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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

They won't go outside !

52 replies

Travelledtheworld · 10/04/2015 13:57

My two 15 and 16 rarely leave the house. It is a beautiful hot sunny day today with a nice breeze and they both refuse to do anything except stay inside and stare at screens.

They are both pale and spotty. They do no exercise. I am sure they will soon be suffering from vitamin D deficiency. Any suggestions or tactics for getting them out or do I just leave them to fester ?

OP posts:
specialsubject · 11/04/2015 17:26

go out yourself, with the router in your bag.

HormonalHeap · 11/04/2015 19:35

Welcome to my world. Ds 15 just been diagnosed with severe Vit D deficiency. No exercise just screens. When i dragged him from his dungeon to the doctor he actually winced in the sunlight.

Timeandtune · 11/04/2015 19:41

DS2 is 15 and has not left the house since the start of the school hols a week ago. When he was younger he was never in. He ran, climbed and jumped from morn till night. We have the dentist on Monday so that will count as exercise.

fuctifino · 11/04/2015 19:45

Blush didn't realise I'd ventured into teenagers!
Only a couple of weeks till I have a teen but I'm guessing it's older teens who are inactive.

Original poster
Travelledtheworld · 11/04/2015 20:19

Hormonal what were his symptoms and did the doctor give him a good talking to ? I have warned DS many times about Vitamin D deficiency but he just laughs at me.

He has DoE expedition in two weeks time and has worn his walking boots once since christmas. He ignores all suggestions that he should get out with a backpack on and do some fitness training.

OP posts:
Maliceaforethought · 11/04/2015 20:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

unlucky83 · 11/04/2015 20:38

DD1 (14) the same - she has been out of the door once since the Thur before good Friday. So once in 9 days. Two days ago I forced her to come to the local town centre with the incentive of being able to go and get a book in Waterstones and then we went to hobbycraft to get her some air dry clay ...making something with that was the only thing apart from staring at a screen she had shown an interest in doing...it is still in the packet. She wouldn't even come into the supermarket - sat in the car on her phone. Total time out of 2.5 hrs.

Apparently she loves books Hmm but she only reads after I've taken her phone and laptop off her at 11pm ...she will read until the early hours. But as soon as she gets up the laptop is on again...
Actually apparently she told me she did sit outside for 5 mins with a cup of tea as well - I didn't see her do that (I was out) and not sure I believe her...
And she is threatening to go 'shopping' on Monday ...not sure it is going to happen though.
I'm taking her to visit her grandparents (a few hundreds of miles away) on Tue - I'm dreading it - my DM hates staying in and will be all for being out all day everyday ...I foresee either a massive clash.... or DD falling sick with shock at the excessive fresh air/exercise/Vit D ...Grin

weaselwords · 11/04/2015 21:03

My 17 yr old not only got up in the morning, but went out too, today. Admittedly to sit and stare at screens in someone else's house, but its a start.

Youngest is 13 and has the circadian rhythm of a badger, but once he is finally up he's mostly out down the park.

Now I realise why my parents got me a horse at 15. I got plenty of sun burn shine and didn't see a bit for years!

weaselwords · 11/04/2015 21:03

Boy! Not bit.

mathanxiety · 12/04/2015 02:05

What are two teens supposed to do outside?

Play hide and seek?

Original poster
Travelledtheworld · 12/04/2015 07:07

I would be pleased if they just sat in the sunshine for 20 minutes, or took a short walk....Sad

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 12/04/2015 07:55

.

MeanwhileHighAboveTheField · 12/04/2015 10:48

I have two extremes here - 13 year old dd hasn't left the house all holidays apart from to walk the dog (when I insist) and to lie in the sunshine when the weather was nice last week.

15 year old ds has been skiing every day since the 2nd of April apart from one day paintballing and one biking! He has the most amazing goggle tan Grin

Original poster
Travelledtheworld · 12/04/2015 16:35

Rxcellent sparklingbrook
Grin.

