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 aim for a minimum of 7 hours a week outside during winter. More in spring and summer. Currently that means we often have a day where noone goes outside, I think the odd day or two a week is ok but not every day. Have a read of the 1000 Hours Outside website and read the links on why it's so important for children to go outside. You mention one child with autism, it is particularly important in my experience that neurodivergent kids have a lot of outside time because it really helps with sensory processing and executive function. In your situation I would aim for longee stretches of time outside at weekends where you can walk a further distance rather than short daily walks in the same places.

I don't think letting kids stay in during the week, in January, in the dark, is setting a bad example. My kids see me go running in all weathers. They are dragged out on forced marches at the weekend. Up mountains without complaint, when we're allowed. They are not like me though. And there's no way in hell I'd have been out running in all weathers at their age. Or jn my 20s,tbh.

OP - you say you can't imagine getting dressed just to walk around a housing estate. Does this mean you don't bother getting dressed every day? Do they? Do you wash and get straight back into PJs? Do they? I don't have kids but have always been led to believe they need some sort of routine. Getting dressed and going for a walk would at least be some sort of routine, I think.

@blowinahoolie

"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🤣

I didn't find it condescending either.

Parents really do need to lead by example on things like this, if they're able to.

@Thismustbelove
It is criminal that areas where people are to live have no green and no trees.
Whichever brutalist architect designs them must really hate humanity.

Green spaces are so uplifting.
Years ago - parents lived next to Richmond Park- a Sunday school had a trip from Poplar.

I was 11 but the face of a lad who said
“ It’s beautiful..do you live in the Country?”
Has never left me.

So bloody sad that children are denied green spaces and the chance to see nature in their home environment.

Just out of interest those that go out every day, it’s raining here so do you just walk around in the rain then? I get toddlers would enjoy jumping in puddles but I think that stops by around 5, I can’t see older children wanting to jump in puddles, can’t play in the playground as everything is wet and slippery

Spodge I already said I wear lounge wear at home so not the kind of thing I would wear out really

No we've hardly been out either. Mine don't want to go a walk at the best of times, never mind when it's just round our area. I'm heavily pregnant and haven't been able to walk the length of myself for weeks because of the pain I get and I seize up for the rest of the day and night. My partner has decided he's taking the car to work every day so we can't even drive somewhere for a change of scene. I'm demented and slowly becoming depressed. Infact I've spent most of today in tears but that's probably because I'm overdue and just generally angry.

I walk the dog every day, dd goes to school but if she wasn't in school she wouldn't walk with me. At weekends she doesn't leave the house from getting home from school on Friday to going back to school on Monday.

Anyone you could borrow a dog off to walk? Makes a walk more purposeful iyswim.

I don’t think you have to get outside every day but it’s really bad for your body and mood not to go outside for days on end. One of the nicest things is getting really cold (even just fed up) and coming back to a nice warm house, it gives you a brief period you appreciate being back in the house!

I don’t know if there’s an age limit of puddle splashing - I’ve always enjoyed a good stomp in puddles.

Oh and mine are 12 and 7. If I suggested we go out a walk in the rain to jump in puddles they would laugh at me and think I had gone off my nut. Its also been icy here for the last couple of weeks. And I mean just sheet ice all along our street and the adjoining streets so I'm not risking falling in that.

Givemeabreak, don't worry about it. It won't be for long and won't kill your children not to go out. Go out if you have to of course. If schools do re-open on 8th March (we live in hope), they will be back to normal in no time.

@Givemeabreak88
We moved from London- still live in a City- but definitely took DS out in all weathers.
But one child is much easier than 4
With 4 there is always one who dawdles or has a puncture😂
Nicer environment makes a heck of a difference.

DS got into skateboarding as a young teen and spent all weekend out with mates.
Wrangling four kids is hard, especially on bikes.

@Spodge

OP - you say you can't imagine getting dressed just to walk around a housing estate. Does this mean you don't bother getting dressed every day? Do they? Do you wash and get straight back into PJs? Do they? I don't have kids but have always been led to believe they need some sort of routine. Getting dressed and going for a walk would at least be some sort of routine, I think.

