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Original poster

3 year old starts school in 8 days HELP!!!

31 replies

trying4no2 · 01/01/2013 15:18

my DD starts school in 8 days, the school is a good 20 mins walk from the house. she only just manages to walk to the end of the street before wanting to be picked up and carried. so I was thinking of just taking her in her buggy to school. WWYD??

OP posts:
Original poster
trying4no2 · 01/01/2013 15:18

she only turned 3 on christmas eve btw

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wannabedomesticgoddess · 01/01/2013 15:19

Three is still tiny. I assume shes just turned three if shes starting now.

I would take the buggy.

LaCiccolina · 01/01/2013 15:20

Yup sounds reasonable. I see tons of mums of kids up to 5 in nights, particularly for school. Long day after all. Could be tiring, certainly at first?

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LaCiccolina · 01/01/2013 15:20

Nights?! Wtf?! Buggys! Damn u iPhone!

rubyslippers · 01/01/2013 15:21

Why would you even ask?

Take the buggy

She'll get used to the walk in time

SamSmalaidh · 01/01/2013 15:22

Take the buggy if it is easier, but unless she has a disability a 3 year old should be able to walk for 20 minutes, especially on the way to school. I'd start carrying her a little less.

ThreeBoostsOneGalaxy · 01/01/2013 15:23

I had DTs in the buggy part-time until they were nearly four, due to having to fetch older siblings from school and having their own pre-school run too. They walked about a mile a day at the age of three and I pushed them another two miles a day in the buggy.

Original poster
trying4no2 · 01/01/2013 15:26

samsmalaidh why should she? She is rather small for her age and its up hill the whole way. So even I get tired.

I will take the buggy im sure I wont be the only one.
Thanks all.

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RhinestoneCowgirl · 01/01/2013 15:28

DD was in this situation a year ago. I was dropping her older brother at school before dropping her at preschool (same site) and we often used the buggy just to get there on time.

We had a slightly shorter walk than you but DD walked v slowly. Now she's just turned 4 she walks the school (or scoots, which definitely speeded things up).

Original poster
trying4no2 · 01/01/2013 15:28

I get her to walk as far as she can before Iput her in the buggy though

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Original poster
trying4no2 · 01/01/2013 15:30

Ooo never thought of that she loves riding her bike the one with the parent handle so mighy do that

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firawla · 01/01/2013 15:30

I would just take the buggy then? maybe get her to walk home, when time is less rushed, although she might be tired then
My 3 year old is starting nursery same time as yours and will be in a buggy too. he has sn, and although he physically can walk he is really slow and will just take forever and like yours he will ask to be picked up or want to get in the buggy, and we will only have limited time between dropping my older one at a different school and getting ds2 to his, so buggy will unfortunately just be necessary at least to start with. Your dd might not be the only one with a buggy at 3 so wouldn't worry too much. I used to see buggys at the school gate when my older was in nursery class too. But just try practising her walking longer distances to get her used to it, maybe do reward chart or something if she physically can do it but just needs to be motivated. She might also want to walk when she sees all her school friends walking so maybe after a few weeks she would suggest it herself.
Could get a scooter too? never really used it with mine but see a lot of kids on them especially ones who have to walk from further away as it makes it easier for them?

SamSmalaidh · 01/01/2013 15:33

If you both get tired walking 20 minutes, then maybe you both need to up your exercise? I'm not trying to criticise, but children that age should be doing 3 hours physical activity a day - 20 minutes isn't a huge stretch of activity for a healthy, well rested child. My 2 year old would also rather be carried than walk if he gets the chance but can walk/run for hours round a zoo or the woods.

trumpalot · 01/01/2013 15:34

you need to be organised and leave early and dont walk half and buggy half.. either shes in it or she doesnt have it at all. my dd wanted to walk then said she wanted to be carried. i said no and made it fun looking at all the things on the way. she knows that i am firm but fair and is brilliant now. she turned 3 in oct.

if it all up hill why dont you use buggy to school and walk home(although that way she will prob be too tired. i sometimes walked to school and then brought the buggy to bring her home. hth x

Original poster
trying4no2 · 01/01/2013 15:40

sam 20mins up a large hill is a big bit of exercise for a 3year old to start the school day. I dont see why you think that it isnt.

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lorisparkle · 01/01/2013 15:44

I would get a scooter. ds3 can walk or scoot to school if we have the time and I have the patience. he is only 2 and a half but I have been training him since he could walk. a little bit at a time and lots of 'look what is over there' I love walking together but sometimes he goes on my bike or in the pushchair if needed.

JustFabulous · 01/01/2013 16:35

Do you mean playschool where you pick her up after about 3 hours or nursery where she can stay all day?

FWIW I had an 25-30 minute walk to school to pick up my older children and used to put my 4 year old in the buggy. There and back is a long way and I couldn't be late dropping off or collecting so relying on him walking super fast was unreasonable.

wannabedomesticgoddess · 01/01/2013 16:49

I know that children should be active, but I cannot understand why anyone would think its ok for a just turned three year old to walk uphill for 20mins to school, where they will be expected to concentrate and be active for three hours.

DD1 is fit and healthy, but there is no way I would expect that off her.

seeker · 01/01/2013 16:51

Why is she starting school at 3?

SamSmalaidh · 01/01/2013 16:56

It's definitely about expectations - many people wouldn't expect their young child to walk more than 5 minutes at the time, but yes, a 3 year old is (usually) quite capable of walking 20 minutes at the beginning of the day, and then spending the rest of the day running round, jumping, climbing, playing etc.

Original poster
trying4no2 · 01/01/2013 17:31

just nursery she will be doing 1 half day and 2 full days.

wannabe thats my feelings exactly! Running around on a flat surface is fine but up hill is different.

seeker as far as im aware all children start the term after they are 3

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JustFabulous · 01/01/2013 18:14

Playschool and school are different. I think you must mean playschool. School is for when you are 4.

lorisparkle · 01/01/2013 18:44

I worked in a state nursery school which took children in their pre-school year. it was definitely called a school though!Wink

Sirzy · 01/01/2013 18:49

At 3 it's nursery or pre school rather than any sort of compulsory schooling. Not that it makes any difference.

Use the pram but make it into a game to see how far she can walk each day to encourage her to walk. It's not so far that with a bit of time she won't be able to do it!

wannabedomesticgoddess · 01/01/2013 18:54

DD is almost 4 and started school in sept. Its not compulsory. Its called preschool. But its still school as opposed to the daycare nursery she was in last year when I went to college.