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?

We make sure we get out to walk or run daily. If it’s cold or raining we just dress for the weather.

Isn’t the general health recommendation that children and teenagers should get 60 minutes of vigorous exercise daily? Not just for fitness now but to ensure fitness and strong bones for the future?

@sortmylifeoutplease was he working 55+ hours a week when he wasn't WFH / you weren't home sxhooling? Can he take an odd day off here and there to give you a break.

For YR is work out what you can manage after prioritising your elder child schooling.

@Notcontent

We make sure we get out to walk or run daily. If it’s cold or raining we just dress for the weather.

Isn’t the general health recommendation that children and teenagers should get 60 minutes of vigorous exercise daily? Not just for fitness now but to ensure fitness and strong bones for the future?

My child rarely sits still. He's forever running up and down, jumping about, climbing on anything he canm. Trust me, he doesn't need a slow trudge around the local estate too

I love reading everyone’s lovely walks, just hope there are some here like me who just can’t get the energy to get everyone ready. 4 toilet trips, 4 lots of wellies on, 4 coats, 4 hats, 4 scarves, 4 sets of gloves, someone needs another wee so back to the toilet, lead on dog, somebody has put their gloves down and can’t find them, get myself ready, dog pees by child in excitement, child screams that there is something on welly...and so it goes on, 30 -60 minutes to get ready for them to tell me they need to go home for another wee 10 minutes in
Thankfully mine are happy enough indoors and when we can, we go out 2/3 times a week. No chance of everyday, especially not with the 15 pieces of school work between the older 3 per day

Not all walks are successful either . Had a disaster of a walk this morning... sleeting rain, friend we were meant to be walking with turned up 20 minutes late and for once my 'star walker' 3 yo, who usually loves the rain, wasn't having it and moaned from start to finish. I ended up carrying him on my shoulders (with his muddy wellies kicking me ).

I'm normally right at the front of the "fresh air and exercise" brigade, but this definitely knocked some of the smugness out! Maybe you indoor cats have a point after all .

Was so cross with DS that I pocketed the whole slice of lemon drizzle cake rather than sharing it. He's now napping and I'm going to eat it all by myself.

[quote SleepingStandingUp]@sortmylifeoutplease was he working 55+ hours a week when he wasn't WFH / you weren't home sxhooling? Can he take an odd day off here and there to give you a break.

For YR is work out what you can manage after prioritising your elder child schooling.[/quote]
It's a new role, started in Jan, but hours are roughly the same. However, it would look pretty poor if he took time off straight away and he doesn't get paid holiday. We can't take the financial risk or hit right now.

I tried to sit both kids in front of the videos as Y1 is more in keeping with what YR can do, but they were too distracted by each other!
I've just quit for the day as would rather take them out for a bit than watch another video/do worksheet. Dreaming of nice big glass of wine later!

You should take them out every day..If for a short time.They will sleep better..and fresh air is good for them.

Mine are 12 and 14 and going days without leaving the house too. They are at laptops all day homeschooling and then it's dark and they don't want to go out. The garden is wet and cold and the trampoline is damp. It's different in summer when they want to go out in the garden lots and are happy to come for walks.

I'm just focusing on getting through this time to be honest and am not going to stress if they are not going out, as long as they are okay with it. At the weekends I try to take them both for a fairly long walk with the dog. I go out every day for a walk with the dog, otherwise I would go mad, eldest is SEN and I need to have some space from him to be honest....

I would love to but between home schooling and working full time and its dark by 330pm we just dont always manage.

We don’t go out during the week, I am trying to wfh and homeschool 2 kids and have a 3yr old who won’t poo on the toilet yet! I simply don’t have time. We go out at the weekend for fresh air if it’s dry.

I take my DD out who is 8 once a day for a walk. I find it does both me and her good.

We don't go out every day, no. My youngest has additional needs and sometimes it's just too much for him. My eldest uses the trampoline a lot to burn off his energy. Dont feel guilty at all. Do whatever works for you.

