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Original poster

Not taking children out daily?

437 replies

Givemeabreak88 · 28/01/2021 13:57

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 posts:
Bitbusyattheminute · 30/01/2021 19:29

Take it no one on here used to do jobs in the classroom to avoid going outside in the winter? Or hide in the library in high school for the same reason? Actually, I think in high school we used to just sit by the coke and sweet machine at lunch. Until the older kids kicked us out. I think love of the outdoors tends to be more an adult thing. Mine don't moan, cos they know it's pointless. But they prefer it in better weather and with an end result- not just a walk.

MixedUpFiles · 30/01/2021 19:32

I hated being forced outside for no reason as a child. When I had a child I dutifully took her out daily, until she was old enough to tell me she hated it.

So no, we don’t go out everyday. We read. We craft. We have long conversations about the nature of existence, politics, science, or whatever else strikes our fancy. At no point are we bored or deprived and if anyone wants an outing, we go.

MixedUpFiles · 30/01/2021 19:34

Oh yes, i shelved books in the library 3 days a week so I wouldn’t have to have recess. I also volunteered to grade papers, read to younger students, anything to avoid the torment of playing outdoors.

Original poster
Givemeabreak88 · 30/01/2021 19:35

Well at my kids school they don’t go out if it’s raining, they are kept inside at play time

OP posts:
Bitbusyattheminute · 30/01/2021 19:36

Ha, mine often tell me:"they wouldn't let us out in this in school. " especially if it's snowing.

jerometheturnipking · 30/01/2021 19:39

We read. We craft. We have long conversations about the nature of existence, politics, science, or whatever else strikes our fancy.

That's funny because we do those things too. Often while we're outdoors and getting the physical and mental benefits of fresh air and exercise at the same time.

Or is that meant to be the choice? Exercise outdoors or other, wholesome, intellectually superior, pursuits?

DownstairsMixUp · 30/01/2021 19:55

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

mouldyhouse101 · 30/01/2021 19:55

@Givemeabreak88

Well at my kids school they don’t go out if it’s raining, they are kept inside at play time
Because around 70% of them come in with a coat or a pair of shoes that are not practical for outdoor rainy play
Original poster
Givemeabreak88 · 30/01/2021 19:56

I don’t think that’s the reason tbh! 🙄 kids aren’t allowed to school in wellies etc, well they aren’t at my kids school

OP posts:
Frazzledmum123 · 30/01/2021 19:57

Ha ha yes of course you know how I dressed her! For your information she was in a winter coat and had a hat and gloves on, I think she even had a zip up hoodie type thing on too underneath her coat! Have you never had a toddler make up utter tripe to excuse the fact they don't want to do something? Yeah maybe it wasn't the most exciting walk, we did take her doll pram with us to entertain her but she didn't want to go, that was the problem. And the op already said there is nothing local, just an estate, we don't all live somewhere close to a park.or Green areas and arent supposed to be travelling

Backbee · 30/01/2021 19:59

That's sad if a 3 year old doesn't want to go for a walk and you pander to that to be honest.

Original poster
Givemeabreak88 · 30/01/2021 20:02

3 year old would be happy but like I said I can’t leave the others at home alone, wasn’t expecting so many bitchy and judgmental comments for not going out daily, we go out just not every single day

OP posts:
Original poster
Givemeabreak88 · 30/01/2021 20:03

Actually this is MN so I should have known 😂

OP posts:
mouldyhouse101 · 30/01/2021 20:11

@Frazzledmum123

Ha ha yes of course you know how I dressed her! For your information she was in a winter coat and had a hat and gloves on, I think she even had a zip up hoodie type thing on too underneath her coat! Have you never had a toddler make up utter tripe to excuse the fact they don't want to do something? Yeah maybe it wasn't the most exciting walk, we did take her doll pram with us to entertain her but she didn't want to go, that was the problem. And the op already said there is nothing local, just an estate, we don't all live somewhere close to a park.or Green areas and arent supposed to be travelling
We walk an hour around our estate most days. I make it interesting by turning it into a treasure hunt, asking the child which way to go next etc

Fun is there if you try hard enough

Backbee · 30/01/2021 20:16

I wasn't on about you OP, your 3 year old enjoys it but circumstances don't allow it which at the moment is the way it is, and can't be helped. It was to the poster who said they went out but toddler was cold and bored so shouldn't assume all toddlers want to go out.

