Walking distances and 3 year olds

[BsshBossh]

My DD turned 3 last week and we've ditched the buggy (well, kept it in the shed, to be used only on long days out - perhaps). My view is to get her walking as much as possible now so that she builds up her stamina. She's capable of walking 1.5 miles in one go without tiring which is great as that's the distance to the big park in our area with the lovely cafe? Then she walks back after a play and sit down.

How far can I expect a 3yo to walk? How far can your 3yo walk comfortably (this is discounting those DC with disabilities)?

[MyBoyJakey]

WOW! DS is just 4 and tires after a few steps!! Well, not literally! lol!

Big up to your little missy

[hazeyjane]

I don't know they are all different.

[BsshBossh]

Sorry, yes I know they are all different, so I'm expecting a range of responses .

[hazeyjane]

ok, well when dds were 3. sometimes they could walk a couple of miles, and sometimes they couldn't walk very far at all without getting tired.

Dd2 (4) still goes in the buggy sometimes.

[mouseanon]

When mine were 3 they would happily walk 6 miles one day then refuse to walk down the road another and there was no reasoning with them LOL. I think they were both around 3.5 when they were more reliable though DS ended up using the buggy until about 3y 9m over the winter as he had one cough after another and was really quite unwell a lot of the time (inc being sent to the hospital by the GP). Once he was well we ditched it and he's been fine. A lot depends on what else they do in the day as well. DD was at nursery every afternoon when she was 3 which was quite tiring for her so then she would be less inclined to walk.

[steviesmith]

My 3.5 year old can do a 3 or 4 mile hill walk. It can also take 1/2 hour of moaning and whinging for him to do the 5 minute walk to the shop. I think it's about your mental energy and how interesting the walk is rather than the distance.

[hazeyjane]

...and the weather, and what the end destination is (stamina is lower on the school run than a trip to park, fore example!)

[Firawla]

mine is 3 at the end of this month and i normally dont get him to do more than about half a mile as its easier to get him to jump in the back of the pushchair but will be having to get him to walk all the time in a couple of months as we will need the other seat for new baby, but i would say 1.5 miles seems quite good for that age? for me its not that he couldn't walk further its just that i find it so slow going at children's pace..

[steviesmith]

I agree hazeyjane, the trip back from pre-school on a drizzly day when I've exhausted all my patience can feel like Shackleton trying to reach the Arctic.

[BsshBossh]

I have to admit that DD trots rather than walks most of the time because I walk quickly. If she dawdles or sits on the floor in protest I walk on, leaving her - just a few paces and always with her in my view - but it's enough for her to get the message and run after me and walk sensibly. 9 times out of 10 she walks really well and I've been persistent about never carrying her.

[BsshBossh]

But I get what some of you here are talking about when you mention "is it worth the mental energy"? . Just want to build up her walking stamina.

[jimblejambles]

Some days ds2 will happily walk/run the 1.5 mile walk to ds1 school and back other days he insists he can only walk to the top of the road.

[HyenaInPetticoats]

Mine will sometimes walk 3 miles over the hill to the beach and, after ice-creams and a lot of running around, about 2 1/2 miles back, whereupon exhaustion sets in very suddenly and has to be staved off with biscuits until I begin I think I'm an evil mother and he's genuinely unable to go any further, whereupon he runs across the last field to see the cows. Other days - no, sometimes the same day - he's so tired he has to sit on the pavement on the way to the shops (all of 500m). The pushchair broke when he was 2 1/2 and we haven't replaced it. I find that telling stories helps. I've never been comfortable with the walking off without him tactic because either he really does believe I'd leave him in the street, which I don't want, or he knows I'm making empty threats, which is bad news in the long run.

[BsshBossh]

Thank you all, this has all been very instructive.

[stickylittlefingers]

my two could cover a couple of miles easily at age 3, but had ditched the buggy aged two (i.e. as soon as they turned two), so they had had nigh on a year of walking at that stage. I am a "walk everywhere" person, so they've always been used to it.

