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

[Dippitydoodle]

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?

We have a 17 month old. If she doesn’t get a long walk and a change of scene once a day no one sleeps.

Depends how big your garden is

I personally find it odd, but I have a friend with acres of farmland so I guess she hasn't left the property

I do worry a bit about levels of fitness in the uk. Presumably you go for a run though op?

very true. I don’t buy that we are suddenly a nation into our fitness either! Suddenly everyone is into walking, running and cycling! grin

I believe you meant this tongue and cheek but it’s a silly point I’ve seen made over and over again by people who seemingly lack any imagination whatsoever.

Some examples of why people are out exercising more frequently:

• their usual daily activity of going to and being at work has gone, so they need to find something to replace it with

• there’s nothing else you’re allowed to do outdoors

• their mental health has taken a dive and being active is keeping them sane

• they’re bored and can’t partake in their usual hobbies

• they need an escape from the people at home

And so forth... feel free all to copy this list for the next thirty times you see someone sneering ‘so suddenly everyone’s into fitness when they clearly spent the rest of their lives on the sofa ha ha I’m so insightful and smart’

Again, not aimed at you PP. but I’ve seen this everywhere and it’s irritating.

All the gyms have closed. Weirdly, you will find that gyms didn't exist as a philanthropic gesture but actually had paying customers. They still take their health and fitness seriously (it's a pandemic after all, who isn't trying to lose weight and increase fitness? Only the stupid)

We go out every single day but we don't have a garden.

@Snowflakes1122 that argument is really boring. Many people used to go to the gym for fitness, which is now closed. Many people who would normally be at work in the day are now furloughed or out of work. Many people used to get their exercise in at different times of the day - I used to walk to work, but I'm now on furlough so I go for a walk round the park instead. Many people are just bored and have nothing else to do.

I find it very odd that people not in the shielding category are choosing not to go out. I don't think it's healthy, particularly for children.

We do short walks around our local park most days and longer walks at the weekend. Yesterday we had a lovely long family walk through fields and a bluebell wood. It was good for the mental and physical health of us all.

But I also don’t think that it will be much improved by me walking her around empty streets being frightened of touching a fence post, holding my breath if people pass me or wondering if my picture is being taken for someone’s social media post about me being out somewhere I shouldn’t.

See it is this that is the difference across people. Not whether there is a NEED to do X or Y or Z. Life is not about us paring absolutely everything down to a fundamental NEED. I mean by that count all we really need is the very bottom layer of Maslow's hierarchy of needs - we need food in the gob, need to be safe from being killed, and need to sleep and drink. But that is not how we live life (usually). We try to make the best of circumstances.

The circumstances as I see it are to follow the rules which have been set - and within that do my best to live a full life, without breaking rules. I have a 4 year old and a 3 month old and a little dog. I could spend the entire time with the baby cooped inside my own house and medium garden arguing i don't NEED to do go out. But I do. I take all 3 - sometimes with spouse sometimes without - to the extensive woods behind our house, where we spend hours and do not meet anyone except the occasional speck of a walker 50 metres away or something. But even if they passed - I would not imagine holding my breath. I would not worry about my 3 month old. I would not obsess over fence posts.

We practice good hand hygiene, we do not meet other people, and we live our lives. Me, 3 month old, 4 year old, dog and spouse - those extensive walks/ambles in the woods are the reason I have been able to regain my postnatal physical health back, and to not get into postnatal depression - which frankly is a heightened risk when you are raising infants in a pandemic.

But ultimately life is not about living it according to the lowest barest needs. But if going out is leading to anxiety meaning actually holding your breath if someone passes - then obviously it is a very specific situation/anxiety rather than any generic observation to be made about whether one in general needs to go out or not.

I'm not that bothered. Dh takes the boys out for a long cycle, or a long walk. If I go the walk is shorter. I only go every other day.

Mine go out every day, aand stay a safe distance. We're not in a busy city which makes it easier.

