To hate the school run?

Would they?? My 2yo (nearly 3) happily walks 2-3 miles under his own steam. I don’t think most 5yos would struggle with a walk of less than a mile and I think OP is right to persevere - they’ll build up stamina and resilience with practice.

We had a very successful school run when my youngest started reception by looking out for the 'bears' that lived in the 'caves' (side streets/corners/paths) we encountered along the way. Tiptoeing up to them, youngest sneaking a look then ushering us forward because it was safe and the bear was asleep or sometimes telling us to run quickly past because the bear was awake and hungry. Can't take credit for it, it was entirely invented by my dad when he picked them up one afternoon but three years later we STILL sometimes look out for bears, still initiated by DC2! Needs a bit of modelling by you at first obviously but generally kids get the hang of stuff like that quite quickly!

Wrt rewards and them being delayed why not give them a token or counter or something once you get to school with no fuss? They can have it in their pencil case as a reminder during the day that a reward for a great school run is coming to them that evening. Once they've got the hang of that you could start increasing it to a certain number of tokens per week equals a reward on Friday (but never make it 5 tokens equals the reward otherwise if they don't manage it on a Tuesday they'll write off the rest of the week, build in some failure possibility and opportunities to win it back!) Also helpful if someone else is picking them up because they'll be able to show them the token and claim their reward without having to check with you or wires getting crossed etc!

For the emotional outbursts have a look at the hidden chimp book, we started using it with my DD when she was 6 and it helped immensely. Also ask school for help and a referral to cahms if they think he needs it. Anxiety in kids is awful to see, my DD is 8 now and still has the occasional outburst but manages herself much better than she used to. Also picture journalling can help till he's old enough to write for himself, concentrate on the positives of the day. Favourite things that happened etc. And labelling emotions,i hadnt realised thay my DD didnt really know what to call her feelings before we stafted it (happy confident company do some age appropriate prompt journals, weve been through a couple now)
We walked to school whilst I was on maternity with DD2, she was 5 then and it was 2.5 miles. We kept busy practising spellings, counting, playing eye spy. They weren't always smooth walks but the mornings that we were organised early and had a good natter/games were definitely easier (I refused to let her take her scooter cause she moaned constantly the few times we did, negotiating the pushchair, carrying the scooter and dragging along a 5 year old was more than I was prepared to fight with at 8am!)

If my child was complaining that much I'd buy a cheap second hand out and about buggy for the 5 year old, hes only little and if it becomes your routine then he'll soon see other kids scooting and riding bikes and change his mind. He might even have a bite to eat once he's out in the fresh air so you could pack him a cereal bar or an apple/ sandwich etc? I wouldn't drive because 0.8miles isn't far and I wouldn't want my kids to expect it. (Unless it's pouring down!) X

Honestly I would just drive.
if it’s easier and less tantrums then why not? To save the planet? I don’t think your car driving less than 10 miles a week is going to make a huge impact on the climate change. To exercise? Go to the park in the evening/weekend instead or go on YouTube and search for joe wicks kids exercises or just dance videos (the just dance 1s are super fun and easy for little 1s and adults).
you’ve got to do what works for you. If it means less stress and you and you all have more fun in the mornings (talking in the car or singing along to the radio) then I’d say go for it!
don’t worry about what anyone else thinks/says/does. Think about yourself and dc

One way to deal with this is to set your alarm earlier and leave earlier.

Alternatively, let them mess about and feel what it's like to be late (though admittedly some kids couldn't give two hoots!)

I bloody hate scooters, somehow or another they always cause a problem on the school run!

@freespirit333
Can you get a sticker chart, and they get a sticker a day for walking and behaving nicely and get to pick a treat on the sat.

Treat yourself to before school club. You can drive or walk there when it's much quieter outside school. They'll feed them breakfast.

