3 year old won't walk anywhere

[rubblesrules]

Just wondering if this is normal as his friends seem to manage to walk a lot more than he does!

He is glued to his buggy board or even goes in the double buggy if we go anywhere. If we don't take an option for him we end up carrying him as he claims he is too tired to walk.

When do they start being able to walk anywhere?! I'm talking a 5 minute walk to the park and back...

[Yika]

Some kids just don't like walking much I think. My DD is extremely active and athletic, loves playgrounds, running, climbing etc. but will not walk anywhere. I used a pushchair until she was 4, and would have kept going for longer except for the embarrassment factor (mine not hers). She dawdles, stops, sits down or goes in the wrong direction - and she's 6 now. I still have to carry her if we need to e.g. run for the bus. Sorry. :)

[BobbieDog]

My dd who is 4 is a pain to walk with. She hates walking, cries and complains constantly.

Im very frequently told its because shes used to the car...

[Phalarope]

3.3, and will walk half a mile to the park, and have a decent stab at walking back afterwards, although the last stretch involves me being very UPBEAT and CHEERY and inventing elaborate new ruses and bribes to persuade her onwards. Generally use balance bike or scooter, which is quicker and less exhausting on my creativity.

I have refused to carry her though since she was about 2 and a half, so she knows there's no option. Her dad just picks her up because he gets bored with the slower pace, and she whinges more when she's with him. I don't expect brisk walking or straight lines, and I normally factor in a snack if it's a long session.

God I miss a brisk walk without feigning enthusiastic interest in squirrels/bin lorries/shouting about dog poo.

[PlugUgly1980]

My 3 year old will walk a couple of miles, usually with a stop at the shops/park. The first half she'll walk nicely, second half she clearly gets tired and will start dragging her feet, but she's pretty much had to walk since she was 2 and her baby brother evicted her from the pushchair! She's slow, we do do a lot of looking for pussy cats, birds, planes or other random things, and usually treat her to a sweet or snack. That said she's at nursery full time during the week so our walks tend to be more for leisure anyway and therefore no pressure to be anywhere by a certain time etc.

[Jellyshoeshurtmyfeet]

When my two were little the eldest would walk quite a long way from about 2.5 but my youngest was terrible. He used to whine that his legs were broken! 😊 I carried him until he was about 5! As teens they are both very sporty and active though.

[melonribena]

Ds1 was like this! In the buggy until he was almost 4. Then almost overnight he became fine with walking more. We got a buggy board when ds2 came along (ds1 was 4.2) but he barely uses it

[melonribena]

He travels much further on his scooter than walking though!

[stillwantrachelshair]

DS was dreadful. He is our second (and last) child. He is now 4.8 and beginning to improve - he can walk about 2 miles now although often has to be distracted or bribed & we are beginning to build it up.
This time last year, he was still in the pushchair a lot of the time as he would just refuse to walk and I didn't have the time to argue nor the strength to carry him & the groceries or whatever. It was a real pain.
As Easter last year (when he was still in the pushchair taking DC1 to school) we started a bit of a boot camp & I refused to use the pushchair on the school run. We'd still take it on big days out & we only abandoned the pushchair completely at the beginning on the summer holidays (when he was 4.2).
He started reception in September & will now walk to school without complaining. We won't be risking walking home for a while yet as he is so tired, it's 1km & involves a steep hill. I am aiming for that after Easter.
DS is stubborn, lazy &, was such a fussy eater, that I just don't think he has enough energy. He also had no real interest in climbing in the playground or doing anything physical. He would happily spend hours on the swing or the see saw. The day he turned 4, he suddenly got really adventurous & climbs all over things and constantly runs but can't do a fireman's pole thing or the monkey bars, both of which DC1 was doing before she turned 4, and I think he's got a fear or heights so never goes that high up things.