We are taking the kids out maybe once or twice a week. We have a big garden so they can ride their bikes and run around in that. We are spending at least 2 hours running around outside a day, they are not short of exercise.

They don't ask to go out more, and I can see why - everytime we go out I have to keep reminding them to stay away from other people because of the nasty disease so there's a constant reminder of it. (They are too young to remember to keep their distance reliably and I think I have a responsibility to the people we meet that my kids don't get any closer than they should).

Joe Wicks not hard? Maybe he's toned it down recently? but his first ever say 3 sessions were major, and most mum friends I knew couldn't move!

The judgemental posts on this thread are eye opening.

I'm seriously wondering why it bothers others? If a poster goes ...... out every day, or not.

I think there’s something much worse about the ‘need’ to go for a random walk everyday than staying at home/ playing in the garden.

Not all of us are lucky enough to live near fields/ countryside.

We’re in a pandemic, thousands of people are dying. There is nothing paranoid about not wanting to walk where lots of others are walking. The risk is very real.

Dickheads: "it's competitive, anxiety, like anorexia".

Some answers on this thread are very odd! If you want to go out for a walk every day you can.
However the OP had a garden which the children are playing in, getting exercise and fresh air. If I went for a walk we would be just walking round a load of houses, how is that better than playing in the garden all day?
As long as the kids are getting fresh air and exercise what does it mater how?

At 6 and 8 they would probably let you know if they felt that they wanted to go for a walk. I take DS out in the pram as he isn't old enough to make the decision himself, and I find a daily walk does me the world of good (and can't leave him at home). But if you are all content and happy, they are getting plenty of exercise then it doesn't sound like a problem. I guess if it is because they are terrified of going out and it might affect them long term then that's different.

A lot of people on this thread saying we must go for walks or bike rides everyday, appear to live in rural or semi-rural areas. Not everyone is that lucky. We live in a very urban area and so that walk or bike ride would mean bumping into quite a lot of people.

My eldest DS goes on an early morning jog with DP most days, but otherwise they play mostly in the garden and that's perfectly fine. They have been on a few walks but mainly it's garden play. They get plenty of fresh air and exercise that way and they are both very happy right now.

@Inthepurplerain when you live in a flat with no outdoor space there's nothing "worse" about needing to go out for a walk every day. If I had a garden it might be different but I'm more concerned about the mental and physical health of DS and I if we stay inside for weeks on end than I am of the tiny chance of us catching the virus on a walk.

I go out with ds every day. Doing half an hour of Joe Wicks really doesn't cut it for exercise. I'm sure it's aimed at very young children (hopping around like a bunny!). We run or walk for about 6 miles every day.

My two are 5 and 8, the 5 year old goes out every day for an hour bikeride and I have to bribe the 8 year old out, she probably leaves the house every other day but for a long bike ride or a walk in the forest. I think it will be a big adjustment and shock when this is easing up if you never leave the house for the whole of lockdown

Depends on your child. As to how difficult this all is.

Depends if you are a homebody. I am.

If it's a toddler. Tricky. If they are a quiet meek girl who just likes to be at home colouring. Hyperactive primary boy? The mind boggles.

My teens like football and boxing, so may go for a run themselves. But they are both x box obsessed and have been
Perfectly happy playing x box with their mates tonnes over the last month. And eating copious amounts of food. Happy as a pig in shxt, my two are!

Yes I've been taking them out for an hours walk with the dog, every day. Its nice to get out of the house.

Every day here for an hour or so. We have a shared garden so can't be in it all the time but even if that wasn't the case we'd still go out most days I think. The place we walk is pretty quiet and on the days we haven't been there has been a noticable difference her mood.

I also very much remember being at home playing in the garden for virtually the whole 6 weeks of the summer holiday when I was a child..and absolutely loving it.

We certainly didn't go for hour long walks or bike rides every day. Neither do my children now, when they are at nursery or school. I think this obsession with walks and bike rides over this period is getting a bit out of hand. Exercise and fresh air are important but they can equally get those in the garden if they are active out there.