To think things are a bit rubbish for kids/families even pre covid times

[Pippinthepup]

I’m almost seven months pregnant with my first child and have spent the festive period looking back on old photos from when I was a child (I grew up in the 90s and 00s) And it just seems that back then there was a lot more going on that children and their families could get involved with. When I was really young there used to be a teddy bears picnic at a castle local to me but I looked on their website and they stopped doing it in 2013 and there used to be a flower and a cake show in a village local to me that I always used to love going to but they stopped in 2015 due to lack of funding. Also more further afield events aren’t really the same as they were. I used to love going with my siblings and parents to the party in the park concerts in the early 2000s- I’ve spent ages googling for similar things (obviously they wouldn’t have been on for the last few years due to covid) but it doesn’t look like there’s been anything similar for years. I was just wondering if anyone with kids has noticed a lack of family events even before covid (completely understand with the smaller things though it might just be my area that’s a bit rubbish!). Also it would be lovely to hear family type events that people enjoy going to as a family

Most things with children need payment now, I think is the difference!

Where are you based, OP?

Somethings are better than 20+ years ago, somethings are worse. I think a big difference used to be society was based around children cared for by family, now its more organised childcare.

@Tuttiflutey Devon!

Kids used to be under better control back in those days

These days the little darlings are indulged far too much in my opinion!

Party/concerts in the park are still around but for over 18's where I live . Library events used to be big here, gone due to lack of funding. Same for church events

Only half joking there I should add!!

I think it must be area dependant.

Where I am there is a constant stream of events and activities, community stuff going on all year round. Every time I go on Facebook there’s another event on. Even during covid lockdown there were community groups putting on things online and touring round the streets to entertain families. Definitely nothing like this when I was a child in the 90’s. lots of it is down to funding. We are considered a deprived area (although I don’t think it qualifies as that anymore) and attract a lot of charity type funding for groups to improve life for families here. Lots of the stuff is free or very low cost. There is also lots of stuff on that I can’t afford to pay for too.

I'm over the border in Somerset - there is still lots on for kids locally here but some has a cost (National Trust etc) or else the council run ones have had funding cuts meaning they can't run as often if at all. We're fortunate that our town does still do free child-centred events in the holidays but there are less than there used to be. Not to mention hardly any toddler groups - cuts to the childrens centres killed several off & Covid many others.
Also I think with the rise of places like soft play, trampoline parks etc these have taken over in terms of local activities for kids but obviously at a cost.
We unfortunately lost our carnival a couple of years ago due to lack of volunteers to run it - people want the activities but aren't willing/able to pitch in.

Kids used to be under better control back in those days

These days the little darlings are indulged far too much in my opinion!

Oh please 😂

@LynxGiftsetAndSocks there used to be loads on at our local library- a book club, book fairs etc but there doesn’t seem to be anything like that now

It probably depends where you live. I'm in the South Eats and round here there's loads of family events and things to do with kids, even now in covid times. There's lots of willing volunteers to help though and people fund the events.

Same as a PP we’re classed as a deprived area, so have funding thrown at us, there’s so much going on!

A lot will be due to lack of funding. Especially anything to do with libraries. You can blame the Tories for that. And yet this is what people vote for!

We unfortunately lost our carnival a couple of years ago due to lack of volunteers to run it - people want the activities but aren't willing/able to pitch in

I think this is the thing in a lot of cases, without volunteers events can't run. Have you thought of volunteering to run any events OP?

I think community in rural places like Devon has been torn apart by property prices. Most young families can't afford to live there so it's older people who bought when it was affordable or richer families with kids who don't want those kind of muck-in community activities. It's sad.

I think it’s area dependant lots going on locally for little ones where I am. It takes quite a lot of effort and dedicated fundraising/ fundraising applications to keep things going low cost/ free at the point of use. A decent volunteer is worth their weight in gold IMO

@Marmite27

Same as a PP we’re classed as a deprived area, so have funding thrown at us, there’s so much going on!

I'm in a very middle class affluent area yet we still get lots of events. There are lots of volunteers wanting to help, and lots of people pitch in to help pay for things. For example I often pay double for some of the kids events and this is common for people who can afford to, so the cost can be kept very low so is accessible to all.

I grew up in a city and recall that community events were mainly around the school - the sort of PTA organised stuff that still goes on.

Churches too: assume most have fewer attendees now, so fewer resources.

Some councils do still put free things on, eg concerts, fireworks.

A decent volunteer is worth their weight in gold IMO

Absolutely this. There is so much work behind all of these events.

@Overthebow admittedly I haven’t volunteered in any kids things like this for a long time- when I was in my early twenties I helped out a kids cinema afternoon thing where the kids came to the local hall and watched a film and had snacks together during the school holidays- I’m only going back to work part time after maternity leave so I think I will definitely try and get more involved in the community

@MaryAndGerryLivingInDerry

Kids used to be under better control back in those days

These days the little darlings are indulged far too much in my opinion!

Oh please 😂

It's true though.

It's true though.

Aye, kids were perfect in the 90s and even better in the 70s, they had the decency to not even exist in the 50s.

Catch yourself on. There have been badly raised children throughout history.

There was loads of free stuff for babies and young kids when my first was born in 2010, largely through Sure Start. By the time DC2 came along 3 years later there was barely anything available unless you paid a lot for it.

I have noticed over the years that even the private attractions have become a lot more expensive. Eg there is a miniature railway near me that does rides and there are toys to spot around the grounds. It used to cost a few pounds. Then they expanded it slightly to include things like a woodland walk and now it costs triple the price. To take a family of four would cost nearly £50. We do still have a town fair in my town but it is much smaller than it used to be.

When my children were little (about 10 years ago) I used to be able to do something free- every day of the summer holidays. All council run. Still like this.
I think in my youth it was more church/ volunteer group run.

@TulipsGarden

A lot will be due to lack of funding. Especially anything to do with libraries. You can blame the Tories for that. And yet this is what people vote for!

Yes and also to,do with the fact that more women work now. When most women stayed at home there were more people available to organise things like this.