Park Runs: Children - Why?

[Knowillbeflamed]

There’s a park run every Sunday near me. They jog along the pavement by the seafront taking the whole damn thing up so no one else can even walk along it.

Honestly, I don’t get running. But, what I understand even less is dragging young children along?! Yes, the older one’s (10+) seem to enjoy it but there’s at least 5x more that seem wayyyy to young - toddlers, very young kids - who hate it. They’re dragged along by their parents, literally kicking and screaming and crying.

AIBU to think if your kid hates running that much or patently doesn’t want to be there, that you do NOT force it on them?! Just because you like running doesn’t mean you force it on them. Find them an activity they enjoy.

PS. Yes I am annoyed by the sheer ignorance of 100+ people taking up that much space and forcing others to dive out the way - but mostly it’s the shrill screams of toddlers being forced to run that drives me bonkers. Someone will pop up and say ‘they love it,’ but I’m sorry - kids screaming ‘it hurts’ ‘I don’t want to’ whilst their parents drag them along by their wrist just angers me. And it’s not one parent one week - it’s multiple different parents on various weeks.

If it's Sunday it'll be junior parkrun which is 2k. It'll be over in 40 minutes maximum (most will be finished within 25-30 mins).

I think it's good that parents are trying to get their children doing something outside and healthy.

You know when it is, Sunday at 9am so just avoid in that narrow window.

Just go to the park at a different time. You have the rest of the week.

Most kids love it, if you're a runner you'll know that some days it's harder than others - as adults we don't tend to cry on a bad run, but kids haven't worked this out yet. Generally it's a good thing to be taking part in - fresh air, friends, exercise - I can't really see your problem.

The minimum age for junior parkrun is 4 so it should be unlikely there are loads of toddlers being dragged along screaming.

What’s not to get about running?

As @NerrSnerr says, it’s junior parkrun. Kids often don’t like things that are good for them. Small children often tantrum even when they wanted to do a thing! Should they be at home with coco pops and cartoons because that’s what they say they want?

How wonderful that so many children are being encouraged to take part in a healthy outdoor activity.

I hate running but I can think of reasons why people would take their children to it. Can you really not see why getting children involved in exercise is a good thing?

I also know lots of children much younger than 10 who really enjoy running. Not mine.

It's an hour over the whole weekend. Hardly something you can't just avoid.

I've attended a few park runs and I've never seen loads of crying screaming children being dragged along?!? My children have run it they love it, it’s good for them, rather that than stuck on screens.

What a miserable post.

Kids actually doing exercise and being outside instead of stuck indoors staring at screens is a good thing

YABVVU.

Also it's junior Parkrun, it's for kids.

Seafronts should be reserved soley for old people with mobility scooters or claw-footed walking sticks, and seagulls eating chips. IMO.

Park run is an amazing community event. It's brilliant to get kids involved in it.

Children being dragged along by their parents do not enjoy it.

Yes kids like exercise - but you should pick the right one (gymnastics, swimming, cycling, skating, horse riding etc).

The kids on these runs are patently on there because their parents like running. “Don’t talk, you should be running” was my favourite quote this morning from a parent when her child said ‘mummy it hurts.”

One of mine complains when we take her to junior park run. I think it good for her and helps build resilience so we will keep going.

I volunteer at ours sometimes, there was a period of this happening because of nob head competitive parents and the run director made an announcement that it’s for fun and if the kids aren’t enjoying it the parents need to back off. It did the trick and it’s not been an issue since. It’s an opportunity for kids to get out, have some fresh air and exercise and develop healthy habits. It also happens at the same time and place every week and is over and done with in about half an hour so it’s easy to avoid. You’d have to be pretty sour to have an issue with it.

Yabu. Those young kids who are whinging while doing it probably wanted to do it said they wouldn't moan, then moaned and dragged along anyway. I used to have one dc off at the front and the other one complaining all the way round but who was chuffed once their times went up.

OP are you annoyed by the parents who are forcing their kids to do it or by the hundreds of people who are taking up the path (for half an hour of the whole day)?

A couple of my DC's friends do it and love it, so I think it can be a great thing. But yeah, not if they're not enjoying it. I guess as with any snapshot you don't know if they were loving it two minutes before and two minutes after. But a family trip out with the bikes or scooters to the local park would get them just as much exercise and they'd probably enjoy it more.

If it’s Sunday it is Junior parkrun which is 2k. Officially you have to be 4 to run, you do get some younger ones but not many- at ours they tend to “run” one (of two) laps only so about 1k.

I do occasionally see someone being dragged around against their will however the vast majority of parents are encouraging. My kids have turned into semi decent runners due to my enthusiastic encouragement when they were 4-6 years old. To be able to run is a great gift in life.

I’d be less annoyed by the ignorance of the parents if more of the kids had a good time tbh. It’s hard to think ‘oh yeah this is fine’ when all you can hear is kids saying they want to go home, it hurts and they’re not having fun.

But as a PP said - her kids hate it, but she enjoys it so she’ll use this to build resilience in them. So I guess my point is proved - some kids do hate it, but as long as the parents are happy, it’s fine

Yabu. Kids don't like being dragged round the shops either, going to museums, going on walks. If parents don't expose their kids to these things though, they will never learn the joy of them. Kids tantrum no matter what, it's just part of being a child.

I do agree that no kids should be forced but that doesn't mean junior parkrun shouldn't take place.

Some of these incidents will be pushy parents, some will be kids who wanted to do it in the morning and then moaning when there.

It's really good that there's a free initiative to get children into sport. So nice that children can be part of something that costs nothing.

If you have specific safeguarding concerns, find the event's Run Director (usually wearing a blue and white hi viz) and report it to them. Or go to www.parkrun.org.uk, find the event, and email with your concerns. Parkrun takes safeguarding very seriously and would want to know about any incidents - I volunteer regularly at our junior event and volunteers are always told to look out for parents being harsh to their kids.

Ok then we should cancel lots of kids getting exercise and fresh air because it inconveniences you and you once witnessed a child getting out of breath or having a stitch or something.

Parkrun is also free unlike "gymnastics, swimming, cycling, skating, horse riding etc".

Running doesn't need team mates, specific weather, times or a venue booked. As long as it's not icy or 30° plus heat you're good to go.

Kicking a ball around a park is also free - and most kids would probably enjoy it a lot more.