[thefirstMrsDeVere]

My DD and DS1 could walk miles. But I didnt have a car so we just did it IYSWIM. I think I was also lucky that they were 'good' walkers. DD's nursery was at least 2 miles away and a round trip to the shops was about 3 plus shopping time.

DS2 didnt walk very much due to v. complicated family situation when he was little. Consquently he is a big whinge bag when forced to walk any distance now.

DS3 is a good walker in that he can walk for a good few miles but he definately does it 'his way' so I still use the double buggy if I am in a hurry.

DS4 - time will tell but hes a sturdy lad and desperate to follow his brothers so who knows

[GentleOtter]

Our ds can walk approx 3 miles including up the big hill behind our house - he probably walks further than us as he doubles back and runs around us.

My eldest son, now adult, would have been unwilling to walk more than 100 yards without demanding to be carried when he was three.

[wonka]

Depends what the goal is too...
Shops, will give up after 20 mins less than a mile,
Going to park about 2/3 miles.
WIth company, 5/6 miles..

[peanutbutterkid]

My current 3yo has managed up to 3/4 mile on occasion... at a pace that is about 1/4 of mine. Or maybe 1/10th of mine. I try to suspend the laws of time and space in order to summon the prequisite patience. Anyway, I'd rather have a life than pursue trying to get him to walk further, for now.

I should like to point out that so far all DC are athletic at age 6-7+, they win races, get recruited for sports clubs, that kind of thing.

[Tgger]

Think 1.5 miles is pretty good going! DS used to walk/run to the playground/to pre-school at 2.5/3 but this was only about quarter of a mile!

He has happily walked to school nursery from 3.5 but again this is only about half a mile each way. He started off really slow and now he can keep up with me or runs (he's now 4.5). He will do a 2/3 mile walk with friends, especially if there is an older child- say 6/7 year old.

DS only really got into his stride at nearer 4 than 3 and I'm still a bit careful what we do, as he's too heavy to carry very far! His friend who is nearly 6 walks for miles and miles so I have hope that DS will gradually get more stamina as he gets older- partly he just gets really tired in the afternoon and then it's hard to get him to walk more than say a mile tops.

[mummy22gorgeousboys]

Yeah depends on everything. Alfie did walk 7 miles on a regular National Trust walk with me and family (older boys etc) quite happily with a picnic. But then refuses to walk to the car after nursery!!

[osd]

My 2.5yo DS and 4yo DD can walk 3 miles or further. Again depending on many variables, but if we are doing a lot of walking in one day, like national trust house and garden, mall or cottage to beach and play ground i make sure i take the bushbaby venus and ergo sling as i can but the bigger one in the framed sling the younger one in the clothe sling and 1yo DS in pushchair. But only if it is a busy week with a mammoth amount of walking as i am no super women.

[Tgger]

Cor, do you manage to carry both of them at the same time (2.5 year old and 4 year old?) AND push a buggy. SUPERWOMAN!!! How much does your 4 year old weigh? Alas, mine is huge and weighs over 3 stone. Can't carry him that far... luckily his sister is diddy and hasn't made the 2 stone mark yet (is 2.5).

[osd]

Yeah I carry both, no choice dh is in forces so is never home, i think dd is about 3 stone or more ds is about 2 maybe more, sometimes if the baby cries, i put him on my him and push an empty buggy and he is about a stone now. But as i say no choice. I only really mind if it's very hot or if we have a cool back and beach toys caribioned (no idea on spelling) to the framed carrier. :)

[bilblio]

We ditched the buggy when DD was about 2.5, possibly earlier and she'd happily walk to town and back, a mile each way, downhill there, uphill home.

When she was just turned 3 we went on holiday and she discovered piggy backs!
To be fair we spent a few days walk miles off and on. I was also feeling much fitter than the year before after shedding 3 stone, so carrying 2.5 stone was nothing. It also gave me the opportunity to sprint off with DD for some much needed Mother / daughter time once the in-laws joined us in the second week. and helped justify eating cream teas

Now I'm pregnant again, so piggy backs are banned. She's nearly 4 now and she'll still walk 2-3 miles if she's in the mood.