AIBU.. Reactions to walking to primary school?

I live in a village and our walk is half a mile. The number of parents in the village who drive for drop off is astonishing. Yes fair enough if you are going onto work afterwards but many don't. Our school is very good if it's chucking down and open the gate five minutes earlier if need be. My son's pre school (same building) don't usually open the door until 9am but usher them all in earlier at the slightest spot of rain too. I'll admit I've driven to school twice in almost 2 years. Both times when one of us has had the sickness bug and didn't want to chance the walk. Other than that we walk in all weathers.

And this is (part of) the reason we have an obesity crisis!

Walk with them. Everyone who can should walk their kids to school.

Keep walking. Or cycling .
its just 1km to my kids school, but the ride there and back is the best bit.
I mean we have some crappy days. Grumpy grouchy days. But they wouldn’t be improved by being in a car.

When I lived within walking distance of a school I have no recollection of ever getting a lift! I remember it being so slippy one day I fell over in front of a queue of traffic waiting at some red lights! Highly embarrassing for a 12 year old!

I've just looked how far it was. The same 1.3 miles!

My DM didn't work and we'd walk all the way together when I was at primary and half the way when I was at secondary and she tied it in with the morning dog walk.

I understand walking to school isn't practical for many, but it's definitely not something to be shocked by!

This just seems absolutely bonkers to me. 1.3 miles isn't far. Driving half way would be a 3 min drive - it would take longer to load the car, put seat belts on and pull out than actually drive(!) - you might as well do the entire journey.

I understand there are some parents that need to drive because of working times and it would otherwise be impossible, but I do side eye a lot of parents I know who drive when it doesn't seem necessary, especially the neighbours who have to leave before me just so they can get a parking space and then just sit in the car for 20 mins waiting for the school to open.

I don't discuss my school commute very often but I genuinely get the impression that people feel sorry for my kids because between the ages of 4-7 they've walked for half an hour twice a day, it's just nuts.

Seems a weird thing to discuss. Also it's not really a choice between walking 1.3 miles and driving. You can drive half way, park and then walk. It saves time in the morning and solves the parking problem.

We don't have a car so no choice but to either walk or get the bus (which only goes halfway anyway). Plus parking is horrendous - it does surprise me how many people do drive though who live much closer than us!

I think it also depends on if you also have any pre-school age children (as in under 4, not necessarily at pre-school).

We live a similar distance and walked easily when my eldest started reception as her sister was a baby in the pushchair but now she’s three and too big for a pushchair and of course also has to do the return journey with me, I find that some days we will drive ‘half way’ or I will ask my husband to watch her if he’s WFH while I do the school run with just the eldest.

4 walks a day on a swimming lesson day for example can be a bit much for a three year old

People are lazy. If you are physically able a walk to school should be the norm (barring SEN, disability, dangerous walking route etc). The amount of people who drive past us walking to school and get there after due to traffic and parking issues is crazy (we are literally 15 min walk away so not far).
Walking should be the default where possible imo. And I'm not a wfh flexible worker I jump straight on my bike and peg it to start work at 9am in a clinic so not easy!

I would probably make a comment but it would come from my own issues and insecurities. I live 0.9 miles from the school mine starts in September (she currently does preschool there) and would love to walk more often. I sometimes try but it’s always a fucking disaster. Meltdowns, tantrums, whining, it’s so stressful to get her home. She won’t just ‘walk’ or go in her scooter, pram or anything. Yes I’ve fucking tried bug hunts and races and every trick in the book. I also have a 2 year old I’d have to drag along.

some children just don’t cooperate in any way shape or form. So I would just think ‘lucky you’.

by hopping in their car...
Not quite the point of my post.

That's very odd! 1.3 miles is hardly far! Lots of families walked their DC to our Primary. I used a scooter when mine was tiny.

I did have a SW worried once that I walked my DD to school 20 minutes away!! Assume she must have just driven everywhere.

Some people automatically put themselves in the situation. If a person has work to get to and multiple children to ferry about it might automatically strike them as a bit stressful.

Our school had a walk to school week which in theory is a great idea. They suggest parking further away if you're not in walking distance (we're 9 miles away). It's really not possible to do this if you have work to get to and children at multiple schools it's lovely if you've got the time.

It seems more odd that you've had this conversation with so many people, he doesnt start til Sept so why would that conversation keep coming up

I agree-I don’t think I ever had this conversation with anyone!

As a child I used to walk about that distance with my mum to primary school, then alone even further to secondary. My family didn't have a car, and back then nearly everyone walked. I know times have changed but it's a good thing you are encouraging healthy habits and exercise while they are young. The fact you are getting so many negative reactions from people irl shows how lazy and fearful our society has become.

Op one thing is consider is toileting. My boys obviously don't pee every ten minutes but even when they've had a wee at the end of nursery, someone's weget caught short on the way home. Often enough for me to have brought something to pee into. They are thirsty boys and big drinkers and slow walkers though

It's a great idea OP and if your DC can easily manage it it will be so beneficial, rain isn't acid!! Great time with your DC and a real tonic before school starts in the morning. Ignore the haters, people are just so odd.
When my little one's were younger I held a party and said that I wouldn't be issuing party bags and would be giving out a piece of cake and a kinder egg or something. So many parents were outraged, some were quite vocal about their opinions saying their children wouldn't come! 😂

Our primary was closer (just under, rather than just over a mile). We used to leave after our neighbors who drove, and I got home before he did. So, not only did we get some excerise and chatting / decompression time, we also saved time.

I would say fine except for very extreme weather such as heatwaves. Sun would be extremely strong at 3.30pm.

I also personally found walking to my childminder for pick up in sleet wasn’t worth it for even 10 mins 😁

The only justification for being 'appalled' would be if the walk was on unlit NSL roads with no pavement! If its a mile through a built up area then you are definitely doing your child (and you, and the environment) more good than harm!

Have you found a new school closer?
Yeah, it's just over a mile from home
Oh no, so you'll still need the car?
No, we can walk that!

I mean, it isn't THAT odd a conversation.

Look it's fine, there's a car if needed and it's one less vehicle at risk of running over a kid.
However my walk to and from school is the bane of my life. Maybe because I have three kids. It's only 0.9 mile. But my GOD it can take forever. Metaphorically speaking.

Literally, more like 50 minutes.
Because we DO stop and look at the flowers and walk along the (public) wall and stare at the bugs and have lengthy goodbyes with friends they've seen all day.

And it IS miserable in the rain / hail / sleet and having to undress four layers at school in nursery doesn't make it less so.

But, they'll get used to it, and we'd had some lovely chats., we walk part way with friends whoi wouldn't otherwise know etc.

We don't have a car so we walk lots.
I don't mind it either honestly.
My child is a good walker in general.
It's 1 mile to my child's school. We walk. But we often walk places over 1.3 miles so it's normal to me.
But most people I know don't do as much walking as we do. I can imagine people do think the things you've put in your post

This is why there are no end of parking threads on here, and why those of us who live near primary schools are increasingly fed up with people who park like dicks.

Won’t you be walking nearly two hours a day? I work from home too but i’m not sure how i’d fit that in on a daily basis and get my hours done before young kids got home… maybe you get up much earlier than me!