How oftern do you take your toddlers outside the house?

[Kiwii48]

I have a 3 year old and I'm currently a stay at home mum. He goes to nursery 2 days a week and home 5. I don't have great family support so no set days to see grandparents but usually once a month or twice a month for an hour or two. I also really struggle with anxiety so leaving the house is exhausting but I'm a really determined person so I'm trying. I try take him to the park once or twice a week, softplay every two weeks and to the shops for errands once a week. We are lucky to have a nice garden so he does spend everyday outside atleast. Im learning to drive so I'm hoping that's going to help me feel more confident because getting a bus with him takes it out of me before we've even got to the place I can only do it once a month really. Someone told me he acts like an adult because I don't socialise him enough and I feel really bad for it. I tried baby groups when he was a baby and HATED it and caused me panic attacks. So I don't know what else to do because I feel like I'm already pushing myself and I really am trying to make sure he gets out and about, explores the world and sees other kids with nursery/parks/softplay. I am worried I'm not taking him out enough just wanting to see what others are doing. I know I'm probably doing a little less but I don't know if I'm doing even less than I thought I was. Thank you for reading this ramble 😂

If he’s going to nursery he’s getting that contact with other people, and doing activities he might not be able to do at home. I used to take mine out every single day, but that was mainly for my own sanity! If you’re happier pottering around the house with him and taking him out once a fortnight or so, then I’d say you have a good enough balance already! Don’t be too hard on yourself.

Sorry, once a week.

I took mine out once a day. A walk in woodland (doesn’t have to be far) a trip to the park, a cafe, playgroups.

could you increase nursery to 3 days or add on another park trip? Or visit a different park?

its really important to socialise them but it sounds like you are doing great and trying really hard.

Could you add swimming to the routine?

If we don’t get out every day we’re both booooored. But different situation here as DD is in nursery 4 days a week.

My day off (Wednesday!) is swimming in the morning, and we’ll probably go to a park when she’s finished her nap.

Weekends usually involve one social thing (usually a play date where the adults get on too - win win), and one ‘outing’ - museum, a more exciting park, whatever.

We’re lucky to be in London with lots of free stuff and easy public transport, so we might be very different if that wasn’t the case!

Your son goes to nursery so he's getting socialisation so don't worry about it at all.

To answer the question though, I take mine out every day as they're a nightmare in the house! Off to nursery in September though so less pressure on me then.

Every single day without fail, come rain or shine/ snow. Did us both good. Only for a walk or to feed the ducks at the park.

I'd take mine out every day for the sake of everyone's sanity but it would often just be a walk to the post box, play on the swings or a trip round Tesco.

We'd do one soft play a week and nursery 2 days. The occasional playdate (didn't know many other mums at the time)

I don’t think there’s a definite rule. Some toddlers are homebodies, some need space to shout and run and climb, some need other people, some need the stimulation of changing scenery etc. If your DC is happy, that’s all that matters.

If you’re really worried, increase the number of days he spends at nursery. At 3yo, my dc were in 5 mornings per week. It worked for them and for me. Don’t judge yourself by other people’s standards.

Tbh, I take mine out twice a day (usually home for lunch and nap in the middle of the day) or go out for the whole day but that’s just because I find if we stay inside I’m just constantly refereeing fights or tidying up mess after mess so it’s more for my sanity rather than theirs. We live in a 2 bed flat in central London so there’s lots going on outside and lots of shops/parks etc on our doorstep. I think if we had a bigger house and I had to travel more to get to anything I’d be less inclined to leave though.

Everyone is different so I wouldn't compare as long as you are both happy.

My son is 2 and goes to childcare Monday - Wednesday full days . We then normally go the zoo/park/soft play/see friends etc on Thursdays. Friday I take him swimming and shops. Saturday we tend to do something as a family even if it's just for food or to the farm . Sundays he has rugbytots in the morning and then we tend to chill out .

Someone told me he acts like an adult because I don't socialise him enough and I feel really bad for it.
Well that person is a dick.

