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?

I don't. DS5 is bored of walking aimlessly in the cold weather, I don't particularly enjoy it either. DS11 months will only tolerate being in his buggy for about 20 mins so unless I carry him around that's the max time we can go out for.

DS5 runs around the house so I'm not worried about exercise.

School are suggesting going for a 40 minute walk everyday... definitely not happening here lol

I've resorted to putting thick jumpers on and opening the windows for fresh air

We don't go out every day, my DC are 2-7 years old. I feel guilty about it but I think once this is all over they can go back to a more active lifestyle of running around with their friends, walking to and from school etc.

Natural light, exercise, change of environment - it's really important to get children outside and moving every day. But I guess that could be Joe Wicks in the garden.

I'm amazed by how many people don't exercise their children!!!

Just think of their muscles and the strength they're losing.

No wonder people are feeling low. Go for a walk, even if it isn't particularly enjoyable. Exercise and natural light are important for mental health!

It's also time when they're not on devices so less addiction and blue light.

Honestly, how can we complain about what lockdown is doing to children's mental health when we're not even taking daily exercise??? That's Page 1 of good parenting! I'm staggered by how many people say they don't because they don't fancy it.

There are so many things that are an essential component of a healthy lifestyle that aren't particularly appealing.

If you are low on Vitamin D and overweight, you're at greater risk for severe Covid. Exercise outdoors would help to prevent this.

If you still have a buggy, could you take it for 3 yo? Unless we're driving somewhere (which we don't do except at weekends), I still tend to drag my buggy most places. My 3yo is a bit big for it and a very good walker but it means we have a much wider range for walks. We have lovely woods 2-3 miles away and a huge common about the same distance, but it's up a big hill and busy urban traffic, so it would be a nightmare getting there if he didn't go in the buggy. It also means we can pick up our shopping on the way home so we're not going out multiple times a day.

I have a 4 year old and 2.5 year and we get out for at least an hour most days. The weather's been rubbish today but they had 45mins in the garden. Their behaviour is awful if they don't get outside

Mine are young teens. They’re in lessons until 3 and by then they dint want to go out in the cold and wet. I try to encourage them out but my son refuses. He’s left the house once since they broke up for christmas

It’s absolutely pouring down in London there is no way my children would go out in the garden in this tbh, I could take the 3 year old as I still have the pram but unfortunately I’m a lone parent so can’t leave the older ones home alone.

@wardrobesandthebackofthem exercise your children? They aren't dogs! My children get plenty of exercise but it doesn't have to involve being outside. You say its important for mental health whilst slating everyone who doesn't do it, how is that going to help their mental health. U dragged them out the other day because I felt pressured to and my toddler had a complete fit because she didn't want to be out, she was cold, she was tired, she was bored. It turned her from a lovely mood to a miserable grump and was not enjoyable for anyone. Some people need the change of scenery, my husband and oldest go so they go out every day. Others don't. Stop judging because it is important to you, we dance, do exercise classes online etc, they arent wasting away. Sometimes we go out and enjoy it a lot because everyone wanted to, sometimes we don't. Personally I feel pushing my kids to do something that makes them miserable just because someone else tells me it is needed us actually a lot more harmful to their mental health

*I dragged them out that should say

Yes we do. School work then hour to hour and a half walk. DC are 3 and 5. Maybe garden play or a play around the estate in the afternoon. We go out in all weathers! DS3 is full of energy and needs the exercise. So do all of us. We were doing more last lockdown but have home schooling to contend with now. Tbf we are lucky in that DH and I can split the day with work and childcare. If we both had to be at our desks all day we'd struggle to get all.of us out.

We have a big garden but DC don't want to spend hours in it when it's cold weather. I have to devise and manage any activities to keep them there!

I do think it's so important to get out, physically and mentally. Must admit the thought of being in the house for days makes me feel highly anxious...

frazzled
Don't be ridiculous, being a parent is full of doing things neither you nor your kids yearn to do but which make up a healthy life! Learning, eating vegetables, getting dressed, getting outside to get fresh air and natural light-children don't necessarily fancy any of these but not doing it leads to low mood, vit D deficiency and obesity. Children shouldn't be allowed to feel like they never leave the home. Parenting is not a popularity contest and they need to learn self discipline from you, and not be institutionalised by not going outside on a daily basis

exercise your children? They aren't dogs!

No one said they are. But they still need exercise - we all do, and as children they are largely reliant on their parents to facilitate it.

exercise your children? They aren't dogs!

Well no they aren't, yet some people are happier to face the rain and horrible weather to take their dogs out for walks, rather than to go outdoors with their children who benefit from exercise and fresh air, bizarre.

Yeah, we go out every day. One 6yo, and we live in an unlovely part of London but are lucky enough to have four parks within spitting distance.

We usually go out after lunch or when homeschooling finishes, for 30m-1hr depending on the weather. In the summer we go straight to the park after school and stay until dusk. She either scoots, walks or cycles. We’ve always done it, plus her dad runs and I cycle a lot.

I am pretty shocked by how many people (OP excepted, as four kids is a lot single handed, esp if two have additional needs) don’t seem to be bothered about their kids not getting physical exercise or fresh air. No wonder this country is one of the unhealthiest in Europe.

Out every day. Come rain or shine.

Children who don't like rain, don't like it because you have moaned. You have told them how to respond to it.

I dragged them out the other day because I felt pressured to and my toddler had a complete fit because she didn't want to be out, she was cold, she was tired, she was bored

The issue there isn't the weather or the perceived lack of things.

It's you putting the wrong clothing on your daughter and not finding ways to make the walk fun

Yes everyday, dd is 4 and loves playing in the garden rain or shine