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 can go Mon-Fri without leaving the house. DH and I work full time, the teenage DC's are on line schooled 9-4. By the time we finish work, then prepare dinner and do some housework and laundry etc, its time for bed. We do go out Sat and Sundays though for a good walk both days. We're doing what we need to to get through.

I don't make my kids go out. If they want to they can. I hate this impression that a good walk or fresh air is good for everyone. It isn't. It's only good if you want to go out. When it's rainy and muddy and cold going outside does nothing but add to the misery. A sunny warm day however then yes, we are all out.

We don't go out every day in winter, it's cold and wet!

"I doubt many kids are taken out every day, especially in this weather."

I have a dog that needs walked so DC have to come out in all weathers. We are acclimatised to it though as we live in Scotland. Wearing wellies is quite normal😂

@oakleaffy

Vitamin D in U.K. best comes from a pharmacy 😂

That it does 😁

My kids were unbearable if they didn't get out for a run round each day. They're teens now but get really moody if they don't get out. I can't force them but try and manufacture reasons to get them out at least every other day. My ds especially is horrible if he hasn't been out for a few days - me and his sister call him The Hulk between ourselves at such times

We go out everyday. Sometimes I don’t as I’m WFH and can’t always escape at lunchtime but DH will take the kids then. We go for a walk, at least 2.5miles. Further at the weekend or somewhere different. Everyone needs some fresh air. If we don’t get out during the day we might go in the evening. Kids love going for a walk with torches (live in the countryside). I can’t imagine kids staying indoors all the time. Now if it was torrential rain we might skip it, but rarely.

I also live in a housing estate but make the best of it. I appreciate getting outdoors in all weathers, you get out to see others who are not related to you. DC benefit from being outdoors and seeing others even if we don't go to the park.

It can feel like a chore getting everyone ready, but once outside it is worth it. You definitely feel the benefit when you get home. Breaks up the day. Gives you something to chat about.

I am relieved to have a dog as I can't get out of going out for a walk. DC are 10, 5 and 3. Eldest doesn't go as he has live lessons (13yo).

bridgetreilly
You don't do it because they say they want to. You do it because they need it. They need the air, the space, the running around. They are children and they need their parent to tell them what is good for them.

How is miserably strolling around a concrete housing estate with hundreds of houses, good for them? Where do you want them to 'run' exactly? Do you march them up and down the footpaths and then time them to make them move faster?
We don't live near a green area. There aren't any trees. Our garden consists of a tiny square of mud where plants can't grow due to the poor quality of the soil. Where should I tell my kids to 'run' to exactly?. The nearest Lidl?

I feel terrible not taking mine out (even though they don't want to anyway) but we are both working (in reality more than) FT. I think it would really help their MH (& ours) but any time we can spare involves feeding them and checking to see if they have done any school work, which more often than not has been abandoned.

Feel guilty all the time, but lack of fresh air and exercise is certainly high on the list. Try to get out at least once a day at weekends.

I never a whole day inside unless I’m ill! I need air. My children are the same but I guess it’s an example we’ve set. Now they are teens they’ll go for a walk or run with or without us just to get outside.

@Givemeabreak88

I think we will just stick to the garden then as we have a trampoline and slide and some other small garden toys, so at least that’s something.

But do they go out into the garden and exercise every day?

I'm only asking because you didn't mention it until someone asked if you have a garden.

If they do then fair enough but if they're absolutely sick of the playground in the park, why would they enjoy the same garden and toys every single day?

Sometimes getting out and about is a chore but so is brushing teeth. It's something that needs to be done for our health, even if we don't want to do it.

My children are the same but I guess it’s an example we’ve set.
Condescending much?

No we don’t use the garden every day it’s been freezing and raining so we wouldn’t use the garden in that case, but I meant we would make more effort to use it then rather than worrying about traipsing round the local houses

We go out at least twice per day. Mine go utterly ballistic if they don’t get enough exercise.
Their school does 6 hours of PE per week so we only do the 2 25 minutes walks to school and back per day, but in the weeked we routinely cover 8-12 miles on foot (mine are 7 and 3, haven’t used a buggy in over a year and rarely use the car).

I don't, as it's dark when I am done schooling working etc... but they do go in the garden every day, even though it's a mud bath!

@Givemeabreak88

No we don’t use the garden every day it’s been freezing and raining so we wouldn’t use the garden in that case, but I meant we would make more effort to use it then rather than worrying about traipsing round the local houses

It's not 'traipsing' though is it?

It's getting out in the air for a walk around the block, or one lap of the park.

A 15 minute walk a day should be sufficient

To significant reduction in the risk of myopia, you probably need a couple of hours a day outdoors during daylight on average over a week.

Exercise at those ages needs a bare minimum of an hour a day, although obviously some of that could be done indoors, although without peers children will find that difficult to meet the intensity requirements.

I went for a walk to the supermarket last night, as I was desperate for some exercise. Kids stayed home cos it was dark and they do not get as antsy as me. I saw 3 dog walkers and a runner. It was damp.Kids didn't miss much. It's rare they see any of their mates on a walk. But ds does want to die if we see any older kids and he's with his mum.

My children are the same but I guess it’s an example we’ve set.
Not condescending at all. If parents don’t exercise, kids are unlikely to do it either, and you get 3 year olds who can’t even walk 3 miles, andit becomes torture for all involved.

I often go into back garden in my waterproofs and let the two youngest play in the rain or snow. I will sit and freeze so that they can play at the water table. The youngest one is mad for the outdoors but they have been conditioned in a way. They were out as babies in the pouring rain, windy days etc to get out in fresh air.

All the kids' sporting activities were indoors- gymnastics, martial arts etc. Fuck knows when they'll re-start again.

We go out every day - the only reason we wouldn’t would be illness. Mine would be killing each other if they did burn off some energy everyday . I also feel rotten if I’ve not been outside .

During the week no- he’s at school 3 days and home 2 days. We go out one day as his PE teacher sets something to go and do.
At the weekend he has to go out or do Joe Wicks - he often chooses Joe!

"Not condescending at all. If parents don’t exercise, kids are unlikely to do it either, and you get 3 year olds who can’t even walk 3 miles, andit becomes torture for all involved."

I agree. You have to lead by example. Just like if you put music on and dance like a fool your kids will want to copy you. I do really silly dance moves to encourage them. It usually works🤣