How to deal with a lazy walker? Advice Please.

[mamadiva]

Today we had our induction at nursery which is 20 minute walk away from our house, so I thought well since DS was 3 in June and now that bridge has been built (reducing the walk from 35 mins) I will let him take his scooter. Well 45 minutes and a lot carrying/pushing and tantrums later we got there.

We don't drive and I had hioped to stay away from buses as much as I could around here as A) We can't really afford them and B) Surely a 3YO should be able to cope with that, but it seems not he walks for around 15 minutes and then gets tired.

I am being driven mad by it as we have friends with children much younger and they are constantly pointing out that there child has been walking all the time since whatever age because they have had other children and did'nt want to be pushing a dpouble pram etc but I don't know whether to keep pushing my DS or opt for the easy life and let him stay in the pram if he wants.

Any advice on how to deal with this would be greatly appreciated.

[rubyslippers]

he is 3 - what is the big deal of him being in a buggy?

[zubin]

He is still so little, only just 3 is tiny - I would def let him stay in the buggy and ignore anyone else.

[justaphase]

What works with my DS is telling him a story. I usually make one up and get him to participate. I find that he is very enthusiastiic about going if he knows that a story is on the cards.

Of course then he throws a major tantruum once we gget there about not wanting to stay but this is a separate issue

[notevenamousie]

Mine is a little younger than yours and very variable about walking. If I take the pushchair, she will walk that kind of distance, we only do tantrums in its absence

[CMOTdibbler]

My DS was 3 in May, and he wouldn't walk for 20 minutes without being picked up for some of the way. I'm happy to carry him on my shoulders for a bit, which gives him a little rest till he's ready to go again.

Personally, in your position, I'd take the pram and the scooter (if it folds)so that he has the choice

[Snowtiger]

Sorry, know this isn't helpful but am PMSL because I read your thread title as 'what to do with a lazy wanker' which I thought was a bit of a strong way to describe a 3 year old!

On the more helpful side, I'd either go with the buggy, if it makes life easier for you, or if you're really keen on persuading him to walk, make sure you keep his attention on something other than walking e.g. counting how many dogs you see, or looking out for ducks, or red cars, or people wearing hats and have a competition of how many you can spot. Just anything to keep his attention off the fact he's walking - also a good way to get him interested in counting / colours etc. I do this a lot with my DS who is just 2, and he loves spotting different animals etc. He doesn't even realise he's learning to count and to recognise colours!

[moomaa]

IME if it is a walk you do reguarly then he will learn that is a place you walk to. My Ds knows he walks to playgroups and pre school, he gets the buggy to town etc. I have to put up with a week or two's worth of moaning with each place that I add though.

[nappyaddict]

Opt for the easy life

[Doyouthinktheysaurus]

I would just use a buggy if I were you.

DS2 hates walking and I didn't insist on him walking that distance until he was 3.10, just before he finished playgroup to start school.

Ignore other people. DS1 had to walk because DS2 was in the buggy and TBH it was hell. It took forever to get anywhere and I would have to deal with tantrums because he was tired. Life's too short.

[WhereTheWildThingsWere]

At that age I always took the buggy when we were walking and ds just hopped in and out of it as he wished, he got so good at it he could jump in whilst the buggy was in motion.

He is still quite little, he'll being running everywhere before you know it.

[purepurple]

Because my DS was walking at 10 momths and didn't use his buggy after he turned 2, when DD was able I made her walk everywhere.
She used to complain and I would end up carrying her most journeys.
Even when she started school, I would sometimes have to carry her a little way. I had a bus to catch, as I don't drive either.
When she had a health check in reception, they found that she has flat feet and walking was painful for her as it gave her aches in her legs.
I felt pretty awful at forcing her to walk.
So,OP, I agree, use the buggy as long as you want and ignore the comments of others.
He doesn't need to use the buggy for the whole journey.

[mamadiva]

I thought someone was having the same problem as me there, then realised it was my own thread... DOH!!!

We have met a new mum on the way to nursery now and her DD also 3 walks all the way to nursery and back so hopefully it might encourage DS now too. But in the meantime will stick with the pushchair and let him get in and out as hewants, although he does'nt tend to ask to get out he just sits there happily staring at cars and things LOL.

[MmeLindt]

He is still quite young to do a 20 min walk regularly. Certainly coming home will be difficult as he will be tired.

My DD is and always has been a good walker. DS is not.

Could you do some walking at other times to build him up to it, when you are not actually trying to get somewhere.

Do a puddle walk and let him jump in puddles when it rains. Let him collect acorns and leaves.

[bubblagirl]

at that age i always took buggy for back up there only just attempting t walk longer distances there still small especially if made to jog by the side of you if you don't want to walk there pace they tire quicker

my ds can now walk long distance at 4 but i still have chair as back up just in case i think your ds is doing well he just needs to get used to it i would take chair still so if he does tire he can sit in for 5 mins

we started doing nature walks round the block 2 times a day it was only 15 mins all round but we started doing it twice a day taking binoculars lots of distraction looking at trees collecting leaves etc he loved this the walk wasn't to long and once we started doing it few times a day his tolerance and stamina built up gradually but only few months back was he able to do real long distances and i will never expect him to walk 2 ways on long walk just one so chair is always there as back up