Do you get your children out in the fresh air every day?

[Daimari]

I do try but it’s raining pretty relentlessly here (12 months so not able to walk confidently yet.)

Probably a daft thread but I always think it seems to impact sleep!

Not if the weather is bad

Yes unless very rainy then soft play. Burn some energy off!

Yes, i have an 18 month old. We go out everyday at least once but normally 2-3 times rain or shine

We do, but from the difference in the number of other families in the park on a rainy day vs a sunny one I don't think everyone else is doing outdoor activities no matter the weather, even if everyone on MN says they are!

No, not every day. Some days we might be out lots, others not at all. Haven't been anywhere today. Will probably go out tomorrow but depends how foul the weather is! DD is quite happy staying in to do crafts or baking or whatever.

@HardbackWriter

We do, but from the difference in the number of other families in the park on a rainy day vs a sunny one I don't think everyone else is doing outdoor activities no matter the weather, even if everyone on MN says they are!

Yes to this! It always baffles me how everyone on MN is out every day no matter what “just for a walk” or a “trip to the park to splash in puddles” when it’s absolutely chucking it down yet whenever I’ve been to the park in the rain it’s completely empty, even when I’ve been in the park and it starts raining everyone leaves! I have a park next to my house and it’s empty when it’s raining. I do think this is one of those MN things that doesn’t reflect real life.

Yes when little I went out most days - even though we had plenty of space when little kids were around I had to get out.
However my teenager informed me earlier today (when I suggested we go look at some house plants): 'I'm not really into getting out of bed today'!! (During lockdown I thought she might develop rickets.)

At that age, I think we were lucky to have places to go everyday! Playgroups and swim lessons, library sessions (ours did story time for various age groups), soft play with friends etc.

But no, I don't think we necessarily did outdoor activities with them every day in bad weather. Sometimes a walk / toddle, but probably not a park with a play area.

When they were a bit older I did find a park which worked well on rainy days as it had a big trampoline and a sort of pretend road thing we could play on. Basically stuff you don't have to sit on to play with. But even then, we didn't relish the prospect of going and I only took them when we were desperate for entertainment!

I always take them out even when it rains and we walk the dog together. Children don't melt in the rain, in fact mine seem to love it!

No. But we do tend to leave the house daily. Even if it’s just to a cafe for lunch. I hate rain. Hate it. My youngest DD hates the cold. Her lips go blue even if she’s in 100 layers & gloves never stay on her bloody hands. It’s just miserable if it’s pouring down. Why put yourself through that? Today is grim here and we’ve been swimming. Tomorrow we’ve got softplay planned as it looks miserable again 😫 if it’s a nice weekend, yes, we tend to go for a walk or the park one day & again, an indoor activity on the other day. During the week, it’s school/nursery/grandparents, so plenty of outdoor time!

Being active is important to me but indoors or outdoors is fine!

No. In summer/spring we try to go for a walk a few times a week. But in winter it's too cold/rainy/miserable, so we maybe go for a walk once every 2 weeks or so.

No, I love a weekend where no one has to go anywhere. We're all exhausted after a busy week at school and work so we all like to chill if we get a chance. Dc are happy to read or cook or watch a film with us.

@HardbackWriter

We do, but from the difference in the number of other families in the park on a rainy day vs a sunny one I don't think everyone else is doing outdoor activities no matter the weather, even if everyone on MN says they are!

Well if you have dogs like we do then you go out whatever the weather - just dressed appropriately.

Yes but we have a dog and the walk is non negotiable regardless of weather. School days don't count though

Most days, yes, even if just to pop to the shops or for a walk around the block.

But don't beat yourself up, some days we stay in all day, esp if it's raining hard, or if we slept badly the night before.

Yes
When both my dd's were babies they were out in the Pram in the Garden from Newborn even in the Winter.

Visit to the garden centre is good in bad weather with wee ones. Usually they have a large outdoor space, paved, some of it with a roof. Ideally you want one with a massive display of water features, statues and sheds. This can be a top day out for a toddler. If they also sell fish, even better. There will most likely be a cafe and some children's books. Honestly, it's better than the zoo.

Yes I really try as everyone is always in a much better mood. My 6 year old in particular gets cabin fever and annoys the rest of us whereas he’s so much happier to play calmly when he’s had a few laps out on his bike or scooter. If it’s wall to wall rain we might not manage but there’s usually at least a little break in the weather.

Well if you have dogs like we do then you go out whatever the weather - just dressed appropriately.

I know that on MN no one has ever done this ever, but from what I see in real life there are lots of dog owners who just put the dog out into the garden and skip the walk on a really miserable day...

@HardbackWriter

Well if you have dogs like we do then you go out whatever the weather - just dressed appropriately.

I know that on MN no one has ever done this ever, but from what I see in real life there are lots of dog owners who just put the dog out into the garden and skip the walk on a really miserable day...

next you'll tell me that some people leave their dogs at home occasionally

Out in the pram from newborn even in winter .. thankgod we’ve moved on from that 😂 poor little tiny babies in the freezing cold! What good could that have possibly done them?! I mean, bundling them up & taking them for a walk is one thing but just sitting in your garden with a baby in a pram.. why?! Miserable for mum & baby!

Yes, every single day. It’s as much for me as it is for her if I’m being honest. I get serious cabin fever if I don’t get out.

It’s not pleasant being out in the rain though especially with a dc your age. How about a pit stop at a cafe to blow out the cobwebs if a walk/bike ride isn’t feasible?

My dd is school aged now and we tend to get out for a bike ride/walk or hike at least once a week. Our weather has been similarly shit though so we’ve definitely not been out as much as I’d like in Jan.

@Bobholll

Out in the pram from newborn even in winter .. thankgod we’ve moved on from that 😂 poor little tiny babies in the freezing cold! What good could that have possibly done them?! I mean, bundling them up & taking them for a walk is one thing but just sitting in your garden with a baby in a pram.. why?! Miserable for mum & baby!

I don't think mum was normally out there too...

No, I'm not the sort of person who needs to be constantly doing something or out every day and my kids are a bit the same. They do like going out but not every day.

When they were babies I would go out if I was going somewhere but not just for a walk as I found it boring lol

Yes every single day. Ds is 9 now but both of us go crazy staying in. Always have a long walk (on non school days obviously). I can’t stand staying in.