Not taking children out daily?

[Givemeabreak88]

Reading another thread it seems we should be taking our kids out everyday, I don’t do this, mine don’t want to go out every day, they would never want to just walk around the estate (we live in London and not a nice part!) there is a local park but they’ve been to it one million times now so no longer want to go, I haven’t taken them out for a while now (I don’t go shopping) is it bad to not take them out everyday? I can’t imagine getting dressed to just walk around a housing estate! What does everyone else do?

Mamabear12 you sound just like I do and have a very similar mentality towards exercise and keeping emotionally well. I just can't physically stay indoors, just can't do it. I would have to be on my death bed. Even after having each DC I went out a five minute walk to begin with, then built it up to 10 etc. Anything just to get out.

I think a change of mindset wouldn't go amiss OP. Rather than saying I don't want to as there's no parks, just say let's count how many red doors we see, or count the steps on the estate, how many black cars, street names, etc. It's what you make of it OP. My housing estate isn't really that exciting either but the walk just lifts your spirits. It's great for the kids to see others too. I have 4 DC too so I get how stressful it is getting everyone ready.

Tbh even without lock down I didn’t go out every day, dragging 4 kids around isn’t easy especially when they don’t want to go, we usually stayed in on the weekends and then obviously school all week.

We don't go out every day, the weather at the moment is quite off putting and my children take ALOT of convincing (bribery) to leave the house as they just love playing at home but when we do it we all feel so much better afterwards. I think the effort of getting them wrapped up and ready can feel overwhelming at times and we've definitely had the odd trip out where no one has been feeling it and there's been a lot of whinging, but mostly it does us the world of good to get some fresh air.

We don't. In fact we go days between going out as I just don't have the time with WFH and homeschooling to traipse the same old boring streets / go to same parks / walk the same routes in shitty weather.

We do make an effort a few times a week to go to the woods / canal walk / one of the bigger parks. We have a childcare bubble with MIL do she takes the toddler a few times a week whilst I work and homeschool the 6yo and 8yo.

It's different for me because I have a 3 year old so don't have any of the homeschooling pressure to worry about but I do think getting out everyday does a world of good. Today here was heavy rain and strong winds but we still went out for a (very small) walk. Always makes me feel better that we've had fresh air and gives me a clearer head. Saying that don't feel pressured to go out, if what you're doing works for you and your family then don't question yourself. X

We take DD, 9, out twice every day. DH walks the dog in the morning and takes her along and I take her with me in the afternoon. We also do a lot of running around the garden with the dog at lunchtime to perk us up. The weather has been crap but we have wellies and waterproofs and aren’t made of sugar, so rain isn’t too much of a problem.

We go out every day but we live rurally and it's part of our lifestyle anyway. My dc get stir crazy if they don't leave the house (me too) and, for us, it's essential for well being. I do think it's good to get fresh air regularly. If you don't want to go for a walk, try to get out in your garden (there are lots of ideas online for things to do in gardens in all weathers).

Tbh I was just speaking to my mum about this and she’s just sent me an article from our local new page urging people to stay close to home and only travel to parks local to them so looks like we are not suppose to be travelling to parks further out anyway

Yes !! Mine are 15,14,9 and all have 30-60 mins outside walking etc a day. The 14yo hates it though 🤷‍♀️

What about geocaching?

Thank god it's not just me. I feel so guilty.
We get up,dressed l, breakfast etc. Yoga at 9 for Ds, 5, whilst I feed the twins (13 months). Then at 10 we do phonics, babies normally have a few toys / books / in play pen. At 11ish I try and get them up for a nap and do maths, and problem of the day. At 12 we do literacy. Babies wake for 12.30 but may sleep til 2. Lunch is 1ish. Babies fed when they get up.

At 2 we'd finish any extra bits of homework of there is any but usually not. Pty box of toys on the floor. DH down at 4 and I start dinner / go to shop if we need anything between deliveries. By which point it's dark. Cook, play, dinner, washed. Bed for DS at 7, ideally asleep by 8 for twins. And repeat.

The idea of fitting into that getting two babies into coats, pushchair up, babies in it, convince DS to put on actual clothes, a coat AND appropriate footwear regardless of whether it goes with his dress up outfit of choice to walk around the estate just kills me inside.
If we go to the park, I can't put two babies on equipment and supervise the 5 yo fully, so they're stuck in the buggy whilst he plays. To wet for the field and again they can't get out. Da is so desperate to go into Macdonald's or a shop or get on a bus that as soon as we leave fro a walk he wants to know where we're going and ooohh o want to go X, why can't we go to X. Then the babies are moody cos they're stuck in a buggy.

Gah!!!!!!

No.

@Givemeabreak88

My don’t bounce of the walls if they’ve not been out?? They seem fine tbh

Yeah mine too. We naturally hibernate in winter anyway. Only ever go to places with indoor facilities. Cinemas, dine out etc in winter. My kids won’t go to the park when the weather is like this. No chance.

I did well until Christmas.

This time last year, we had swimming, karate, football, parkruns.
Last spring, we walked each day unless the weather was dreadful. Walking 6-8 miles at the weekends. Spreading further afield as restrictions eased.

In November when they lost their two sports that did return, I got them straight in the car off to a park for a walk or scoot.