It sounds fine. More days at nursery as you build up to school starting probably won’t be a bad thing but really you’re doing plenty.

DD is 3 and she goes out every day. Nursery 3 days a week, swimming on a Saturday, toddler group on a Friday and on a Sunday and Monday we get out somewhere, be that round to FIL's house, or to the shops, or a walk in the park. But that's because she's like her dad and gets cabin fever!

Always once, sometimes twice a day, whatever the weather. For my sanity as well as the 2yo's! We regularly walk to the post box if I can't be bothered to go anywhere of note 😂 grandparents get a lot of pictures posted to them - they love it (we don't see them often as they're in poor health and live quite far, in fact both sides of our family are far away so we hardly see any of them either).

Every day. My kids need to be outside every day or we all go bonkers.

everyday to the park. Then one other thing - seeing friends, song time at the library, swimming etc.
Staying in = stress to us. I know very child is different though ans others may be fine. I needed to go for a walk a lot before he was born.

I used to take mine out twice a day at that age, but I don't see the problem with not doing it, he's getting socialisation at nursery. It also depends on the child. My son couldn't have been less interested in other kids at 3, and at 9 his ideal day is one where we stay in, see nobody, and he doesn't have to get dressed. My daughter in the other hand is a real people person and loooves socialising and always has. Her ideal day would include a playground trip with a friend (or 5), a playdate and a party. And dinner at a restaurant. (This is what I get for having kids with an extrovert). If you and your child are happy, then stick with it.

Every day or he's absolutely vile. But if your child is happy at home then that's great! I wouldn't worry at all.

Always daily for my own sanity as much as theirs. Do you have a library? Ours do song or story time so you're doing something and don't have to interact like at a play group where you can feel like you're being ignored and everyone is in a clique.

Someone told me he acts like an adult because I don't socialise him enough and I feel really bad for it.
Nonsense. He acts like an adult because he is around adults. That is not a bad thing. He has a garden for fresh air and nursery for contacts with other toddlers and trips to the real world with you.
So many toddlers are practically feral. Be grateful for what you have.

Everyday at least twice, because that is what worked for my wellbeing. It also kept the house slightly tidier. Now we went on a walk not necessarily into an activity.

Mind your self and do your best that is all anyone can do. Sounds like you have a good mix of activities

We go out every day for both of our sakes even if it's just for a drive but 99% of the time we get out for a walk. Parks are hard for us to access as my toddler is in a wheelchair and unable to sit unaided so can't use the vast majority of play equipment. He's blind too so we tend to head for places with lots of sounds and different surfaces for his wheelchair to go over. Places like soft play are noisy and scary when you have no idea what is happening around you, even those with sensory areas tend to have lots of mobile children in them so are not suitable for us.

Every day- but as others have said that's because of my own mental health: I hate feeling cooped up in the house with him. And the things I do aren't necessarily very social, especially when he was younger: we used to go for a walk to the park, feed the ducks, just the two of us, or sit in a cafe and have a drink/biscuit and chat.

The thing that stresses me out majorly is having their little friends and their parents round to play etc- I do make myself do it from time to time but, like with you and going out, I hate it because it triggers massive social anxiety in me and definitely don't do it as often as some people I know.

Basically we all parent in different ways, adapting those ways to what suits us and suits our kids. As long as your child is getting some social time with other kids, loving care from you, fresh air most days (love a bit of garden time!), that's literally all he needs. And if you need to stay home a lot of the time to be that safe loving parent, that's what works best for you.

Daily. School nursery every morning, afternoons we tend to only have one afternoon at most in the house, the other times we do gymnastics, a cooking class, swimming, pop to the shop - we are often time limited as we have to to pick up her older sister which is another trip out and we tend to walk/scoot and she plays with the other younger siblings in the school yard.

I realised overlock down they my kids need to be outside in the fresh air and to get enough exercise to sleep.

Be thankful your child gets to rest and play in his own space. He doesn't need to be out everyday.