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Get Outside and Play! |Pad Patter 12.29

AnneofAlamo

AnneofAlamo

Slippers IN sunshine? Even better!
Joined
Aug 30, 2009
Messages
19,713
It is 50 degrees Fahrenheit here. That is 10 C! Beautiful! My boys have been out for an hour. NONE of their friends can come out, because it is too cold? What? My boys said, they are actually watching TV or playing video games..bhahhah
I'm the mean mom on the block...get our and play, is my most common phrase. Well, that and someone wiggle the toilet handle!!
Is your neighborhood quiet? Or are the kids out and about with no school?
 
My neighborhood is quiet all the time. I'm always surprised to see a lot of kids if I happen to be out when a school bus is picking them up, because I rarely see them at other times.
 
There are typically kids outside in my neighborhood all the time. It's not so pleasant here, today, so everyone is inside. I do love that the neighborhood is full of kids playing outside most of the time!
 
My kids were outside a lot yesterday. It was nice here. But a cold front is coming in and it is pretty windy & cold out there now. I'm so not looking forward to January and February! My kids play outside a lot when it's nice outside.
 
We're not home, but at our place in Michigan. A family from church just happens to be staying at the resort here and their oldest two are the same ages as our two. They skied together yesterday from open to close (9am to 9pm) with just a couple breaks, once to play pool here and another to play outdoor laser tag. Clara and I had a spa day this morning, but Alex was out with the friends skiing all morning.... Clara joined them right after lunch. Then it was fat tire biking and back out on the slopes tonight. The friends leave tomorrow midday, and my two are going to be WORN out!
 
Back in the olden days (60's & 70's) we played outside in the winter by putting on coats, hats & gloves now days that is considered punishment to go outside.

Kids today don't know how to play --- I recently heard a little boy say why doesn't this truck go or make noises. I remember having to push my trucks (yes I played with trucks instead of dolls) and make the siren noises.
 
Our neighborhood is pretty quiet, but only because all the kids are grown. When my older 2 were young, the yard was filled all the time, no matter what the weather. It was so much fun! We had bonfires and sledding in the winter, picnics bike riding the rest of the year. But, it seems all the children were around the same age and all are adults now. My 11 year old is getting the shaft with no one in the neighborhood to really play with, and he loves to be outside. It was about 50 here today and he was out shooting basketball.
 
Ours were out and about today and yesterday with friends... since there is a school break. Usually during the school week, there is soccer, homework, and they only get a few minutes to play outside with friends - if it's nice. We are lucky that there are kids out back, and some more in the neighborhood, but ours is SLOWLY rolling over from older families to younger families with kids.

It's getting colder, but my kids don't feel cold, so they are out during winter. Half the time they will put a hoodie on and go... until I say put a coat on if it's cold. They will take breaks and come it for hot chocolate, play some video games, and then usually start over outside again, round and round.

I don't know of anyone who thinks hats, jackets, gloves, and the winter gear as punishment. As long as my kids have coats on if its cold, then they can go play. I think by me, most parents push their kids outside for a bit since many kids like electronics, at least more so than in the past! Each generation has their own pros and cons.
 
We took the kids out for a bit this evening after dinner. They didn't seem too interested after a small amount of time. We came in and read some books instead. Now, they're playing with their new flashlights (they've turned off all the lights) and are pretending to be Dr. Brennan (Bones) looking for bones and blood spatter. :giggle
 
Mine was outside yesterday playing with the neighbors. Today, we ran errands, and just barely got all the groceries put away! But yes, go play is often said at my house, and outside as much as possible! Our backyard is rocks though, so we usually walk up to the park - a green area, no play equipment. I'm excited that a friend moved to the neighboring street. Now the kids have a pretty big circle to ride their bikes around!
 
Our neighborhood is pretty quiet. All the kids are grown now. But back in the day we used to make an ice rink in our back yard. The kids LOVED it! We had a fire pit area where if it was really cold (and for Michigan that would not be 50 bwahh) my hubby would put a fire going and we had a homemade large grate that I would put a large pot (an old canning pot) that I would have hot chocolate or hot cider in for them. They would stay out all day. When they got older one of my best memories of the ice rink is falling asleep hearing them playing hockey well into the night... the puck hitting the boards the muffled laughing and yelling to each other.
 
My daughter goes to the rink to "play". ha! But it's hard to get my son away from his computer, unless its to go to work.
 
It's been very warm here and santa brought a trampoline so the boys have been out a lot this week. My neighborhood is so quiet though, I never hear kids playing outside.
 
Our street is very quiet. All the kids are grown except for a few at the other end of the block and we never hear them play, we just see them as they walk by with their dog. We do hear lots of kids in the schoolyard behind us at lunchtime though. I enjoy hearing them playing back there.
 
Our neighborhood has LOTS of kids. And yet during the summer, you hardly ever see any of them outside. I usually send mine out like you Anne, "get out and play" and there are neighbors across the street that do the same so they end up playing together.

It's winter here and snowy and cold. I let the kids out into the snow when the wind chill isn't too nippy. And again, them and the neighbors across the street are the only ones outside usually.

I remember being outside all the time growing up. But now the electronics have a way of making zombies out of kids. Sometimes I don't wonder if that's the whole reason some of these kids even get them, is that the parents want them to "leave them alone" ...it's definitely a distraction and keeps them occupied.
 
I remember that the colder it got (like freezing temps) the more excited I got when I was a little girl. I still love the cold and I wish it was snowing here.
Playing outside is something you can do no matter how cold (okay, there is a line at like -15C or something) it is outside.

I'm actually going on a date with my dad tonight (date, lol) to our amazing zoo that is all decorated with lights. It's not actual playing outside, but we will spend the whole evening outside so I think it counts. It's around 4C here right now.
 
My youngest met up with his friend early this morning to play tennis. Had to play early to beat the heat - after spending a couple of hours there, they have spent the rest of the day playing computer games (and walking to the shops). They are currently playing board games with big brother and his friends - not a bad way to spend a very hot saturday...
 
I remember having a conversation with a mother who her son is friends with my son. We are both stay at home moms. We live in the country she lives in a subdivision they moved there thinking their kids would have a lot of other kids to play with. She said during the days the kids stay inside as most of the time the mothers are gone to work. So I really think this is the difference between when we were kids and now. Most parents just do not want their kids running around playing when they are not home.
My mother worked full time and we lived in the country and our neighborhood was filled with kids. We spent the days outdoors all day without even thinking of checking in with parents. Parents just don't think the same. I know myself if my kids take a long bike ride they need to have a cell phone of them so they can call home in an emergency.
 
Sokee said:
we lived in the country and our neighborhood was filled with kids. We spent the days outdoors all day without even thinking of checking in with parents.
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For me, that's the exact problem. I don't want my kid being the only one outside because there's safety in numbers. So, a bunch of kids outside in varying ages is much better than my kid by himself. And since the other kids are Mia, mine ends up inside unless I head out, or his friends are.
 
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