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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:
davidsSchitt · 28/01/2021 15:59

I don't go out every day but that sounds mad.

Tianatiers · 28/01/2021 16:01

I ask mine if they want to go out every day but usually they don’t want to. After a few days I insist we go out, even if just in the garden, but we don’t stay out for long as they soon get too cold, despite wearing appropriate clothing. Can’t wait for spring it will be much easier.

Original poster
Givemeabreak88 · 28/01/2021 16:01

We don’t go to the shops as everything we get can be delivered

OP posts:
JS87 · 28/01/2021 16:02

@AlexaShutUp

As long as they're getting exercise at home, and having time outside in the garden, I think it's fine.They do need exercise and vitamin d though.
We don't make any vitamin D from the sun in the UK between October and March
Biscoffontoast · 28/01/2021 16:02

Life is hard enough at the moment without putting unnecessary pressure on yourself - that said, if you can get out even for a short walk everyday it will greatly benefit your kids even if they don’t realise it. I don’t think it’s good for any child to spend most of their time at home.

MissBaskinIfYoureNasty · 28/01/2021 16:06

Have to because of the dog but I'm truly bored of local walks now.

pinkpip100 · 28/01/2021 16:06

We're variable!! I try to take youngest dc (7) out most days, we tend to do this after lunch. She has additional needs, is CEV and can't walk that far so if it's quiet at our nearest park we go there, but if it's busy we tend to avoid it and just have a walk around the block. Often I have to come up with 'exciting' strategies like treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, story walks etc, as all she really wants is to play on the play equipment! It is wearing, and I have to admit to not managing it sometimes (e.g today!), but try to make it part of our routine as much as possible.
Older dc (11, 14 & 15) are even harder to motivate - they now claim to hate family walks with a passion!! They definitely don't get out every day, which I feel terrible about.

FuckOffBorisYouTwat · 28/01/2021 16:06

I force mine out. They hate it, it results in huge arguments and swearing. But they need to move. I make them play football or catch or walk in the boring park. They should be running, jumping etc otherwise we are going to have a health crisis on the other end of this health crisis. Mine are older (10, 13 and 15) and I can't literally force them out so I bribe them with screentime.

Shibees · 28/01/2021 16:07

I have an 8 year old and we go out every day for at least an hour. She scooters or cycles while I walk and it’s so good for both of us. I cannot imagine staying in all day! I would go insane!

Fresh air & exercise is so important for children and I would personally prioritise getting out over home schooling. There has to be a balance. Their physical health is equally as important as their learning imo.

Peculiartimes · 28/01/2021 16:07

To be honest it sounds like you underestimate the importance of having a nice walk with children. I do understand coming back to the same park could be boring, but it’s possible to to find some nice games to play in the park, take scooters or bikes etc. I understand it’s not always possible, it’s very hard, especially when you are working. But my family is isolating at the moment and it affects my children in such a bad way, I couldn’t imagine. Screens screens screens due to home learning, limited space, exhausting really. I can’t wait to go to the local boring park!

FuckOffBorisYouTwat · 28/01/2021 16:07

Also mental healthwise any change is good. However fucking dull the park is.

binnhill · 28/01/2021 16:09

We put music on and have a dance round the room together,

Also put on a Davina McCall dvd and the kids had a right laugh copying the moves, got them exercising and they had fun !

partyatthepalace · 28/01/2021 16:10

Yep - for 20 minutes on a rainy or busy day. If nice then 45.

I don’t always feel like it and neither do they (and they are older so they complain) but I think it’s good for movement, mental health, sleep, vit D etc.

ktp100 · 28/01/2021 16:10

Depends on the child, I think.

If yours a re bouncing off the walls they need to go out every day. Even if literally a 20 minute run around.

Mine couldn't give 2 shits and hates walks. One walk and one run a week is our current state but we do do some exercise indoors on a couple of other days (boxing training/PT video on Youtube etc).

