How many times a day should I be leaving the house with a 4 and 2 year old??

[RememberToPlaywiththeKids]

I've been taking them out twice a day but to be honest once a day would suit me more as I'm so behind on jobs around the house plus I need lots of sit down times as I have a bad back. I can't whizz around the house like other people do :(.

Do I just need to suck it up and continue going out twice a day or is once enough??

I used to do once a day for am or pm and then home for other half

I didn't know there was a set of rules for this sort of thing! I kind of go out when I need to or make a special effort if we haven't left the house for a couple of days . We do tend to be out and about quite a lot, but I don't put any pressure on myself to get out twice a day!

I found dc much easier to manage if we went out both am and pm. Walk to the ducks or to Waitrose is enough! (ie not a fan of 'soft play' thing)

oh dear. i go days without leaving the house with my DCs.

very reassuring replies thank you!

enjoy the freedom whilst you can go out for long day trips in the summer and have days in when pouring with rain and cold !!!

as many times / as few times as suits you

I have two DDs (aged nearly 4 and nearly 2) and we have not left the house for two days! it's half term here, so we have been doing craft and baking and watching "ballet shoes" on DVD. Perfect relaxed days. But tomorrow we are manic, shopping, friends over, ballet class, coffee in the afternoon with a friend. So it balances out.

Do whatever suits you and your DCs on any given day.

[I take my parenting tips from Alex baldwin in 30 Rock: "There are no rules. It's like check in at an Italian airport."]

I usually only do once a day - we haven't been out at all today and have felt a bit stir crazy. I have a 3 and 1 year old and it is getting hard to fit around naps as youngest gets a bit grouchy if not napping enough! I am always feeling guilty if I haven't been out. I am so good at making myself feel bad about my parenting - I am sure some children never leave their houses!

Greythorne - yes perfect quote for every situation!! Love him in 30 rock.

Once a day is enough for us, and some days we don't leave the house at all.

I think the time will come, when I have more than one dc, that the choice of how many times to leave the house will be taken out of my hands by the school run, me being back at work, DH work, activities and classes.

So enjoy the peace for now, and only go out if you all get cabin fever inside.

Greythorne - i think your 'manic day' as you describe it is what i feel i should be doing every day but that's because the older one used to need to get out all the time but she's settled a bit now - I feel as if I'm being lazy not maintaining that kind of activity!

Nowt wrong with being lazy. I find the need to get out of the house is driven more by me than DS, who's perfectly happy to stay in and play. Once a day for a bit of fresh air is plenty. Try having a pyjama day for complete lazy decadence :)

I quite often stay in when the weathers bad for 2 or three days at a time my little girl is 13 months. I dont think it does any harm in fact she seems better when she's at home she has a better routine for nap times meal times bath and bed times and she is very happy to play with her toys and we read together and have lots of cuddles. I find at this age if we go to other peoples houses who haven't got kids she is into everything and i cant relax im constantly telling her no and not to touch so its so much easier to stay in really. Like someone else said it wont be long till we have to go out for the school run so im making the most of it for now as im also at home with her full time im not going back to work until she is at school.

Some days we don't go out at all, depending on weather ( like pouring rain yesterday) and if I can't be bothered/ no reason to.

DS is nearly 11 months so is happy either way.
Also he doesn't like me going clothes shopping and being stuck in the pushchair bored while I look around (cue crying fit)

But I think fresh air everyday is good for them, even if it's for 10 mins in the garden ( plus they need vit D from sun)

I go a bit stir crazy if I am in the house all day. I have a DD who is one and DS who is an energetic 2.10 year old. We live in a second story two bed flat and so on our 'mummy' days (i work part time) we typically go out at least once, usually in the afternoon. I draw the line at snow and ice (black ice freaks me out).

Does your four year old go to preschool at all?
I used to go out once a day but found when the free preschool sessions kicked in it gave structure yo the day because I had to get my oldest to preschool at 9.30 and pick up at 12pm
now I love the school hilhsats because we dint gave to go anywhere , I hate the school run because it forces me out the house in all weathers

At least once a day, usually twice.

We live in a flat in a center of a city- if I had a garden, I would just let DD play there.

We go to the kids' park or shopping and on weekends usually go further, to a bigger park.

It is hard to motivate oneself sometimes, but I find fresh air does DD good, makes her sleep better and obviously they need vit.D.