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.

There's a fine line between "encouragement" and "forcing" and some parents are better than others at walking that line. You get pushy parents in every kind of hobby unfortunately. I coach a sport and my children have done a number of others and I have met some quite unpleasant parents through them all. Not huge numbers, the majority are lovely, but there are a few whose behaviour is really unacceptable. We have made Safeguarding referrals occasionally in our club in the past. Wanting your child to be fit and healthy and to enjoy sport is a good thing but there are sadly a few who take things far too far.
However, I do agree that a snap shot is just that. I coach the youngest group at our club and any one of them can have an off day. Even the kid who runs in full of smiles, can't wait to get started and doesn't want to go home 99% of the time can have a day when they cry and whinge, maybe because they're especially tired for some reason or a bit under the weather, or just because they're 3 and 3 year olds do that kind of thing! Obviously if they're clearly not enjoying any week, I'd have a word with the parents and suggest that maybe their child isn't ready yet or might prefer a different activity, (though they usually figure that out themselves anyway) but one of my regulars having an off day once in a while isn't usually a massive concern. Often they'll perk up as the session goes on. If they don't I might suggest they sit out for a bit or go home early this week, but almost invariably they are back, full of beans next time. A stranger just walking by might see what looks like a miserable young child being forced to do a sport they hate though, and it really wouldn't be.
That said, of course if you have concerns about a child you should raise them - it is always better to be safe than sorry. I dont know anything about Parkrun but it's a big organisation, officials at an event should be clearly identifiable and they will have a Safeguarding policy to follow if issues are raised.

I hated football as a kid so no, it wouldnt have been my idea of "fun" in any shape or form. I'd also say you've been plenty rude on this thread.

Are you not aware that running to play football can be more fun than running for the sake of running? And also has natural breaks?
I get bored walking on my own. If I take a dog from the dogs’ home where I volunteer an hour is gone before I even register it.
Different forms of even the same basic exercise appeal to different people.

It's not a stereotype. I was referring to a particular group of people. The group of overweight people that is due to poor diet and sedentary life style.

If you're overweight but not in that group then there is no issue and I was clearly not referring to you.

The OP refers to the sea front, so I was talking specifically about the kids to which she refers.
Park run is a good option if your child doesn’t hate running.

I was talking about year round options. Don’t be so obtuse.

It's free and both parents can go for a run with the kids, that is convenient for an hour of the weekend.
Park Runs are not harmful for the kids. Sometimes all kids have to go with their parents because paying for child care is not on.

YABU. Running is easily the most accessible sport. It's free, you don't need any equipment, and events like Parkrun help introduce many to a positive, like-minded community.

Check your privillage.

@Knowillbeflamed I think it's good for kids to see their parents doing something healthy and be involved in that if they want to. I used to do Parkrun and get the aggro at some of the courses (this one in particular would do my head in as a pedestrian); some of them should definitely move somewhere less disruptive. And I get it's an hour of disruption twice a week. But it really does so much good: it's free, it gets people away from a screen, people make friends. Parkrun made me realise exercise could be for my mental health and just being outdoors rather than punishing myself for not being a size 8. I think exposing a child to exercise in a positive, non-competitive environment like that isn't really a bad thing...as long as they're having fun, too.

So…you hated football. Would forcing you to play it for exercise have been fun? Or motivated you to do more exercise later?
It is for some kids - it’s hard to stop them.
The same is true for park run. If a kid hates it, try something else if the aim is not just to raise their heart rate for 30 mins now but to build good habits and a positive view of exercise.

Or the parents could find something everyone can do together that everyone enjoys. Park run isn’t the only form of exercise (even free exercise) available.

More accessible than walking?
People. Don’t. Have. To. Enjoy. Running.
If they hate it, then park run isn’t the not the best thing to do.

Exactly this.
Park run is great if your child enjoys it.
If not, find something they do enjoy.

I think Park run and Jr Park run are fantastic initiatives. The slowest time at my local one is under 20 minutes and the vast majority are under 15...some under 10. So it hardly takes long.

It's supposed to be 4+. I have limited experience of it (like OP) but my view of it tends to be that those who go enjoy it and are old enough to run without their parents. Personally though I wouldn't drag my child along if they hated it...but then would probably end up dragging them to something if they outright refused any exercise at all.