Sorry if I missed this somewhere, but is there any chance you can team up with another family, or even borrow their kids?! We would have moaning and be Very Slow if we just walked with DS1, but we walk with at least one other family, often three, and the kids spur each other on, invent games, turn into a little gang (in a good way!). The more kids we have, the better everyone's mood and behaviour.

If he wouldn't kick/hit you, would a sling be an option? The preschool Tula has a high weight limit, and is designed for 4/5+ year olds. And if you do end up carrying him, it would help distribute his weight.

Not a usual option, but my 4 year old sometimes prefers it at the end of the day for closeness and reassurance (and because he's bone tired)

My son 5yo is high-functioning autistic and I'm a big fan of positive reinforcement aka bribing. Lol

I would bring some small change 20p, 50p etc and tell them they can get a coin which they can spend at the shop after school or save and give them the coin at the end of the journey to put in their bags for after school. The consequence of not travelling to school nicely is that they don't get the coin and won't be able to buy anything after school.

Is a cargo bike or a family bike an option?

Definitely keep up the walking. Even though I'm sure you arrive at work frazzled after such bad behaviour. Literally don't engage with DS2's nonsense. Consequences for bad behaviour. I'd go further than no screens (they don't need those anyway). Cancelled playdates, no going to a party, whatever. He is old enough to behave on a short walk.

When my youngest went through this stage in reception I got her old buggy out of the loft, I started pushing it to school and threatened that if she misbehaved she was obviously tired and therefore I'd strap her in and all her friends would see, she was horrified but it shocked her into behaving, I only had to threaten to get it out and it was enough to make her behave!
After that we used to make up a treasure hunt on the way to and from school, it was enough of a distraction to stop her from whinging!

This made me laugh! @MindatWork feels us, too. I've gathered from my canvassing of opinion (whinging to fellow mums waiting to drop off or collect) and from my general reading (googling to find out about other people's sudden goblins) that this is very normal for reception. Apparently, they re-humanise at some point after the first term 🤷🏻‍♀️

If they behave better for your DH then it shows they can when there's a consequence. What does DH do differently? You don't need on the spot consequences, taking something away that evening should work perfectly fine in helping them understand that their behaviour has consequences. Are you consistent with the consequences?

@freespirit333 @SecondUsername4me

Oops, I misread the OP and thought it was a 5 min walk in total, but having re-read the post, I realise the OP was talking about the walk AFTER parking the car near-ish to the school. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 😳

I solved this (and all the other school run issues, like the small talk) by using breakfast club.
Admittedly, I only had 1 to get to school, but we cycled together, when the route was less busy, or he scooted and I walked. We learned to enjoy that quality time, chatting.
Plus, he liked breakfast club, and had worked up an appetite by then. He was also more willing to try different foods.
Parking is easier, on days you need to drive, too.

He's older, now, and gets on the bus, at the same time as I leave for work, and I miss our mornings!

I would persist with the walking. My DS2 sounds similar to yours at their age and I saw all these parents having a lovely time walking and mine was just whinging.

He is still a big whinger but not on the school run (old enough to take himself now!). We have only driven in extreme cases and I really feel it's better for them if you can.

So many parents here drive to school and they're not doing their children any favours. I know sometimes there's a need for work etc but it sets up a lifetime of driving short distances and is so bad for the planet.

I forgot I often 'two feet' my DS on his scooter if he's being difficult. Essentially just pull him along. It's hard on the back but otherwise it's standing still waiting for him to move for 20 minutes.

I think driving a child a distance they can physically manage on foot/scooter/bike just because they whine about it is as poor as giving your child cake for dinner because they whine about their vegetables. Persevere, you are doing the right thing. Children whine sometimes and it's very trying, but that doesn't mean you should give in and make things easier for them when you know that what is easy isn't what is healthy for them. You're setting them up with good habits for later life. Children that are driven short distances become adults that drive short distances - it's an awful habit to develop.

I do symphathise - mine have whined and wailed all the way to school plenty of times and you just have to grit your teeth, do your best to jolly them along and know that it will get better. DS2 will get used to the expectation if you stay firm.