Since this lockdown, I'm on empty. They loathe home learning and between battling that and the live learning straddling the ends of the school day, it's just another battle that I pick when I have the energy, and I'm struggling to even get myself out for a run.

The days are short, the weather rarely appealing, ground conditions appalling. The garden is out of bounds until it dries out and the water table more than two inches below the surface. The paths through the park have flowing steams. The ground, thick, claggy waterlogged mud.
Last week I drove them off to a rec where they played football, it turned out to be covered in glass and shit, but it was solid and not locked up.

It's crap, we need the exercise, but right now it's too much effort for too little reward.

We go out every day. My daughter would happily stay in for a few days in a row but I’m just really worried about the lack of exercise- at school she gets at least an hour running around a day plus half an hour after school and 2 lots of PE. I know they’re meant to get at least an hour proper exercise a day and aren’t we all meant to do 10000 steps? I’m REALLY unfit - even more so after having my son a year ago - and I know that lack of exercise in childhood is associated with lots of health problems so I’ve become really paranoid!

We walk every day for at least an hour and they play in the garden for an hour or two as well. They like being outside. I wouldn't take your DC out if they don't want to go unless you want to get out yourself. If you do want to go out every day for some fresh air I would encourage them to go for a quick walk with you.

Not going out Wednesday through Friday at the moment. Between homeschool and work we don't have the time. I hate it snd dc dont sleep well without outdoor exercise. Can you drive to a different park?

Yeah we do get out most days, probably 5 out of 7 days.

Mine like scooter / bikes. Sometimes we all put trainers and joggers and run. (Urgh).

I know what you mean about being in London and it not being that great for aimless walking. It's hard, isn't it. But they do need the exercise for their young bodies.

Is that Pokemon go app game still a thing? Used to see loads of people just walking around outside trying to do something on that.
Straight over my head! But maybe good for encouraging outdoor time

For the very little ones, a folding indoor toddler slide is good if you've got space to store it. They'll wear themselves out going up and down it a hundred times.

I've added up the videos and work for Dd6 tomorrow and it's 4 hours, not including printing, downloading and general fucking about with portal and looking for pencils, cajoling, bribing etc. YR has three zooms tomorrow, plus work. I have a 15 month old. I would love to get out everyday (and run away actually)! I'm up now to just try to get a wash on and print some stuff. Struggling to meet all their needs right now. Swing from just wanting a fuck it do what you want day, this pressure isn't good for us to trying to keep up to thinking let's get this done.

Bubble was closed before Christmas holidays - came out of isolation to go into tier 4 and straight into lockdown. Shitty winter. Snow was good last weekend though! House is a tip. Paper is everywhere. Kids aren't fussed about going out - there's not a spare hour where we can just go to the park, except over lunch, where I'm...making lunch! We make sure we spend time as a family on weekend though. I'm not even working at the moment - was meant to be going back in jan, have had to cancel. 14 hours awake time of young kids, homeschooling etc - how are working parents doing it? It's tight, but we can manage a bit longer on one wage thankfully. Partner wfh at moment and dipping in and out to help during day, but is meant to be doing 11 hour days. He has started at 530 to try to get ahead, we divide and conquer at bedtime, he's then catching up later in evening. He probably loses about three hours work time.

Oh, and YR is not allowed to be in a bedroom or on his own in a zoom call. I either try to leave him mostly alone on them to try and sort DD and toddler out. I fail at his zoom calls too - how do you entertain a baby/toddler in silence AND be sat in a room on a zoom? Alternative is "check with adult next to you" and I'm not there. Can't win! Sorry, that's long! I'm just fucking tired and fed up!

Mine are 10 and 6 and their online learning doesn't finish until 3.30. We then go for a half hour walk/bike ride with longer ones on the weekend. Also time on the trampoline etc when weather allows.

My 3 year old absolutely hates the cold/wind so we have been staying in a LOT when he hasn't got nursery. I want to start getting us out more though cos I'm getting cabin fever now tbh

Givemeabreak88 Why do you think that is? The staying in all weekend and only going out for school? Have you always been like this? Some people have reasons for staying home (phobias about going out, social anxiety etc). Or is it really because you feel it’s a struggle to get out w four? What do you do all weekend? I would feel depressed staying in and my kids would drive me nuts. They need exercise and fresh air. I found it a struggle to get out when the baby was first born. She wasn’t a fan of the stroller so the first few months I would also have to put her in carrier when she quickly got tired of stroller. I also had to drag the other ones and the only willing one was the dog.

What do you kids do all day during the weekends? How to they keep fit if they just stay in all day? This is so unhealthy mentally and physically. But I do understand some things make it hard. I struggled w emetaphobia (fear of vomit) and would get anxious when out in case the kids picked up something when younger (tummy bug). But realised they don’t catch it really from being out. It’s most likely caught at the school. Anyway, I just dealt w it and when out.

Of course we go out in the rain otherwise we wouldnt go out half the time. We make it fun by playing tig or football or catch. They moan like fuck but health is more important than anything. They are meant to move for at least an hour a day so I try and get them and me out of breath.

Mamabear12 I’m a lone parent and I get zero time off, the weekends are usually a time for me to chill out without the pressure of rushing around everywhere. The kids appreciate some time indoors as well tbh

anyway it’s not just me by the sounds of it so glad to hear it