To think it is very difficult to convince DC to play outside when indoors is enticing

[pinkestpanther]

Just that really.

These days there are so many dopamine hits on offer indoors that it is very hard to encourage outdoor play. My DC are very resistant to playing in our garden. They will play outside if we go out to a park or beach, but it would be good not to have to go out for them to play outside.

This is such a nice idea. Think I’m going to do this with DD! Thank you for sharing.

Great suggestion, thank you. Will give it a go!

Take the inside things outside. Reading and puzzles can easily be done outside.

do they really show no interest in their pool?

I get it's a bit hot for trampoline, and they get bored. But most kids I know can't get out of their pools at the moment, novelty and heat do that.

I get bored in my own garden doing nothing, so I don't really expect my kids to be that interested, they need to go places.

They don’t have a pool. They have a trampoline and a slide.

Yeah, I’m sorry but this is the problem, you’ve chosen to have these things indoors that made your life easier initially but which now cause you constant hassle. My kids had nothing, like absolutely nothing, just one tiny tv in the living room that was only switched on in the evening. And they were out in the garden all day no matter the weather. And the difference in them now that they are in their teens, their mental health their resilience, it was worth it. I got so much criticism when they were small, they need to learn how to use tech but their dad works in tech and he knows how damaging it is

Just turn the screens / wifi off or take devices away, it really isn’t hard! Set up puzzles on the table or a reading corner outside (hammock? Snacks?) for your one who likes those things but honestly- you will have to actively parent to get what you want here.

Why can't she do those things outside? I spent a lot of my childhood sitting up trees, reading and writing.

The honest answer to this is “just say no” to screen time.

When I was a kid, it became clear to me that kids cannot win.

If I was watching telly, 'why are you watching that rubbish - there are loads of books in your room'.

If I was reading a book, 'why are you stuck in here with a book? It's lovely outside, get some fresh air'

If I was playing outside, 'why are you screaming and shouting in the garden - can't you make that racket at the park?'

If I was playing at the park, 'you've been at the park all day - haven't you got homework to do?'

If I was doing homework, 'you've been hunched over that essay all afternoon - why don't you come and watch telly with the rest of the family?'

For this reason, I was quite non-directive about how my kids spent their own time - and the result was that they sort of evened the whole thing out, over a while. So they'd go through periods of watching telly incessantly, and then they'd disappear off out for weeks.

Might just be my kids, I suppose. But I think a lot of parents are on the case daily - which you means you never find out what they'd do if you left them alone.

Of course you can. My dh’s screen time is very high due to his work but our dc have virtually no screen time. We also drink coffee and alcohol and use the oven on our own but don’t allow our children to. You absolutely can still be a responsible parent while having a screen yourself, that’s a rubbish excuse.

I think you are a bit unfair to expect them to be outside when there's not even a pool in this heat!

I mean a paddling/ inflatable age-appropriate pool kind of thing, I don't mean an olympic size construction with slides 😂

it's not an excuse at all. It's lazy parenting!

Kids are not stupid. They understand perfectly well screens for work and life admin, and screen for wasting time like MN. They understand the difference between screen for homework and screen for video games.

My mum used to turn off the TV and shoo us outside. I imagine SS would be called now.

Maybe think about why you want them to be outside. What are you wanting them to get from it?

There's nothing specially moral or virtuous about 'being outside' and yet a lot of people have internalised this message that it is better somehow - so maybe thinking about whether you have too, and whether you could just let them stay inside if they are getting the equivalent of what you want for them from outside.

fresh air? Open the windows.
exercise? Yes, they need some - so either being active - playing, dancing, whatever other activities indoors, or going to the park or swimming or a walk or whatever at some point, yes.
bit of sun on the skin? walk to get an ice cream or something
doing something other than screen time? Valuable. But reading, crafts, lego etc all fulfil that purpose, but inside.
learning about nature? can be done in other ways too.
looking into the distance for eye health? some walks or visiting an outdoor attraction or whatever, yes good idea

Not everyone enjoys spending lots of time outside - it can be too hot, sweaty, buggy, sticky, smelly, noisy, prickly or whatever, and so there might not be a reason to make them go out if they actually prefer to be indoors for whatever reason, as long as they are getting the equivalent of what you want them to get indoors.

But why make them be outside if you are going to let them do activities like reading or crafts or lego, if they don't actually want to be outside? It's no more virtuous to read in the garden that to read in your bedroom (speaking as a child who spent most of the time indoors!!). I did need to get more exercise, yes. But I didn't really like just having to be outside for the sake of it, and I still hate being too hot and sweaty and having prickly grass or tickly bugs crawling around when I'm trying to read!

Ditch the Screens.

what do they have indoors? 🕵

Great post, I’ve done the same with mine instead of micro managing.
Some kids just aren’t outdoorsy either, as long as they are out and about at school and with you sometimes then why do they need to be in the garden. I have one who is always in there and one who just doesn’t like it.

Great post

A recent activity outside that mine like is some squeeze bottles of vinegar + food colouring, various tubs and scoops and syringes, and bicarb. Makes amazing potions! I put it on their tuff tray outside.

They also have in the main outdoor area they use, a sandpit/water tray (I'd like to get a big sandpit on the floor though), various plants that are mostly mine 😁, a tuff tray and various vehicles big and small, some planks of wood and a collection of stones. 😂

We had set times for iPad/ switch so not an option at other times DS would go out but did get bored. We often went park instead

That is an incredibly helpful perspective, thank you.

i don’t enjoy reading outside either, for the reasons you have described!

I think my main concerns are exercise and eye health. One of my DC is short sighted and it looks like the other is going in that direction too. The reality is that I think I will just need to keep taking them out to parks etc to get their daily dose of outside.

That is very true! Thank you for this perspective.

My DC don’t seem to self-regulate with screens, so we do have to put limits on, but other than that, I should probably not worry so much if they are inside/outside.

Mine generally prefer to be outside in the summer. They have a gymnastics bar, trampoline, basketball hoop etc out there so plenty to keep them amused. However they’re limited to an hour of screen time a day so maybe that makes a difference?

I do things like give my DD scissors and tell her to go and snip bits off the hedge - she loves doing that haha! Have to just keep trying things until you find something that hooks them in.

Also she likes making me "pizzas" -she picks big leaves and puts flowers and grass on top and delivers them to me while I sit and read my book,