OP posts:
bigbluebus · 12/04/2015 19:16

Glad it's not just mine then. DS (18) has barely left his room - although he is revising apparently I did point out that he could read a text book/revision guide whilst sitting in the garden. I even put a reclining chair out for him and it was quiet in the garden as most of the neighbours had gone away. He lasted all of about 5 minutes before the brief appearance of a cloud had him scuttling back indoors.
He has been to the gym, but that involves walking to the car on the drive (a distance of a few feet) and then a couple of metres from the car park to the gym at the other end - so no fresh air or sunlight even if he is getting some exercise at the gym. I too have been scoffed at when I have alluded to a Vit D deficiency or rickets.

I can't wait for him to go back to college tomorrow - at least he has to walk to/from the bus stop which probably means about 20 mins in daylight in total for the day Sad

unlucky83 · 12/04/2015 19:49

Ha Sparkling!! I'm so relating to that...
Bit chillier here today and I've had to put the heating back on...
Had a go at DD1 earlier said she was getting spots etc - badly needed to get some fresh air and daylight.
About 30 min later I thought its cold even with the heating on Hmm
Found DD1 sitting on the kitchen doorstep -door wide open, laptop on knee...
I told her in or out but get the door closed ....which led to a 15 min argument about how I could never make mind up what I wanted her to do...did I want her to get more fresh air or not -sigh Grin

mathanxiety · 12/04/2015 22:21

That's what mine would all do Sparklingbrook, but they would need some help with the glare on their screens. Maybe a beach umbrella...

Sparklingbrook · 12/04/2015 22:24

DS1 (15) was lay on his bed playing PS4 earlier, and the sun was coming through the window, he complained it was burning his leg. Hmm

Kat1687 · 13/04/2015 12:45

My 2 boys are 15 and 12 and are also glued to their screens.

The oldest will occasionally venture out with friends but my youngest has ADHD and can't be trusted on his own yet. This means that he doesn't go out and I can't leave him alone to go out myself.

I have got a real case of cabin fever and dread the school holidays now. I used to love them but now I know I will just be stuck inside for days.

The only things that will tempt them away from their computers cost a fortune.

I really miss the days when we could just pop out to the countryside for a walk or down the beach.

Sparklingbrook · 13/04/2015 13:20

DS2 (13) has gone back to school today. it was painful trying to get him up and out.
Ds1 (15) has a whole extra day of staying in and goes back tomorrow.

Sad
shadypines · 13/04/2015 13:58

It's tough OP isn't it, esp if like me you grew up in the days when kids were always outside.

My 15yr old is similar at the moment, always seems to be glued to FIFA on PC, I have to be strict, and I find really stressful, but I do my best to limit screen time. DH says useful things like, you have to let him do what he wants, he's nearly 16yr Confused WTF? I do my best to get him doing jobs around the house (ha ha ha) or sent him to the local shop. Luckily there are extra lessons on at school this Easter which he is going to and that gets him out but I am dreading mid June when he has finished GCSEs.

If yours are not outdoors and always on screens I think you need to limit their time on there, pull plugs out if necessary. Do your best to find them other things to do, do they help around the house or garden? At least doing housework they get some exercise..it does drive you mad though and I feel your pain.

shadypines · 13/04/2015 14:02

DS1 (15) was lay on his bed playing PS4 earlier, and the sun was coming through the window, he complained it was burning his leg. hmm

Smile ....at they they are providing us with some humour Sparkling, albeit unintended.

I've just made DS 15yr and DD 13yrs wash up after lunch....desperate measures and all that, at least they can't do that 'virtually' via a screen...yet

Needaglassofwinedotcom · 13/04/2015 14:04

Mine too! Marking place for support!

Coconutty · 13/04/2015 14:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Faithless · 13/04/2015 14:24

Be careful what you wish for indeed.
DS15 extracted himself from his bedroom last week and went to the park with his mates to play football. The park was waterlogged. He went in goal. Came back caked in mud, from head to toe, it was even on his undies, in his hair. Mud all over the door handle, up an interior wall, all over the carpet. Muddy pool on the doormat where he stripped off his clothes. Luckily I was off work so was around to stop him there to contain the damage. Mud all over the towel he subsequently wrapped around him.
Later, he posted a video on facebook of his friend diving head first into the swampy park puddle we don't let the dog go in because it stinks. Good luck to that lad's mum.