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?

OP I haven't read the whole thread but please don't put pressure on yourself to go put if no one wants to. I have 3 kids rather than 4 and non with additional needs and we don't go out every day, sometimes only once a week. My oldest takes the dog out with his dad every day because he really does benefit from it but me and the youngest just aren't bothered. In fact my youngest just screams if I say we are taking the dog out ourselves but is happy as anything at home. They have the option, the youngest both like mini discos at home and do lessons via zoom for classes so they are all getting exercise so I'm cool with it.

@roxanne119

I think it’s very important for all children to have some outside time even if this is a twenty minute walk around the block . Especially if there sat in front of screen all day . 😊

'there'?

Yes I agree it is important to get out of the house sometimes but not necessary every day. I don't go out every day!

This situation is not going to last forever and kids will get back to normal eventually. It would be wrong to force them to walk around the block just for the sake of it.

I am taking my 2yo out every day. I would have thought OP's toddler would particularly need to get outside for a run around, with older kids I don't think it's unusual for them to be more sedentary (but still not healthy). In a way it's easier with a younger toddler, DD is still in a buggy so I can walk for miles to take her to more interesting places (we're in London and must have visited 100+ different outdoor places (parks, gardens, riverside walks) over the last year, it would be boring to just go to the same one each time).

Are you sure there is just the housing estate and local park nearby? I discovered lots of interesting places to visit just by opening Google Maps and looking for green areas, including lots of small playgrounds (often on housing estates) and little garden squares I never knew existed nearby!

I’m in favour of getting out as close to everyday if possible. They need to move their bodies, they need exercise that gets their heart rates up, they need to be off screens. They need stimulation other than virtual and indoors. If we don’t go out we do Jo Wickes, yoga, kitchen disco, hide and seek and other physical stuff at home. Boredom is not going to kill them if they find the walks boring. Learning to lead a sedentary life is not a good habit.

Dont beat yourself up. It’s tough at the moment just doing enough to get by. You are doing a great job, your kids are happy and you are in tune with their needs. Well done you, give yourself a massive pay on the back, xxxxxx

Pat not pay 🤷‍♀️Xxxx

Getting mine out was a struggle but then we had a revelation . I downloaded Pokémon go, they are obsessed. Worth a look if they like Pokémon, the only downside is they have their head in a phone the whole time.

Daylight and fresh air are essentials. So difficult with small walking kids and nowhere immediately to go but I’d definitely prioritise if possible. Counting games, I spy? Even car number plates can be distracting number/ word games. There are only so many times I know it’s hard, but every day is different outside.

Do you drive, you are allowed to travel a short ish distance to exercise, I think 5-10 miles.

We hardly get out during week (think once for 15 mins ). Just me and DD 10 and 12, I'm WFH full time, by time they are finished school and me work its dark. But getting brighter. Trying to schedule quality time at lunch hour, but really I end up trying to get work done before they need to get back to schooling. Too stressful to try and organise a walk in this hour.

Long walks at weekend are what we do. Pounding the same pavements and parks (don't have car) but I really feel benefit of walk at weekends.

I don’t drive no, that would make a lot of difference as I won’t use public transport so it limits us a lot

Ellen2shoes Fri 29-Jan-21 22:44:40
Daylight and fresh air are essentials.
....
I must be half dead then :-). I can't remember when I last went out except to put the bins out.

PS that was at night in the dark.

We don't go out when the weather is really dreadful, but otherwise go out every day. It's healthy to get some exercise to get muscles moving, heart rate up etc. I wouldn't stroll round an estate though; you want to go somewhere interesting and have a purpose or of course none of you enjoy it. In London you'll find there are many other parks just a slightly longer distance away, canal walks, river walks, playgrounds etc. Take a map, pick a direction and go to see something. Put the little one on a scooter if it'll be more than a couple of miles, take water and snacks, wear waterproof coats.

I am. Mine are 5 and 8. We mainly walk around our housing estate. It’s boring. I’m sick of it, the kids are sick of it.

However - we live in a flat so have no garden, and it’s terrible for their health to be cooped up indoors all day. There are numerous mental and physical health benefits from getting outside for a walk or a scoot for 20
minutes (or an hour if we have the time). So we suck it up and go.

Try to get mine (8 and 11) out most days but meh it’s dull doing the same thing every time. We’ve done bike rides (better) and even a treasure trail from treasure trail.co.uk over a few days, which was really surprisingly fun. Someone suggested bird watching but that’s a step too far for us. But basically we try to DO something rather than just randomly walk.

Mine are 7 and 9. I try to get to get them out every day but happy to forget some rules... ie either go out really early, or all together in evening time, or allowed out in onesies. I often say ‘we’re off to get a treat’ but walk a really long way round. I have noticed small things that they’re forgetting (ie how to cross road safely) due to less going out. Also they are loosing interest in the outside world... other people, the changing world. So I want to force an involvement it. And of course getting blood moving around their bodies. I also do ‘scavenger hunts’ - just 10 things (find something blue, a building with 10 windows, something homemade, the number ‘3a’...) and both enjoy that. But, OP, you have 4 children, so they probably keep each other amused and active - the benefit of siblings!)

Life's hard enough without doing things that none of the family enjoy. Do what's right for you. x

My DD is 12 and hasn’t been out for 2 weeks. She would never go out if I didn’t force her. We live in the city and I am not allowed to take her shopping. There is no time to walk in the week because of school / work. If it rains on the weekend we are buggered.

I’m wfh with an 11&12 yr old, we go out for a walk as soon as home schooling is finished at 3.15 unless I’m in a meeting, which is rare as I’ve blocked out my calendar at this time . One of my kids is really up for it after staring at zoom all day which helps! I carry on working when we get back and they stare at screens some more.

It's hard, and why this time round we used our KW place as to be frank with work so busy, no we weren't getting out ever, between school work, food prep and work demands (in a reactive job where you can't just park the work til they're in bed) it just wasn't happening.

This is an awful situation we are all in, it's understandable that you are finding it hard to get out.

Don't stress yourself about it. Push them out into the garden every day, but don't worry about making them walk around your estate. It's an arbitrary standard - no need to internal it. Some kids need to roam. If yours don't that's fine and there is no virtue in treating them like they do. Luckily they have each other to play with, so I would just encourage them to do so in the garden (like school playtime) every day. Unless it's tipping.

It’s important not to pile additional pressure on yourself, and if you really don’t enjoy it, and I can see with that age range of children there might be quite a lot of effort involved with getting everyone’s shoes and coats on BUT it’s quite important for the immune system to get outside and that’s quite important at the moment.

I would say yes... it is bad not to go out every day. How can you ever learn to love being outside unless you go outside. We made a massive effort to be outside as much as possible (rain or shine) during lockdown last year and since then the kids (5 and 4) have learned to love it.
Take worksheets of things they have to find. Look up the history of your area and find the places mentioned (there is never not history in London). Walk to another park on a fine day and explore that. Learn about architecture. Take pictures and post them on Instagram. Go geocaching. It doesn’t just have to be a boring walk looking at paving stones. Sing while you walk, play I spy, people watch, count the number of red cars you see..::

Being outside is so beneficial for children and adults. Saying it doesn’t benefit you shows how little you go outside regularly. I would work up to it. 15 mins daily and then increase it to 20 then 30. Pack snacks and a flask of hot chocolate or sandwiches and make a day of it.

It's sleeting and the wind is battering the windows. I would run in this, in a long sleeved top and running leggings. But there's no way I'd go for a walk in it. You wouldn't even be able to talk to each other or even lift your head up. Shame, cos I've been waiting all week for a walk.