Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

How far does your teenager have to walk to school?

118 replies

Forgetmenot82 · 11/05/2021 09:12

DS14 hates walking to school - it's approx 0.9 miles. I still have to take my other dc to Primary School by car. I have in the past taken my son a slightly to school by car before my daughter but its a bit out of the way and get stock behind school buses etc...so I've started to say my ds has to walk now. Am I being a hit mean not taking him? Anyway I'm just wondering how far do your dc walk to school or do you drive them when they could easily walk?

OP posts:
Original poster
Forgetmenot82 · 11/05/2021 09:14

Sorry should have checked before I sent. Hopefully it makes sense 'stuck' not 'stock!'

OP posts:
edwinbear · 11/05/2021 09:15

DS age 11, Y7 walks 0.8 miles, usually carrying some sort of sporting equipment alongside his (heavy) school bag, i.e. cricket bag/hockey bag/swimming kit. He's absolutely fine with it, in fact I think he quite likes the independence. He'll meet up with friends along the way, sometimes buy sweets from the shop on his way back. If it's lashing down with rain, or he has two lots of sports kit, I'll take him, but otherwise he walks.

CMOTDibbler · 11/05/2021 09:16

Its 2km to Ds's school. He cycles everyday, inc in the rain/snow etc

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

14 year olds Families General education
MiddleClassProblem · 11/05/2021 09:18

I don’t think that’s cruel at all. I used to walk two miles to school. My DD is only 6 and we currently walk 0.6 miles to school everyday (I don’t drive) so I would expect her to be fine to walk more as a teenager.

Could he cycle?

WhatWouldPhyllisCraneDo · 11/05/2021 09:19

DS1 (16) cycles 2.2 miles.
DS2 (14) walks 0.9 miles.

I don't drive so that's not an option. DS1 could use public transport but it's 2 buses each way and he prefers to cycle.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 11/05/2021 09:19

Presuming she gets into the local school (it would be bizarre if she didn't, it would need 100+catchment siblings for a 120entry) she'll have a five minute walk next year.

She's walked up to two miles for Primary on occasion, although her current school is about 200m away.

edwinbear · 11/05/2021 09:20

DD (Y4) also does the same walk, (they go to the same school), but obviously accompanied. It takes 15 mins max, I really don't think you are expecting too much!

LizJamIsFab · 11/05/2021 09:22

DS 13 walks about the same (but it’s that far to the bus stop!)

Mumdiva99 · 11/05/2021 09:22

He's being ridiculous. Less than a mile is not far. The only time I would offer is if it is actually pouring.
I walked or cycled 1.8 miles to school. That was a little too far in the mornings....IMHO....but plenty of friends also walked or cycled that distance or further.

LizJamIsFab · 11/05/2021 09:22

Ie about 1 mile

Original poster
Forgetmenot82 · 11/05/2021 09:23

Maybe it would help if he had friend to walk with, he hasn't found any to walk with in all the time he's been there...but anyway he seems to hate it. He said there's so much traffic etc. On top of this He's so slow in the mornings, can't get himself going at all, quite argumentative even though he's a model pupil in school. My other child doesn't want to end up talking him as it normally makes us late. Am i unreasonable to think he should just get up, get dressed and just get out the door with no arguments? I'm so stressed every morning....

OP posts:
emmathedilemma · 11/05/2021 09:24

That's nothing for a teenager to be able to walk, I used to walk nearly that far to secondary school after we got off the bus! Primary school kids should easily be able to manage a mile each way.

paralysedbyinertia · 11/05/2021 09:25

DD walks around 1.5 miles. It takes about 25 minutes, so no big deal. Occasionally, I've offered her a lift if it's raining, but she always says it isn't necessary.

Under a mile really isn't a long walk at all! Your ds will get used to it!

greensnail · 11/05/2021 09:26

My 12 year old is similar, I don't mind taking her when I'm not working as I can easily drop her off and then get her sister to school on time but really feel that she should be walking as it's not too far and she should be able to be independent at her age. We've reached an agreement that she can request a lift once a week and she's quite happy with this compromise.

ClarrieGrundy · 11/05/2021 09:27

He’s being useless.

KaleSlayer · 11/05/2021 09:27

My daughters school is about a mile away. One of us drops her off and picks her up most days as she prefers that. My sons college is a few miles away, he’ll generally get the bus or an Uber but sometimes we drop him if we’re not in meetings.

It’s not mean to make them walk but I think if you can give them a lift if they prefer then why not.

Original poster
Forgetmenot82 · 11/05/2021 09:27

He says he gets worried he'll get knocked over! He does suffer from anxiety. The thing is it's not going to help him by me talking him because he's scared, I'm thinking the more he does it the less nervous he will be.

OP posts:
Juanbablo · 11/05/2021 09:27

Google maps tells me it's 0.7 miles. It's really not far at all. I have never driven him.

Original poster
Forgetmenot82 · 11/05/2021 09:29

@KaleSlayer

My daughters school is about a mile away. One of us drops her off and picks her up most days as she prefers that. My sons college is a few miles away, he’ll generally get the bus or an Uber but sometimes we drop him if we’re not in meetings.

It’s not mean to make them walk but I think if you can give them a lift if they prefer then why not.

I know what you mean. This is what I'm debating. Maybe I could say if you're ready to go at a certain time, a bit earlier so I don't make my dd late for Primary then I can take him, if not he will have to walk!
OP posts:
TheMethodicalMeerkat · 11/05/2021 09:30

As pps have said it’s not an unreasonable walk but is there something more to this than just being a bit of a lazy teen? His comment about the traffic makes me wonder if he’s a feeling a bit anxious about the journey. Has anything happened to alarm him or give him cause to be worried about his safety?

UpTheJunktion · 11/05/2021 09:34

He’s probably feeling hard dune by because you used to drive him.

My kids always walked / bussed to school and I would never have driven them for that length of journey.

How far away is the primary school?

Once your primary aged child starts secondary, don’t fall into the trap of driving them both.

Seoirnbru · 11/05/2021 09:34

1.6miles acc to google maps (I think actually a little less due to the side of campus they actually go in.) Rarely asks for a lift in the morning, but occasionally tries it on in the evening if he knows I’m not at work. There’s not a younger sibling still getting a lift here though - do you think he could be feeling hard done by because of that?

Original poster
Forgetmenot82 · 11/05/2021 09:36

@TheMethodicalMeerkat

As pps have said it’s not an unreasonable walk but is there something more to this than just being a bit of a lazy teen? His comment about the traffic makes me wonder if he’s a feeling a bit anxious about the journey. Has anything happened to alarm him or give him cause to be worried about his safety?
He has mentioned that he worries about being knocked down. He does suffer from ocd and obsessive thinking, we are on waiting list for camhs. However, I just feel I'm not helping him by taking him, although the other part of me thinks am I just being mean if I COULD take him.
OP posts:
Original poster
Forgetmenot82 · 11/05/2021 09:37

Just to add, we did see an ocd therapist in the past and something like this would be avoidance. She explained that he has to expose himself to things that he doesn't want to do.

OP posts:
Original poster
Forgetmenot82 · 11/05/2021 09:39

@Seoirnbru

1.6miles acc to google maps (I think actually a little less due to the side of campus they actually go in.) Rarely asks for a lift in the morning, but occasionally tries it on in the evening if he knows I’m not at work. There’s not a younger sibling still getting a lift here though - do you think he could be feeling hard done by because of that?
I guess so as we leave similar times in the morning. If he could get himself going abit earlier then I could do it. My dd gets upset if she's late because of him which has happened in the past when I have taken him because he's so slow getting out the door.
OP posts: