Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Has anyone else not taken their kids out since lockdown began?

279 replies

Dippitydoodle · 26/04/2020 22:45

I've not taken my daughters out since lockdown began. We're not in the 'at risk' group, no existing health conditions I'm concerned about or anything. They've not asked to go out and we have a decent sized garden so they're outside at somepoint most days. But I'm beginning to question my judgment. Just curious if your all making the most of the allowed exercise time and going out with the kids? Am I wrong in not taking them for a walk round the block or a run on the field when I go with the dogs?

OP posts:
Fromthebirdsnest · 27/04/2020 14:20

we are shielding so we have been anywhere since a week before lock down, we have a large garden , i want to be here for my children after this is over i wont be if i take them out , its an easy choice for me x

Fromthebirdsnest · 27/04/2020 14:25

also we are all enjoying being together , we have 3 children who get on well , they have a big play frame and garden , we are very fit and healthy , we are doing bits of diy , homeschooling , we can face time freinds and family , everyone is happy here .. im a bit confused as to why people arnt just getting on with it , as we seem to be doing really well , i would however go mad without the garden .. x

ChaBishkoot · 27/04/2020 15:55

I didn’t say there was anything wrong with TV. We never watched it growing up. DH and I don’t watch it at all. I hate background noise. My kids almost never watch it as a result. We have managed quite well without it. If you enjoy TV that’s fine. In fact my kids are less active than I would like them to be, especially DS1 who given a chance would practice music all day. I have to make sure he’s active everyday and so this lockdown has enabled me to make sure he’s outdoors and getting fresh air everyday.

I was responding to a previous post that said that people who weren’t leaving the house were exposing their kids to excessive screen time and I saying we were not.

TabbyMumz · 27/04/2020 16:02

I cant understand why you havent taken them out op. Did you take the "just stay at home," literally? Why have you not took them for a walk?

EvilPea · 27/04/2020 16:07

I’ve not taken mine out either. It’s not suitable to walk immediately around my house. I’m still unsure on the driving to exercise, most of our parks are shut or busy (because the others are shut) so that’s that.

Hairydilemma · 27/04/2020 16:22

I can’t understand why you havent taken them out op. Did you take the "just stay at home," literally? Why have you not took them for a walk?

Maybe for one of the many reasons people have cited here. Some people just don’t feel the need, or are happier/less stressed by staying at home.

As I said above, I can’t understand why so many people appreciate that going out is the right thing for some people’s mental health, but can’t see that staying in is the right thing for others’.

Bringringbring12 · 27/04/2020 16:29

@TwelveMonkeys

The huge city you live in that has no green space in it... UK?

Lucked · 27/04/2020 16:38

We have only been for a couple of walks although they do go to the school hub part time. Our garden is large and walking is basically on a boring main road. The pavements are all cracked or uneven paving slabs so they don’t like to scoot or cycle on them as they trip and have had a couple of accidents.

TabbyMumz · 27/04/2020 17:02

"As I said above, I can’t understand why so many people appreciate that going out is the right thing for some people’s mental health, but can’t see that staying in is the right thing for others’."
I dont think the op mentioned any issues with mental health. I took it from her initial post that they just havent. That's the bit I dont understand. The children must be getting cabin fever by now? I just cant imagine not taking young children out for a walk.

Hairydilemma · 27/04/2020 17:14

She didn’t but at the same time, I see a lot of this ‘why wouldn’t you go out?’ as if it’s compulsory or somehow detrimental to everyone’s wellbeing to stay in - when in fact a lot of people are happy to stay in and/or just happy not to be out.

My children don’t have cabin fever - we took them for their second walk in six weeks on Sat and they moaned about having to leave the house Grin. They’d love to see their friends or do their usual activities but in the absence of them, aren’t really bothered.

They are older though - I can see a four or seven year old might not be happy to be contained in the same way.

TabbyMumz · 27/04/2020 17:31

"My children don’t have cabin fever - we took them for their second walk in six weeks on Sat and they moaned about having to leave the house."

You see, I'm afraid I'd be worried if my kids didnt want to leave the house when they had only been out twice in 6 weeks. I'd worry that they were nervous of leaving their home and the impact of that on their mental health. I've made sure my kids go out every day.

A while ago I was in hospital for about 6 weeks, and although I thought I was fine, I realised when I left hospital, my world had gone smaller, and it felt weird for a long time after, going outside.

TwelveMonkeys · 27/04/2020 17:32

The huge city you live in that has no green space in it... UK?

No.

And it has plenty of green spaces! They're just all closed.