Thesearmsofmine · 30/01/2021 20:34

I joined the stamp collector club at school so I didn’t have to go outside at lunch on a Friday.Grin

In the last week there have been 2 days where my dc didn’t go outside, on those days they did Joe Wicks and Yoga and set up an obstacle course around the house which they did for over an hour plus all the general bouncing around. On the days we did go outside we spent a couple of hours outside each day, I don’t feel at all guilty that they spent 2 days inside, the same as I don’t feel bad if they have a big slice of cake one day when their diet is generally healthy,

Frazzledmum123 · 30/01/2021 20:43

My youngest isn't 3, never said she was. And it isn't always pandering to listen to a child's interest. If we all wanted to go then yeah maybe but I can take or leave it, would go if she wanted to but happy not to so it isn't like she's dictating what we do. And I love how judgemental people on here are, making out I make no effort to make it fun. Not that I should really feel I have to defend myself but we packed up her dolly pram and played make believe going round which is her favourite but she just didn't want to be there. She also doesn't enjoy playing outside at nursery where they have tons of toys and are trained in making it fun/interesting, she is just a little homebody who prefers dress up and dollies and dancing around our living room or even doing those workout videos my older two do for school. Who's to say thats sad, we don't all have to like one thing?

Uncomfortablynumbed · 30/01/2021 20:52

I have 2.5 year old twins and they are out each day for at least an hour. Its a small village with limited walks but we still go! They love being outdoors and running off their energy. It simply isn't good for children to be in the house day after day! Yes it's wet and cold, but if you dress appropriately then that shouldn't matter. Children need fresh air and exercise.

Uncomfortablynumbed · 30/01/2021 20:55

@wardrobesandthebackofthem I can't believe the numbers who don't take their children out either. Genuinely shocked!

Frazzledmum123 · 30/01/2021 21:16

And just for reference, I quite clearly said we do go out and enjoy it, just not ever day. @wardrobesandthebackofthem you have made a lot of assumptions about my parenting which isn't fair. I am no bloody pushover believe me, they eat really well, in fact of all 3 of mine she is the best eater by far. We have a dog and we do take her out for a long walk all together once a week (dh and ds do so in between) and she is happy to do so. I am well aware kids don't always want to do what is best for them too, but my point is she gets exercise but in other ways than just going out when she isn't interested. I am working full time, looking after the 3 of them and homeschooling the two older ones and so the little time I do have in the week with her she wants me to play other things so that is what I will do. Enough of her little life is screwed up at the moment without doing the one thing she doesn't want to do in the spare couple of hours she can have my attention.
So many people judging and making assumptions, @Backbee perhaps I would be forcing the issue more if I didn't literally get 2 hours max free time a day with her during the week? But you all assume I'm a lazy mum letting my toddler dictate my life. No, im a mum balancing a shit ton of stuff right now, more than I am mentioning here, who was trying to make op feel better about not going out ever single day because I'm sick of the mum shaming when someone can't do the expected or prioritised having a happy toddler during the week.

wardrobesandthebackofthem · 30/01/2021 21:23

frazzled
I haven't made any assumptions about you, I haven't thought long enough about you to do so, to be quite honest.

At the end the day these are your children but in your position I would be very concerned that they're going to suffer massively with the adjustment when they do have to leave the house regularly again, and they aren't getting much natural light. Leaving the home every day to be outdoors is just good for you and a good discipline.

Many people on this thread seemed to not bother because they personally didn't see what there was to be got out of getting dressed (!) and getting outside. I think that shows a basic lack of awareness abotu how to stay mentally and physically healthy and resilient, and it makes lockdown much more locked down than it needs to be.

But I recognise we all have to parent our own children and deal with the consequences of our own parenting choices, so we have autonomy and choice.

blowinahoolie · 30/01/2021 21:37

I appreciate the OP has DC on the spectrum and due to this it isn't easy to get all four outside each day. Using the garden is surely a compromise. No one should be shaming anyone. Parenting in these difficult current circumstances has affected us all. Do what you can to get through this OP💐

Frazzledmum123 · 30/01/2021 21:50

@wardrobesandthebackofthem you say you made no assumptions but wrote 12 lines basically telling me what is important for children assuming I didn't know or didn't care. You say you never gave me much thought but still felt the need to make feel bad and basically tell me you'd be concerned for my kids. Its crap that she doesn't get to do normal stuff but as I said I get 2 hours with her a day so its always going to be difficult for her to go back to normal, I don't need reminding of that. But personally I want our time together to be doing stuff that makes her happy

4redSocks · 30/01/2021 21:53

No it’s too cold. DS would be fed up of walking similar route daily.

MessAllOver · 30/01/2021 22:02

Surely a lot of it must be child-dependent. The dangers with staying in too much are that children are sedentary, snack too much, put on weight and it's bad for their mental health.

If actually your children are active within the house/garden, you as a family are being disciplined about snacking and eating healthily, your children are staying a healthy weight and they're happy and positive within themselves, then going outside everyday is not so important. If they're sitting around watching screens all day, putting on weight and lethargic and lacking in motivation, getting outside becomes much more important. We all know our own children and how they are being affected.