big enough to learn to cycle in.
Having a good garden has a massive impact on our lifestyle. The kids help to grow flowers and veg. It was a godsend last lockdown. I love it.

In the summer, a fair bit. DS1 likes to spend the day running in and out of a sprinkler. DS2 wasn't walking last summer so this summer will be a different matter, he loves being outdoors.

We are planning on doing the garden this spring ready to make it a bit more pleasant for summer and the kids.

Mine ar 7 and 5 they use it w lot in the summer, not so much in the winter. they've use it for maybe an hour if that a day this week. Gardens not massive, I do think if we had a bigger garden they'd use it more.

Also, I grew up by the sea but with no garden. My kids are not by the sea, which sucks. But they spend much more time outside than I did as a kid. They don't even have to get dressed, let alone organised or travel. Just open a door. I didn't grow up with a garden but I'd never ever be without one now, no matter where I lived.

Not much in winter. Lots from april to September. Paddling pool is popular and we find badminton doesnt annoy the neighbours. We put the tent up too. Enjoy a good fire pit.
I love gardening and they help a bit.

Sethy38 how old are they? Its much more fun to go sledging and rolling enormous snowmen on a big hill than be confined to a garden. Also it was an actual blizzard and minus 11 in the first photo...

We never use the garden I think mine played swing ball in the garden once back when we had that nice weather.

better than a garden

Mid March to Mid September it's used constantly. Barely step foot out there the rest of the year though.