Puddlesplasher · 27/04/2020 17:35

My teen isn't bothered but my youngest would be unbearable if he couldn't go out. DH has been taking him on a long bike ride for a couple of hours every day.

TwelveMonkeys · 27/04/2020 17:36

But anyway, like others, my kids aren't bothered about staying home anyway. They're pretty resilient, unfazeable really. If they miss anything it's activity classes and soft play, etc. which we can't do anyway.

They're both very young and have zero interest in walking around city streets just for the sake of it while everything is shut. They'd much rather play in our garden, pool, trampoline, swingset, etc.

Hairydilemma · 27/04/2020 18:08

TabbyMumz, no don’t worry, they’re not nervous, just lazy! They were happy to be out in the world, just not excited about walking.

Though if I’d tried to take them out a few weeks ago when I was really stressed they would almost certainly have been made nervous by me. It’s worked a lot better for us this way.

Inthepurplerain · 27/04/2020 18:38

‘ You see, I'm afraid I'd be worried if my kids didnt want to leave the house when they had only been out twice in 6 weeks. I'd worry that they were nervous of leaving their home and the impact of that on their mental health. I've made sure my kids go out every day.

A while ago I was in hospital for about 6 weeks, and although I thought I was fine, I realised when I left hospital, my world had gone smaller, and it felt weird for a long time after, going outside.’

That’s your issue though, the world will feel weird for all us when lockdown is lifted- walk or no walk.

TabbyMumz · 27/04/2020 18:43

"That’s your issue though, the world will feel weird for all us when lockdown is lifted- walk or no walk."
It wont feel as weird if you've tried to keep it as normal as possible though. Ie by going outside for daily walks, shopping and driving etc. Most will cope, but a lot of children might not.

Inthepurplerain · 27/04/2020 18:43

We’ve never gone for a walk without an end goal.

We go and walk the countryside- get there in the Car, feed the ducks, play in the playgrounds.

We only walk in the area we live to go the shops (pre lockdown) or go to the park.

We used to go to soft play, the city, McDonald’s.

Going for a stroll around the houses isn’t normal for us. I didn’t do it before and won’t start now.

My kids are absolutely fine about this, it’s helped with the understanding of being in a pandemic and avoiding the ‘nasty germs’.
They’re happy and understood about their dad only going out for groceries alone.

Inthepurplerain · 27/04/2020 18:44

It’s actually pretty sad most of you can’t spend a day inside without feeling suffocated.

Drivingdownthe101 · 27/04/2020 18:46

Not sad at all, just personal preference.

TabbyMumz · 27/04/2020 18:55

"It’s actually pretty sad most of you can’t spend a day inside without feeling suffocated."
I might have missed it, but I dont think anyone has said this?

Normally I'm out every day. Pre covid I'd be at work, kids would be out at school At weekends we would go out somewhere both days, whether at the shops or in the Countryside. I recognise that pre covid lots of families dont tend to go anywhere. I just never wanted my kids to say I never took them anywhere, and weve had lovely times out and about. So we havent changed now covid is here, we go out every day, sometimes twice a day to get exercise.

Bringringbring12 · 27/04/2020 19:37

Us too Tabby

Children love home, we have a fabulous garden and huge trampoline but to be stomping around woods - it is a wonderful change of scenery and so invigorating. If we just had a local shopping street to walk to... might be different. Although we are bless in UK that urban areas tend to all have some kind of green space to enjoy

Member740334 · 27/04/2020 19:50

Serious question honestly. I'm out several days a week anyway as im still working part time in the public sector as is DH but DD aged 4 has started to be reluctant to go out, just wants to 'stay home' unless both with her and have what she calls a family walk. We obviously need to work on this. My question is, as someone with IBS and sensitive bladder, and a 4 year old, where are people finding toilet facilities on their 1 or 2 hour walks/runs/bike rides with young children. We shop on foot but alone whilst DD is at home woth other parent, im reluctant to pop into a supermarket with her anyway to use their facilities. Nowhere else open obviously
Just curious, do you have cast iron bladders?

Devlesko · 27/04/2020 20:12

We only have dd 16 still at home, but she hasn't been out since 6th March.
We have a med size garden that she sits in, if we nag her Grin
Today she walked to the shop with her dad, I was amazed.
Her mh is fine, but we are lucky that she's working right up to the deadline for GCSE's so it's kept her focussed.

Drivingdownthe101 · 27/04/2020 20:17

Just curious, do you have cast iron bladders?

We just wee before we go! Children are 6, 4 and 1, obviously the 1 year old is in nappies but the other 2 have never needed a wee while out. I apparently have a very small bladder (told so in many scans!) but if I go before we leave I can hold it until we’re home if a 1-2 hour walk.