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?

Since working from home I always get out the house for a while, so yes DD goes out everyday, occasionally we don't at weekends. Maybe one day every couple of months and I regret it by bedtime

My kids are up early so we sometimes go out before homeschooling. It seems to make them concentrate better too. We had to wait in for a parcel today and by 2.30 we were about ready to kill each other!

How about doing some of those kid fitness or dance routines at least once a day? That would help move their bodies and give them health benefits at home. You could make it a really fun part of the day.

I totally appreciate that the basketball court full of teens will be intimidating when you are on your own. Could you maybe plan to go in the morning when it's quiet? These things are often fenced in so maybe take a ball and just have a kick about or run about. Get back for snack or lunch?

Getting in a routine of getting outside is important and every day would be ideal but even if you managed 3 or 4 days a week to start with. They aren't snowmen, they won't melt in the rain but just grabbing a quick walk round the block in gaps in the weather would be good for you all.

Givemeabreak88 we go our every day. If it rains I put them in waterproof trousers and coats. The children complain at the idea of it sometimes but soon get into wandering around and spotting interesting things. Usually shards of ice atm

We go out every day but we are very lucky that we are on the edge of the countryside and have a couple of very quiet local parks. My youngest turns 4 in April and it was a nightmare in last year's lockdown as he couldn't walk or be trusted on his scooter but I have trained him up and he can do a decent walk.

As I said though, we're lucky. We have big hills to climb, bridges to play Pooh sticks and decent places to scooter all without having to drive. We wouldn't be going out every day if it was just pounding the streets I imagine.

Another one who recommends Pokemon Go. It would make the same walks a lot more exciting for the older two, whilst the younger children would be happy to scoot along.

I know it's hard to find the motivation to go out, but i've found it really helps break up the day and lift your mood.

Another one who recommends Pokemon Go. It would make the same walks a lot more exciting for the older two

How does this work? Does it work everywhere or just in city centres etc?

I just tried to download it but couldn't remember the password I used and can't figure out how to reset it.

@Givemeabreak88

Don’t feel bad, you don’t drive. Walking round housing/council estates is not that fun. You won’t get this response on Mumsnet though.

We aren't either
I Am rather depressed at the moment
And frankly can't be arsed

I have a 2 and 4 year old. My 4 year old has 3 zoom lessons a day but we just organise the activities so we get out for at least an hour a day. But then I feel awful if I don't, I crave sunlight and fresh air and feel quite depressed if I don't go out. If it's working for you and your dc I think it's fine, as long as you're all getting enough exercise.

We go out every day unless it's really raining properly all day long. The children would probably happily stay in more often but I feel like it's the equivalent of not brushing teeth or having a shower if I don't leave the house all day. We did get a dog about 18 months ago so that always gives a purpose. I quite like to get everyone out before lessons start in the morning even if it is just for 20 mins. Then any afternoon outing is a bonus.

Yes we walk up and down the road every day if the weather isn't too awful.

And DC out in the garden once or twice for run about too.

A bit of fresh air and movement makes such a difference.

I think a lot of this depends on kids' ages. I. Spent many hours when mine were younger just tootling about, looking at things:"ooh,a bird. Look, a drain! Look at the flowers. Look at the plane. " we didn't go far, but it killed time. A walk round the houses in the dark with 2 pre teens isn't really the same. "Ooh, look at the car lights. Ooh, look at that group of teenagers. Should they be in a group that big? Watch out for the dog shit."

I think you should try and get them out for exercise.

We had 1 boy in our class recently join the KW group in school because shift patterns had changed. At playtime he was knackered and it was obvious he hadn't been getting much exercise. He has always been pretty slim, fit and healthy too, so it is not like he was unfit to begin with.

He's not the only child I've seen this with too. It happened in the first lock down when some children joined the KW groups later on as well.

"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"

Pretty much just walk around for 15 to 20 minutes. Youngest ones will splash in puddles, 10yo enjoys getting a break from academic work so wants to go out whether it's raining or not because we have a dog. There's something in it for him, as we are doing command training just now. He enjoys being involved.

You can do sound walks with your kids if there's nothing much to do as such.

Is the housing estate locked up so you can not leave? Why couldn’t you venture out and walk further to another park or area to explore and look around?

I think it’s important for health to get outside for exercise. My kids always say they don’t want to go out. But once we are out they have fun. We go out once or twice a day. They run a mile with their father and the dog a few times a week. I take them to the park for an hour or two. We visit different playgrounds. And when they don’t cooperate I still make them go out even just for a 15-20 mins walk. I won’t let them look at an iPad or tv unless they have been outside. Obviously they have to use a laptop for school work, but I’m sitting w them so they are just doing school work. Also; no games until weekend (PlayStation) and only an hour a day. It’s bloody hard and I’m exhausted. But it’s not healthy to stay in all day long. Today I work 2 hours walking around in the park so my son could play football and my daughter climb trees etc. My baby needed entertaining too (pushing on swings, being walked around etc). And my dog as well. We all went out for two hours. I think we would all go crazy if we stayed in for days.

Of course it’s not locked but there is nothing further other than houses so we would just be walking around different houses, any other parks are not close enough to walk to we would usually get the bus in normal times

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

🙌 So true!

Is the housing estate locked up so you can not leave? Why couldn’t you venture out and walk further to another park or area to explore and look around?

In our housing estate, 10 miles outside a city, you could walk for two hours before reaching a park. We could , however, walk to more and more housing estates which look the same as ours, and are a nightmare to find our way out of!
I doubt very much that we are unique.

We rarely go for walks, kids aren't bothered, neither am I! Usually ends up being more stressful as they get tired and want carrying, but they are 2 and 4!

We do this sometimes too. Walk through the streets of houses just to walk about. They closed the parks in our area for one week during the first lockdown and we went out every day for a one mile walk, basically walking around and my kids are 7 and 8 (almost 9). Youngest is 14 months. Anyway, we would just walk and chat. The older ones would complain and I would force them. I’m sure most kids would walk 15-20 mins if it was the only way to get fun screen time later in the day.

Have you tried this? First telling them it’s important for health and that there will be tv only later in the day after they have done their 20 mins walk. This is also to prevent lockdown weight gain. I’ve seen many pile on the pounds and it’s because a lot aren’t getting outside enough. And we get out rain or shine. Of course much nicer in the sun. But I ran a mile this morning in the rain w the dog. She loved it running through all the puddles. While I wasn’t a fan. The kids decided they would run in the afternoon. And they both ran a mile w their dad late afternoon in good weather while I walked the baby and then we stayed in the park. Even when it’s freezing cold and I’m cold we manage to stay out an hour.

I guess for us it’s just important we go out and get exercise. It’s for physical and mental health. We even do it when we can’t use the parks. There have been times when it’s too windy and dangerous to walk through parks as loads of big branches fall. We still manage to get out...and just walk on the sidewalks. We live near some housing estates and have walked through there. And if that was all there was, I would still do that. I would feel awful just sitting in the house all day!

In our housing estate, 10 miles outside a city, you could walk for two hours before reaching a park. We could , however, walk to more and more housing estates which look the same as ours, and are a nightmare to find our way out of!

Where are these places?! I live in grimy east London and if you walked for 2 hours you would see at least a dozen parks.

I guess for us it’s just important we go out and get exercise. It’s for physical and mental health

I think you live in a nicer location to me. I feel so depressed after a walk around the local estates. I absolutely hate where I live and can’t afford to move out.