Do you take your child out every single day?

[dreamsiclex]

I have one DD who is 2. Ever since she was able to walk I've taken her out every single day. Whether that's to the park, swimming, to see a friend, for a little stroll, to the farm, zoo, playgroups etc. She goes to nursery 2 days a week too whilst I'm at work but for the rest of the week, we're out.

I've found it helps me just as much as her too, tbh.

But... the reason I am posting is because this week is probably the first week of many where I've stopped at home with her and not gone anywhere (except to do the food shop yesterday) and I have the worst mum guilt ever. She has plenty of toys and is generally quite good at entertaining herself but I'm wanting to ask is it normal for me to feel this level of guilt for not taking her out?

Is taking her out everyday normal or is that me being excessive? I want her to appreciate little days out as she gets older too and I worry that I'm "spoiling" her by taking her out to do fun things every.single.day even though I love days out with her!

It is mainly just me and her throughout the week as family work but I do sometimes meet up with my cousin and her little boy from time to time so it can get lonely but I just feel incredibly guilty stopping in just 2 days with her

My sons 2 as well. Of course it's fine to chill at home. I think in general we over plan our kids life.

Especially days after nursery my little one needs a bit of chill out time

My DD is 14 now, but I never took her out every day. She went to toddler group once a week, and she went to the child minder 2 days a week. Sometimes we would have a day out with my mum shopping.

I enjoyed the days that we had at home doing nothing. She would play with her toys, or play in the garden. She was lucky enough to be given a slide and swing so had lots of fun and I didn't see the need to go to the park.

Everyone is different though and some people need to get out every day, but I never did.

Do what you can afford and what you want to do, but do what suits you and don't feel guilty or worry about what others do.

I go outside every single day, whether it’s the park or feeding the ducks. Sometimes it’s more exciting like a farm park. Tbh I’d class a supermarket trip as “going out” it’s all enriching and a sensory experience.

I take my DS (9) out most days if he doesn't have a sports club. If our garden was bigger I probably wouldn't but as it's so small he cant really play in it.

What a coincidence - I was having these exact same thoughts this morning!!! I have DD who is 15 months old and I too try to take her out once a day to do some form of activity (walk, park etc).

The night before last I didn't have a good sleep at all so yesterday I was feeling extremely groggy and lazy. I took her out in the morning to do the weekly shop and then after we got home and just spent the day mooching/playing and watching CBeebies. I started to feel such a pang of mum guilt that we hadn't gone out to do an 'activity for her'. I have concluded that I'm being a bit silly - of course we as parents are allowed to chill and do a 'nothing' day! The kids probably enjoy it time to time! Being a parent is exhausting and it's just nice to spend time together even if it's not an 'activity' per se. :)

I used to with DS, but he was a bit like a puppy - needed exercise every day to behave 😂 It wouldn’t always be super exciting, just a little walk, or a trip around the supermarket would do. But I found his behaviour - and my mental health - suffered if we didn’t get out.

If he’d been a happy homebody though, I’d have gladly had some more time at home. No need to feel guilty, IMO!

Always without exception. To swings and slides/ post a letter/ buy groceries. One day it was bitter and we got home without swings and slides and toddler child went berserk! I’d like to say she’s an Olympic gymnast but now she’s now a gainfully employed gym going adult with good MH and a love of fresh air which tbh is sufficient.

I know how you feel we currently have
Covid so have been home now for 8 days. I feel awful for him, however I have found that he has gained so much more confidence with his walking this week, that might be a coincidence, but I do think some time at home in their own environment with no time table etc is good for them sometimes xx

Yes I did but as much for my benefit as his, I just don't like the feeling of staying at home all day ... but we lived in a lovely village and if there was nothing planned at least I could have a good hour or two's walk. But there's nothing 'wrong' with staying home for a day .... certainly nothing to feel guilty about.

I’ve always taken DD out virtually every day but that’s because I found it easier being out and doing stuff or seeing people than staying at home all day. Now she’s a bit older and is better at playing independently I don’t mind days chilling at home sometimes, and they’re certainly nothing to feel guilty about.

Didn’t you want to go out anyway? It’s spring and lovely and sunny around SE at least!

But in answer to your question

yes but not for an earnest reason

because I love being outside and so do my children

Out every day? Not a chance. That sounds exhausting and miserable. We enjoyed a quiet life with occasional outings. There is plenty to keep busy with at home.

Every day. I love our house, but I need to go somewhere every day. If I'm too busy working, our DC are out with someone else

We go out most days I'd say. I think days are very long with a preschool child if you stay at home! We do luckily have a big garden with trampoline, climbing frame, big sandpit, so on nice days we might just have an outside garden day instead of going anywhere, but most days we go for at least a short walk or something or a trip to the library. DD gets up at 6 and goes to bed at 7, so 13 hours just in the house is a long time to fill!

Weather permitting, yeah we’re out to the playground or the park once or twice a day, but we don’t stay out too long.

I felt terrible when I got covid around the same time all those storms were hitting the UK. We spent a lot of time inside and honestly it’s turned him into a bit of a TV gremlin, but we’re back to going outside every day while the weather is nice.

Miserable and exhausting?

There are 12 hours a day in most toddlers. Slinging a coat on and strolling to park, playground, pond, shops, library. Really?

for 12 hours a day, regularly not going out, genuinely interested how you filled those hours?

Don’t you like going out? I ADORE my home but having a stroll, stretching legs, getting some fresh air…. Pleasure

Why on earth is leaving your house miserable and exhausting? It doesn’t say stay out all day every day no matter what. The idea of only leaving the house occasionally is pretty miserable to me.

not everyone finds going out regularly to be enjoyable. Not all children find going out to be enjoyable either. Some people are introverts who enjoy relative solitude. There is no shortage of ways to keep busy at home.

that doesn’t mean staying in all the time, but it’s about balance. Dragging kids out for the sake of dragging them out doesn’t make sense to me.

Genuinely curious what you do or did on your regular days of not going out once with a toddler.

yes agreed some people don’t like it regularly. So neither you nor any of your children?

Oh God no. It's humdrum enough without tedious walks!

I've never taken my dd out every day, especially not always child focused activities. Weekends we have always had 1 day at home, so DD is playing with toys, playing in the garden, watching films etc. Other day she comes with us whatever errands we need to run, maybe supermarket shop.

We go to zoo maybe once a month, park maybe once a week, swimming lesson once a week, softplay once every 2 weeks.

I've always focused on making sureDD can entertain herself, and i enjoy time at home watching films or tv, and don't want to be entertaining her all the time

I take mine out purely for my own sanity! If I could happily stay at home I would but I think for most people it's not an option as kids can go a bit crazy in the house. If yours isn't like that and is happy at home enjoy it!! Don't feel guilt at all.

I used to but only as DS would be climbing the walls by bedtime if not. If they're happy and content at home though absolutely wouldn't feel guilty about it.