I’m feeling better about not going out every day, great if you enjoy it but not all of us do and some days I just don’t feel like it, it doesn’t really do me anything to take a walk round the block tbh, in normal times I would find something to do like shopping etc to get out or taking kids on days out like zoo, cinema etc

I don’t take mine out everyday, they point blank refuse in this weather and also the ridiculous levels of work for secondary which my son spins out to probably twice the time means we don’t get time.

You just have to do what works for you and your family, if you don't feel the need to get out/don't have somewhere suitable to walk then don't be so hard on yourself.

DS13 and I go out every day for about 30-40 mins. He moans beforehand but once I've bundled him out the door he perks up and we have a nice chat as we walk (I say nice, he talks about gaming and I try to mmm and ahh in the right places). Can't get a word out of him at other times. It definitely lifts his mood and helps him sleep as in non lockdown times he is v active and plays lots of sport so has always spent lots of time outdoors.

It's not always easy to fit in with school, work, grim weather etc but always glad we made the effort

@Givemeabreak88 have you tried geocaching? Fun way to get the kids out. You download the app on your phone and find the caches. We have just found this and its a great way to make the same local wander a bit more interesting for all concerned

Going outside boosts everyone's vitamin d levels. Also, I would worry that if you don't go out regularly, no matter how boring, would mean that after lockdown, your children might not feel happy going anywhere at all. Could you make it more interesting by doing a search for different things as you walk around the estate? The number of chimneys? How many dogs etc?

Mine are 8 & 6 and apart from the snow day last Sunday they hadn't been outside the house since we had a little walk round spotting decorations on Xmas night. They are not fussed about going out they have grown up without a garden, and our local parks & playgrounds are crap and filled with ciggerette butt's, used condoms etc, so unless we get in the car and drive somewhere we stay in.

IF your all happy indoors don't worry what anyone else thinks, you know your situation best and what works for your family.

Mine are 7,5 & 1. I like to run & would love them to take it up when they’re older so I definitely get the eldest two walking/jogging every day. Also the fresh air (although it’s central London so maybe not so fresh!) & vitamin D hit are important so even if it’s vile weather we go. They seem to really enjoy it though so I’m lucky in that respect x

I think if you didn’t have a garden you’d probably have to try to go round the block once a day if possible.
Could you buy some outdoor games like skipping ropes, balls , giant skittles or boules etc and make them do something out in the garden for ten mins every day ?
Or else rescue a dog if that’s an option for you cos you have to drag yourself out every day to get all it , even if it is only round the block.
I’m on a housing estate too so I know how pointless it seems.
God it is all 💩 though isn’t it lol

We do, but we have a dog so no choice. Could you get a trampoline?

I’ve just forced my 13-yr-old son out on a half-hr dog walk - it’s the first time he’s been outside in 4 days! It’s infuriating because he is so unwilling, moans the whole time when out and just wants to be gaming because “it’s sociable and he can play with his mates”. Grrrr .... even though he acknowledges he needs fresh air there’s always a battle. He probably will need a supplement of Vitamin D before long. I won’t give in to him though.

I alternate. One day a walk round the block, woods, feed ducks just anything., one day a drive for fresh air and a change of scene which is more relaxing as im in my scregs and we dont leave th car, go to a drive thru sometimes play some jolly music for my 3 year old. If i hav bags of energy il do both tho. I personally find it so hard to stay indoors allll dayy i feel like rubbish when i do that.

@Givemeabreak88

I dress in lounge wear at home, but I wouldn’t wear it outside , so that’s what I mean about getting dressed at home I’m usually in comfy lounge wear but I wouldn’t go out in it 😂

Kids lounge wear is pjs though?

I took my lot to the park at the end of the road which is mud pit this time of year today. They are 11, 8 and 5. They largely play fought the entire time screaming loudly. I thought this is great get all the aggression out. No one was hurt obviously but yeah they all needed it today. I doubt we would get out everyday if I we were walking around streets that’s just really tough. Wasn’t it Italy where all the children had to stay indoors for 6 / 7 weeks last year ?