Why are you asking what the OP wears? Why is showers coming into it?!

Some of these posters are so smug. Great you're outdoorsy. Great you're not bothered about the weather. Not everyone is you. Your way of doing things aren't the best way. Have you all lived in London? Not come over for visits. Actually lived? Wfh and DH on NHS front line. I am barely keeping afloat. I couldn't give two shits about going out daily right now. My children are happy, they're safe, they're content. They're healthy! These aren't normal times! When the weather picks up. When life is a little more tolerable everyone will head outside.

what's the difference if it's raining or not? You can still ride a scooter or a bike too. You just have to be careful where it's slippery.

If you don't go out because it rains in this country, you'll be forever stuck at home.

None of my kids school clubs or sports club has ever cancelled a class because of the rain.

@Givemeabreak88

Just out of interest those that go out every day, it’s raining here so do you just walk around in the rain then? I get toddlers would enjoy jumping in puddles but I think that stops by around 5, I can’t see older children wanting to jump in puddles, can’t play in the playground as everything is wet and slippery

I live in the UK so if I'd let rain/cold weather stop me taking the kids out, we'd all have weight/fitness problems!

Older children can do a lap or two of the park.

They might moan about it but by the time they're older they very much understand that some things need doing for the sake of our health.

@Givemeabreak88

I live on an estate and I wouldn’t want to aimlessly walk around here. My kids would be bored too.

I take them out daily though.
I drive them to parks in the city, it gets them away from their screens and breaks the day up.

To be said on a strict Scottish accent;

There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing

Very true.😂

It's fine not taking them out every day, but do you make sure they get their recommended hour a day of physical activity in other ways?

Yes we go out in the rain - not torrential rain though!

My DD is 8 and loves puddles still. Her current pleasure is scooting or cycling through puddles to see how wet she can get!

We often play a game of “find the best spot to shelter” when it’s raining. This takes up little alleyways, under trees & various other random places and gives DD a sense of adventure.

I think in order to motivate young children in bad weather there needs to be an element of fun or adventure. My DD enjoys being the leader and I literally let her lead the way & decide which routes we take. It gives her a sense of independence and control in this strange world we are currently living in

Someone else mentioned routine and I would definitely say that getting outside for exercise is and always has been a part of our daily routine as a family.

I don’t drive, would definitely go out more if I did!

We go out after online school every day unless it's pouring down. We're usually out for about an hour, normally walking or sometimes to the park. At weekends, we're out longer. DS likes being outdoors and after looking at a screen all day, he feels quite lethargic and sometimes headachy and says some fresh air really helps get rid of that for him.

If I'm honest I do think its important to try and get out once a day if you can. Particularly at the moment. Healthy habits need instilling in kids early on - it is better for our bodies to exercise once a day. Better for our moods too - releasing endorphins and all that. Also we are all doing so much less exercise than we normally do - walking to school/work, running around at break etc and thats without any extra curricular sports.
My three gained quite a bit of weight in the first lockdown and we are healthy eaters, went for walks daily and they used their trampoline every day.
All that aside I do appreciate that it's hard. Mine dont want to go out most days but i make them and they enjoy it once we are out (most of the time 😬😂). Are there any nice roads near you you could walk down? I used to live in a dodgy part of London but there were still a few nice roads near by - we used to seek those out!

OP - we own waterproofs for the whole family, so we do the same we would do in the sunshine. Plus the added fun of riding bikes and scooters through puddles, dam building on playground slides etc. its really just a case of appropriate clothing!

Yes we go out every day.
On the days it rains I get them to litter pick the streets locally because it’s gets us out and doesn’t take long but breaks up the day. I think the fresh air and change of scene is important.
Mine might whinge a bit but most of the time they enjoy it. We are in London too but we do things like walk over the railway bridge and wait for the trains and then try and get them to beep at us by waving like mad.
I just couldn’t imagine spending days on end inside together. I’d personally struggle with that so I admit I do force them out.