If your kids are happy and not sitting around on screens all day I really wouldn't worry about getting outside every day, so long as they're moving when they can & not going stir crazy.

Iknowwhatudidlastsummer · 28/01/2021 16:11

There are enough risks of being sent in isolation and not be allowed to leave the house at all for 2 weeks at a time, I can't imagine not making the most of what little freedom we have left.

It's not good for you to be stuck between 4 walls and screens.

It's harder with age difference, scooter doesn't amuse a teen, young ones are too slow for a jog, but there's still plenty to do.

I never ask my kids if they want to go out, I tell them. I don't ask if they feel like a shower or eat vegetables either, my house is not a democracy when it's about basic well being.

ktp100 · 28/01/2021 16:12

@binnhill

We put music on and have a dance round the room together,

Also put on a Davina McCall dvd and the kids had a right laugh copying the moves, got them exercising and they had fun !

100% with the dancing!!

Amazon have some cheap wireless earmuffs - we love a silent kitchen disco!!

minipie · 28/01/2021 16:12

Is there any way you can find some other options for trips outside OP.

Post a letter to granny (walk to postbox)
Take away hot chocolate (walk to cafe)
Pokemon Go
Count the rainbows/NHS pictures in windows
Anything of interest locally to walk to - field with cows, local monument, stream, anything!

Mine are often keen to go to the playground because they might meet one of their school friends there Sad although we rarely do tbh

Bitbusyattheminute · 28/01/2021 16:16

soUmmyeah he's in yr 6 and far too cool to run around. He prefers to stand and talk about what horror films he wants to watch when he's older. Or mooch 5 paces behind us on family walks. The teenage years have arrived early.

Katie517 · 28/01/2021 16:17

For all of you who don’t go out everyday how do you exercise or your children exercise? I hate being in the house all day so go out at least once a day for a walk with my baby in the pushchair and for a run myself every other day. We are lucky that we have a nice little town to walk around with lots of parks and can drive to lots of nice places locally for walks too but even if we couldn’t I would be out everyday. The idea of not leaving the house and not moving from the sofa for days on end terrifies me.

RadioPlatform · 28/01/2021 16:17

I go for a walk with my teen every single day around our estate. I work full time so it has to be in the evening in the dark. It’s pretty miserable especially in the rain but it helps us reconnect as I have to ignore him all day.

WaxOnFeckOff · 28/01/2021 16:19

I honestly don't think it's healthy for them not to be out. They need what little sunshine there is to grow and for their mental health and they are young enough that they don't get to choose tbh.

Thesearmsofmine · 28/01/2021 16:20

Usually we would be out every day but right now we aren’t. None of us particularly enjoy walking in freezing cold rain which it has been here for the last few days. We are still going on out the majority of days or at least running around out in the garden but when it is totally miserable it is fine to stay inside.

They are still physically active at home, today they’ve built a massive floor is lava course around the whole house,’some days we do yoga, or Joe Wicks or have a disco with loads of dancing, there are loads of options to keep them active.

Maryann1975 · 28/01/2021 16:21

2 of mine are in school, so have to walk home from there every day, but the third- it’s a battle to get her out. She’s maybe been out once so far this week. At the weekend, I try to make sure we have a decent walk on one of the days although that turned in to a play in the snow last weekend high had to be good enough. We live on an estate with a bit of green around it but that’s flooded now and will take weeks to dry out, but Even before it flooded, everyone was so fed up Of walking round it and it was hard going.

We’ve all just got to do what we need to get through and if you and your dc are happy not going for a walk, so be it. It’s really not the end of the world.

explain · 28/01/2021 16:22

I can go days without leaving the house! I'm fed up of going for walks...every now and then we'll go for a drive or on a drive to the drive-thru! Grin

Katjolo · 28/01/2021 16:23

Have you tried bike rides? Do they have scooters or skates? Are there any basketball courts nearby? Or a bmx type place?

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