Yes its not the only form of exercise but it's free and has a lovely spirit about it. I also think that if you can run a park run your fitness is better than many of those who do other exercise. And the state of child fitness can be pretty terrible in the UK.

I don't think little children should be penalised for their parents life choices, and be dragged around crying because their little legs hurt, just bc that's the only way their parent can get exercise. The adult needs to find an alternative way to get their exercise.

My DSs both do junior park run on the sea front reasonably regularly (not today, too cold for me). Have done (not every week) for a couple of years

They would BOTH hate to kick a ball around a park and they ask to be taken most Sundays.

DS1 10 loves park run & raring to go but is always pooped at the end and sometimes has a little moan then or has to stop and walk on the home straight. Because he's not very good at pacing himself yet and is inclined to being a bit dramatic about minor discomforts.

DS2 who is 9 has never met an activity (physical or otherwise) he won't have a moan about. He comes along and if he doesn't want to run, he doesn't. But most of the time (about 75%) he gets there and wants to join in and does the run after voicing his standard list of complaints.

So you MIGHT see me there with my DSs. They might even be whining before, during or after. But you won't actually have seen is me making them do an activity they don't enjoy at the expense of something they do, because it's always their choice to turn up and their choice to run.

I find the park run runners well coordinated by the volunteers and very respectful of other people on the path. It is potentially a bit more chaotic for the junior kids one but it's only one 2km "lap" and takes the vast majority of them less than 15 mins.

I never said any child should be forced to do something they dont enjoy. I am saying that the OP's fake naivety about "I dont get running" and then suggesting things like horse riding and gymnastics is ridiculous. Not all kids would enjoy gymnastics or football either. I have never seen any child being forced to park run and I've done it every week for years. I would argue there is far more pressure on children to perform in activities like football and gymnastics actually.

Fantastic way to put her off running and exercise for life.

I don’t think OP is saying all kids will enjoy the alternative, they’re saying that if your child doesn’t like park run, don’t force it. There are other options available.

I also notice that there are a number of posters on here who marshal and are describing specific behaviours of parents forcing kids who are clearly hating every minute as opposed to the posters who are conflating that with kids having a temporary whine and gently cajoling them. The two are different things and its easily possible to tell the difference, so it’s not a case of people making assumptions based on a snapshot in time.

It’s OK if your kid likes it, it’s brilliant for lots of kids. It’s not OK if you’re forcing your upset child to run through pain and distress because you like running and you want your child to be a mini me.

I used to make mine do it sometime - frankly, they'd whinge at most 'official' exercise, but they were fine after, and they did enjoy getting the wrist bands and seeing their times improving.

We don't let kids off PE because they don't like it, this was no different.

Also 100 people using the promenade are 100 people using the promenade - the promenade made for people to use. The fact they're doing it all in one go for a short amount of time is what makes it seem unreasonable, but, they're people, using the promenade, which is what it's for. No-one is stopped from being there, if you just sit on a bench for 20 mins they'll be gone, meanwhile the parents who don't run around have probably bought a coffee, maybe they go out for breakfast or lunch after, and so they're bringing business and using the area, and being active - that's all desirable.

This is exactly what I hear when doing park run myself... Only both sides are my inner monologue.

☹️ That’s horrible.You will be one of the parents complaining your child moved abroad, doesn’t visit etc when they are adults. Honestly there are so many healthy sports you can do with children, find one they actually enjoy. I grew playing loads of sports, team and individual that I loved, but there are plenty of sports I hate and I can’t imagine how I would have resented my parents if they’d made me do it against my will. I’d never do this to my child.

YANBU about people forcing the kids, but you are being ridiculous complaining about it taking up the path. Just don’t go there during that hour.

Encouraging children to exercise is a great thing. We have v high levels of overweight children. The whole thing would be over quickly and is once a week. If it’s not for you fine, but why judge others…

YABVU park run is a fantastic way to get kids into exercise, I’ve always found it a great supportive atmosphere and the kids seem to love it.

I have never seen any children being dragged around so I don’t know what you’re on about. I suspect you saw one kid complain and ran with it (pun intended) because you personally don’t like running 🤷🏻‍♀️

What about PE at school? Should that be banned too?