AIBU.. Reactions to walking to primary school?

We walked a similar distance 2 days a week when I wasn't at work. The other 3 days I did need the car for work so would park where it was easier to dodge school traffic and walk a little further on to school.

We walked 1.9 miles to primary in every weather for over ten years and my DC now walk 2.6 miles to secondary school every day in every weather. We have never once taken bikes or scooters (route really not wheel-friendly so no pushchairs either) and we have never taken a bus or the car. Just for all the weird naysayers who say odd stuff about it raining or something.

Yes, people act like we are mad for walking 20 minutes to school. It confuses me.

I'm glad to see you've had the support you deserve here, OP. We have a similar walk to school (albeit involving a steep hill halfway through). My son and his friend were very anxious about school throughout their first term but on days we walked (or cycled) to school, it was much easier to get them through the door. They were emotionally exhausted by the big change, but not physically exhausted. Burning off a bit of stress first thing in the morning benefitted them both.

No wonder we are becoming a nation of fatties.
I walk further than that to work and I’m not young!

Just because other parents set their kids up for a lifetime of obesity and diabetes, doesn't mean you have to. It's not an unreasonable walk, learning exercise habits young is incredible for kids.

Our three children walked to both primary (with a parent) (1.3 miles) and secondary school (1.2 miles). We did not comment on what others did but it was a source of comments from many parents and others in the community.

FWIW both DP and I worked fulltime - we enjoyed the time to talk as we walked to school and the children also enjoyed it (almost all the time!). We were happy with our choice. Our only issue was the very small proportion of drivers who made walking unsafe.

I've always walked despite having a car and in rain and snow too!
I love the little chats mine had with me on the way to school in the mornings
Also they now don't find it difficult to get out and walk and do stuff no matter what the weather

Many people are extremely lazy and don't think their children can walk at all. I remember by nieces going to school ½ mile from their house and as we started walking we always waved to the neighbour backing the car out of the driveway, then when we arrived at school the neighbour would arrive sometime later and would circle to hunt for parking. Then SIL and I walked home, made a cup of tea and almost drank it before neighbour pulled back into the driveway. But apparently her pfb would be too tired to walk.

Totally fine. Our infant school was 1.1 mile away and dd cycled from day 1. Loads of people walked that distance or further. Our nursery was literally at the end of our road (albeit a steep hill going home) and there's a lady who lives on our road who drove there every day. In fact she now works there and still drives there every day.

No it's not unreasonable to walk at all, 1.3 miles is nothing. We live only half a mile away from school but walk whenever we can, I only drive if it's terrible weather or we're running late. When we walk we have to leave at 7.30am to get to breakfast club in time for me to walk back home and drive to work. That's probably weirder than walking 1.3 miles to school 🤣

I remember seeing a mum posting on tiktok moaning she has to get to school a couple of hours before to get a parking space. Then she would just sit in the car with a baby in the back until pickup time.

I work with school children aged 4 and 5. By the end of the school day they can be exhausted and a walk home may not be ideal for tired little people.

Although, a walk to school in good weather is pleasant for kids and parents alike!

I think kids vary as to how far they will happily walk at a young age. DGS refused the buggy early on and will walk (or scoot) pretty much unlimited distances now at age 4. DGD on the other hand was a nightmare picking up from school/nursery at the same age. It was only a 10-15 minute walk but she would often complain of legs being tired etc by about half way and refuse to walk any further. It sounds as though OP has a kid who is used to lots of walking however and doesn't complain so shouldn't be a problem.

I walked my three children to school, including the walk back once I’d picked them up, every school day until they went to senior school. Don’t listen to the naysayers, walking to school can be very social for the kids.

Agree, lots of very lazy, very strange people! Great exercise for all of you. I’d get it if it’s absolutely hammering torrential rain but I’ve just almost finished my first year of school runs and I think it’s rained at school run time twice. And not torrential.
I know people that live less than half a mile from our school/literally so close it’s unreal that still walk, or even cycle! It’s ridiculous. They must spend more time getting in and out of cars etc than if they just walked!

Most people walk to school here...it's such a lovely way of arriving.

It's easy walking distance, but its also justifiable to drive if you need to drop off on your way to walk, so odd for people to have strong opinions either way.

When I was a kid I walked 45 mins each way to school each day!

It was challenging in rain in the winter though and I remember my hands being like ice even with gloves.

Just ignore those people and don’t be afraid to go ‘against the grain’.

As a society we seem to have got to a point where physical activity and being healthy is demonised and being lazy and not challenging kids/ telling them to no try too hard is normalised.

Walking this amount is basically the minimum level of physical activity an adult or child should do, it’s fun, and you get to spend quality time together. Plus environmental benefits and your kid will be more confident in their neighbourhood

At this stage you're fully intending to do something which is not the same as actually doing. When the time comes and you start these walks, you'll know how they go in practice and can give factual answer's to any doubters. Right now it's all hypothetical.

Your kid might walk both ways no problem, or they'll tire midway or simply won't want to walk some days. You won't know before it happens, no matter how outdoorsy you are.

I'd stop announcing everywhere you plan to walk and just do it when the time comes. Why is it anyone's business anyway?

Being able to walk to nursery and school is literally the dream trying to park anywhere near a school is a nightmare

1.3 miles is a perfectly acceptable walk IMO

Mind you, when my youngest started primary (while I was pregnant), I was told I was “cruel” for having her walk just one mile to and from school and that I’d harm the baby by walking 4 mikes every day.

Utter rot!

Eldest DC loved the walk and the time to chat with me before and after school we’d sometimes take a longer route home through the park and have a play on the swings too. Both my DC walked to and from primary and then a similar distance to and from secondary school. They both walk a lot even now they are adults.

As for the weather - there’s no such thing as bad weather just bad clothing!

'Did you get a new school sorted'
'Yes thank goodness and it's only just over a mile away so we'll be able to walk, so much more convenient'.
I can see how that would come up in conversation fairly naturally.

To answer OP, We walk to and from school 3 out of 5 days a week, days DH and I are both working and it's grandparents doing the school run they drive or take the bus. It's about a mile and not a problem. We are in the minority at our school though many live closer and drive, I'd assume a lot of the time because parents are dropping off en route to work so will have the car anyway.

And we wonder why there is a childhood obesity problem in this country.