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Is 3 miles a day too far for a 5yr old?

19 replies

ihatelego · 11/03/2015 11:29

Hi basically at the minute I drive my son to school everyday as I'm heavily pregnant. I'm really keen once I've had the baby to walk my son to school rather than drive as I want to get fit again and when the weather's lovely i'd rather be out in the open than stuffing us all in a car!

But I'm not sure if it's a bit far, it's 1.5 miles to get there so he'd be walking 3 miles a day, he is a bit of a complainer when it comes to walking he does have a scooter and i've been looking at buggy boards but not sure how practical one of those would be. Is it worth trying?

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NickiFury · 11/03/2015 11:32

I'd do one way, probably morning. He will so tired at the end of the day. Maybe look at it again in a few months.

Moniker1 · 11/03/2015 11:37

The more exercise you do the fitter you get. So after a few weeks I'd say it's no probs and healthy for him.

My Dsis walked 3 miles each way every day (no car), am old and walked/cycled 3+miles a day each way. It was the norm then.

I expect you will be criticized nowadays.

ClassicTron · 11/03/2015 11:38

1.5 miles is about 30 mins? Doesn't seem unreasonable to me but a scooter might be the best idea. Massive % of Dc use them to get to Infant school round here.

morningsarepants · 11/03/2015 11:41

My son walks just over a mile to school and back every day. DD will do so too when she starts and she will only be 4 and a quarter. Yes they get tired, but they get used to it and it keeps everyone fit.
I do try to pick him up once or twice a week in the car though which he does look forward to!

hbr1989 · 11/03/2015 11:50

I think it's reasonable and a similar distance to what I do with my five yesr old. A lot of people have no choice but to walk this distance to school everyday. I always aim to walk one way but now that the weather is turning we will be walking both ways

ihatelego · 11/03/2015 11:56

yeah maybe if i have a go and start just once a day he'll get used to it more gradually, there is a park on the way which we could stop at on the way back. He's 5 going on 15 atm and it's hard to get him out to play so I'd like him to get some more fresh air and exercise really.

I did have an idea about driving him to school, leaving the car there walking back and then walking there and driving him home but according to dp that's a silly idea!

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ClassicTron · 11/03/2015 12:37

I did have an idea about driving him to school, leaving the car there walking back and then walking there and driving him home but according to dp that's a silly idea!

I used to do that on nice days when DS1 was in pre-school.

Almostnever · 11/03/2015 12:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ClassicTron · 11/03/2015 12:46

I don't think it's about it being a bit much. I can run 26 miles, but I wouldn't want to do it before a day's work. I don't think it's unreasonable for Op to consider how walking would affect her DC's tiredness etc in school.

ihatelego · 11/03/2015 12:47

almostnever every person i've mentioned too has ummed and ahhed about whether it's too far and said it's a very long walk to do. I'd love it to work and i'll definitely try but just anticipating a LOT of complaining from my son.

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RoganJosh · 11/03/2015 12:51

It's not half an hour for a 5 yr old though, not mine. It takes me 25 mins to do 1.5 miles, walking briskly. I would guess it would take my five year old double that.
I'd try the distance out and see how you feel. Maybe just do one way or park the car halfway each time?
That way it's a decent walk but not so long it becomes a drag for you both.
Also, once your baby is born, 25 mins to get there, ten mins at school and 50 minute walk home is a long time to be not able to feed. I would have found that hard, anyway.

BarneyBoots · 11/03/2015 12:51

It's fine - but maybe have a buggy board/snacks/drinks organised to make the trip a treat rather than a chore.

(i.e. mid point top for a drink. Snack straight after school to boost blood sugar - accept that he might be on the buggy board most of the way back to begin with. )

I'm personally not a big scooter fan. Cant really chat so well - and a bit of a parenting minefield - what with old dears being spooked by them, DC possibly zooming off out of sight, needing to carry it home, protective gear or not etc etc etc.

LtGreggs · 11/03/2015 12:55

Top tip from me - on the way back MAKE SURE HE USES THE TOILET before you set off. Both my DS would have managed that walk - but would frequently have had 'I need a wee / poo' 15 mins out of the school gate...

ScaryMaryHinge · 11/03/2015 12:59

Out of necessity DD has walked 1.2 miles to and from school since reception. Not having the option of driving in some ways makes it easier, there's no point in her winging about it because she has no other option, therefore she doesn't. 1.5 miles isn't really that far, and at least you know everyday he's had some exercise.

A lot of children who walk the same route as us scoot and seem to enjoy it, but I wouldn't get a buggy board. One woman I know used one for the first couple of years of school with her DS and she always looked so uncomfortable trying to push her toddler and son at the same time.

Teladi · 11/03/2015 13:02

I used to walk almost exactly that distance in all weathers to primary school. It was normal and OK.

Fleecyleesy · 11/03/2015 13:06

Its not that it's too much for a 5yo to walk for 30 mins, I found that when I picked mine up at that age, they were quite exhausted (mentally and physically) and often had "held it together" until they finished school and then fell apart (eg cried/shouted etc) once they were picked up. Plus at the end of the school day you can be presented with unexpected craft items and the like, peed on clothes, etc etc so I would say better to walk in morning and drive in afternoon. Plus our school (presume all schools are the same in this respect) keeps kids very active during the day, not sitting at desks, partic aged 5.

ihatelego · 11/03/2015 13:13

true, i'd have to test it to see how long it took with him, he keeps up with me fine normally but if he gets tired he can insist his legs don't work anymore bless him. true about the feeding, difficult to work it all out maybe i'll have to wait a bit first!

Just feeling quite miserable atm with my appalling fitness and difficulty moving around i think like a lot of pregnant women i'm itching to be able to get out and about moving again.

yeah scooters aren't ideal but i wouldn't mind (i say that now haha) carrying it back if it made it more fun and easier for him. Maybe i'm being a bit ambitious really will have to work out how best to do it.

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ihatelego · 11/03/2015 13:16

excellent tip Greggs - i can easily see that happening!

ok will probably not go for buggy board as it wouldn't be long before he was max age/weight for it anyway.

Yes he is one or the other after school, really cheery and happy or a face like thunder so will start out just the morning :)

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Theas18 · 11/03/2015 13:26

Surely a decent breakfast and 30 mins walk would set a 5yr old up fora mirning of learning - at dH prep the kids turn up 30 mins before school and spend that time running around like greyhounds ! They run around at break and do at least an hour of sport a day too.

This is year 3 so 7yr olds but the little ones have even more outside time, and if they don't get outside classroom behaviour deteriorates fast ( hence they do go out in the rain and snow even)

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