Is a mile too long...

[FedUpWithItAllWeep]

For an August born y1 (so only just 5) to walk to and from school?

We are finding the school run a bit of a nightmare to be honest. I'm usually on foot and my husband on a bike, we also have a 2yo DC. Last year we used a double bike trailer, I would use it as a pram and DH would tow it back. But DC1 is too big for it now as he's already as tall as a six year old!

I could get the bus partway down so DC is only doing the walk once but a) want to avoid the bus at the mo, b) DC seems OK on the walk down but more tired on the way back and I tend to do drop off. DH cannot get on the bus with his bike either..

DC does seem very tired at the mo, but we haven't done a full week of school yet (thank you crappy covid testing) so we have only done this a couple of times!

So, do we think that DC will just get used to a mile walk there and back or am I a cruel cruel mum?

[525LO]

I think your DC would be ok. I used to walk a mile at that age, I'm sure lots of children do.

[jomaIone]

My 2.5 year old would be ok walking a mile occasionally so surely a 5 year old would be! Maybe use a scooter? Why are you all going? Husband on a bike, you walking, a trailer? Seems very hard work!

[Haworthia]

You’ll get replies saying their child hiked miles to school in blizzards/across broken glass and loved every minute (nothing like a bit of virtue signalling about how much exercise your child enjoys 😂) but, personally, yes that’s a long walk for a 5yo just getting used to attending for an entire day. But if you don’t have much choice you’ll have to see how it goes.

[Acunningruse]

Why are you both going?! Just one adult take the school age child and the 2yo stays with the other if possible?! Our school won't allow both adults at drop off anyway.

[Darkestseasonofall]

I think it's too far personally, mine would be cranky and tired on the way home, and it'd be absolutely miserable in the rain and biting cold.

[Mrsjayy]

Why are you all going cant your dh or you take him on the bike ? It sounds such a faff.

[Sunnydaysstillhere]

Bike or scooter..

[Acunningruse]

But to answer your specific question, my 4yo DD walks to preschool but we haven't tried to walk home yet as I feel she would be too tired.

[StandardLampski]

Nope. My 3.5 year old does it - uphill too, and has done for a year. V odd piggy back for a few minutes. Will build them up and then longer distances will seem like nothing !

[AriettyHomily]

It's fine. I just gave us loads of time so didn't have to rush in the morning, and fed them on the way home. DTs also late august born and where still fans of the pushchair not that long before starting school...

They were much better at it by y2.

Why are you all going though?

[Stompythedinosaur]

A mile isn't that far. I'd bring a scooter for him if it encourages him to scoot along.

[PlugUgly1980]

My 4 and 6 year old scoot the mile to school and back again. I have to jog to keep up with them! But then we walk a lot as a family anyway.

[Mrsjayy]

Can he not take his own bike or scooter and put your 2 year old in a buggy.

[jomaIone]

Yes just to compare, my 2.5 year old will but her same age cousin would never manage it so they're all different.

[Miraculous]

I have a July born year 1 and a year 2 an our walk is a mile, up a big hill. We’ve been back at school for 4 weeks now, she struggled a bit for the first week or so but is fine now, in fact she says she loves the walk.
You have to build them up, just like adult fitness. When she moans that her legs ache I tell her that they’re getting stronger

[FedUpWithItAllWeep]

Sorry to clarify we are not all going at once! I do one end of the school run and DH does the other. DC2 is in nursery by the school, so both children are either dropped off or picked up by one parent! Just we are both on different modes of transport!

[WinterAndRoughWeather]

Jesus people read the OP, they’re not all going, and even if they were it’s not relevant.

I think a mile would be fine to walk, and couldn’t the kid learn to ride a bike with stabilisers at that age, too?

[Itisbetter]

Easily. You fix the tired in the way back by having a drink/snack. Then popped in the sofa to chillax, while you organise evening food, reading/homework bath and bed....dc will sleep like a log and you and dh can have some time together in the evening.

[Pancakeorcrepe]

I think it’s a bit too far and he’s a tiny bit young to do it on his own. Could he take the bus?

[Spudina]

Not too long in my opinion. It’s 0.8 miles to my DDs school, up a massively steep hill. They have both walked it from starting school. Also, when we go out with other kids for walks, I’m always really proud of how little moaning mine do. It will pay off honestly. School days are tiring at first generally for kids starting school. I think you should persevere.

[FedUpWithItAllWeep]

School won't let us leave a bike or a scooter at the mo either which is a total pain. I'm also a bit nervous about the bike especially as we are essentially inner city and lots of cars parked on the pavement so huge amounts of weaving needed!

[Pancakeorcrepe]

Sorry, I misread, I thought he was going to walk on his own 😹 if an adult is with him, I think he’ll be fine. Does he not have a scooter or a bike!

[TiggeryBear]

My 2year old is doing it twice a day (drop off & pick up for older sibling) he's refusing the buggy 🙄
Although the whole (ridiculously long, steep) uphill stretch on the way home is slowly killing us all.

[steppemum]

well it is fine and doable, but it is a long slog twice a day when you are that age, one of dds classmates did it as mum had no car, and on a rainy day I know she and dd (and younger brother) got pretty fed up.

can you do one way on a scooter?
Can you use a combination of bike seat and tag along bike (the ones that attach to the back of your bike.
can he cylce with you and then home with dh?

[FedUpWithItAllWeep]

Thanks for the replies saying they will get used to it! I will persevere with the walking then and hope he gets better at it!