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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

MNHQ

Would you rather your kids played indoors than out?

88 replies

HelenMumsnet · 05/08/2013 16:52

Hello.

We've been asked if MNers would rather their children played indoors than outside - and, if so, why?

Is it because it's just less faff? Or because it's safer?

And, if you do prefer your children to play outside, can you tell us why? What do they gain from outdoor play that they can't get indoors? And do you feel you're unusual in preferring to get them outside?

OP posts:
Tigerbomb · 05/08/2013 20:02

I've brought two children up (now in their 20's) in a three bedroom 2nd floor flat. Fortunately the flat was huge but there was a communal garden. The Dc's rarely went out there so they mainly played inside. The area we lived in at the time had a rather dodgy reputation and I didn't want them to play outside anyway.

So I suppose it depends on awful lot on what is available and where . For us at the time inside was definitely better than outside

Theincidental · 05/08/2013 20:03

Sorry, pressed send to early!

What a funny question! Who thinks kids belong indoors?

Not me. Outside getting muddy/wet/covered in sand from the beach etc

Fresh air exhausts children like nothing else, as well as being active and healthy it's fun and easy to stimulate them.

Breezy1985 · 05/08/2013 20:03

Mine prefer to be out, they are 7 & 9, at the moment they just come in to be fed.

They enjoy the freedom of being out, lots of friends to play with and just seem happier in general to be outside Smile

MrsGeologist · 05/08/2013 20:10

I prefer outdoors, but our garden isn't terribly safe at the moment and I can't spend all day every day at the park, so they spend more time indoors than I would like.

If my garden were safe, they'd spend most of the holiday outside.

RedundantExpat · 05/08/2013 20:12

Outside. Healthier and limited because of weather conditions, so seems more precious.

MNHQ, I also want to know who wants to know.

CMOTDibbler · 05/08/2013 20:16

Outside. ds needs to burn off energy, and the garden or the green opposite is the best place to be running round.
At the weekends we are out all the time.

PollyPlummer · 05/08/2013 20:22

Outside. We try to get out every day. If they play inside they fight over toys. If they play outside they run around pretending to hunt for dinosaurs. No fighting and they wear themselves out. It's a win win situation.

Nagoo · 05/08/2013 20:24

Outside. They tire themselves out and my house stays clean.

TheOneWithTheHair · 05/08/2013 20:28

Either.

I also think it's extremely odd that MNHQ don't know who is asking the question.

TheOneWithTheHair · 05/08/2013 20:35

Actually I prefer them to be outside when they can. We usually have so much rain that I like to take advantage of any dry weather at all.

JambalayaCodfishPie · 05/08/2013 20:35

I must admit, I read 'We've been asked' and immediately thought by who.

Why can't we know - because it may affect our answers?

MNHQ
HelenMumsnet · 05/08/2013 20:40

@TheOneWithTheHair

Either.

I also think it's extremely odd that MNHQ don't know who is asking the question.

Sorry, folks. Been away from my screen.

We've been asked by Sky News, I believe. They're thinking of running a story tomorrow.

OP posts:
TheOneWithTheHair · 05/08/2013 20:49

Thanks Helen. Not much of a mystery! Grin

MNHQ
HelenMumsnet · 05/08/2013 20:52

@TheOneWithTheHair

Thanks Helen. Not much of a mystery! Grin

Indeed! Maybe we should have strung you out for another couple of hours?

OP posts:
TheOneWithTheHair · 05/08/2013 20:56

Imagine the outrage. Hehe. Grin

AllSWornOut · 05/08/2013 21:00

Outside. DC is very physical and goes nuts if he's cooped up all day inside. Can't wait to move somewhere we'll have a garden.

MoreSnowPlease · 05/08/2013 21:06

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request

SupermansBigRedPants · 05/08/2013 21:22

Df takes ds into the back garden every day the weathers good - they go on the swings, play with the random toys around, ds helps daddy in the shed, yesterday they took up the pond :) ds loves helping but poor mite just gets in my way so daddy is god to him!

Dd likes going out on the swings too or out front on her bike or to kick a ball about.

Gets them out my way which is fab pregnant lazy and cba listening to them whinge and the fresh air does them good.

mellicauli · 05/08/2013 21:49

If your children play outside. you can actually hear what they are saying on Radio 4 and this leads to better all-round Mothering.

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 05/08/2013 21:53

Outside is our preference - the house gets less messy!

We have a smallish back garden though and no where close enough for them to play outdoors unsupervised which means that if they play anywhere other than the garden I have to go too. That's not always possible for instance at tea time when I need to be preparing the evening meal.

Our dc are like dogs - they need a good run around outdoors every day! They play together for far longer outside and seem to use their imaginations more. They get less bored of their toys outside in the garden too. We're pretty well equipped with waterproofs and warm clothes for in cold weather so it's unusual for bad weather to stop them playing outdoors completely - just for shorter periods.

Bicnod · 05/08/2013 22:05

Outside.

We moved out of London to buy a house with a decent garden and I am grateful for it every day.

I have two very energetic boys who need to burn off energy so spend time outside every day come rain or shine.

racingheart · 05/08/2013 22:29

Outdoors, definitely. One of the reasons we left London was so they could spend their free time outdoors. We're surrounded by woods, hills, streams, wildlife, and have a garden full of swings and slides and trampoline.

But they still need to be booted off the sofa first most days. Once they're out there, though, they love it - water fights and cycle rides, bonfires and target practise. they come in all rosy cheeked and happy in a way they never are after a session on screens - or maybe it's just me that feels happier seeing them like that. They just seem healthier and happier afterwards.

Also, when they play inside it gets soooo untidy - out come warhammer, every musical instrument under the sun, a mortgageable quantity of Lego, plus all the cushions off the sofas to build dens and trenches. Much rather they just trailed a bit of mud across the kitchen floor.

DelayedActionMouseMaker · 05/08/2013 22:55

Outside. It's why we are renting where we are rather than buying a house with a postage stamp garden. (Which would be all we could afford.) We are probably royally messing up our future, but I want my kids to grow up knowing and loving the outdoors and the natural world as much as DH and I did.
As it happens we have little choice in the matter, dd lives on her trampoline and DS is out the door as soon as he has inhaled his breakfast in the morning, in his pj's and whoevers shoes he finds first. :)

LadyLech · 05/08/2013 23:53

Hell no, why would I want them under my feet, when I could kick them out to the park and not have to deal with their fighting until tea time? If I'm really lucky, they'll meet up with friends, ask if they can stay there for tea, and I won't have them home until bedtime Grin.

However, this method does unfortunately come with the catch that every now and then I have to do my stint at feeding 6 children which randomly turn up for their tea.

Thankfully, I live in a village on the edge of the Cotswolds, which is nice and safe and where most people chuck their kids out to play from year 1 (so thankfully there is usually a friend they can find.)

KristinaM · 06/08/2013 03:42

Outside. That's the whole point of living in the country. We have a large garden and are surrounded by fields and woods.

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