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Original poster

How long is your reception age dc walk to school?

105 replies

quirkyquerty · 27/09/2022 10:02

My DS started school this month, it takes him and DH 35-40 mins to walk to school as he's only got little legs and is a slow walker. It would take an adult 25 minutes.

Do you think this is too far? I do- and would prefer DH to take DS on bike or on bus, but he thinks it's reasonable. The first thing DS asks when he wakes up is if he can go in the bike, and my husband says no.

He brings him home in bike at end of the day but thinks the walk 'does him good' DS says his legs are achy and he's tired.

OP posts:
emmathedilemma · 27/09/2022 10:27

I've just measured how far we walked to primary school and it was just under half a mile. It felt like a long way when we were little (always both ways) but now it feels like practically round the corner! The kids who live near me now walk just under a mile to our local primary although it's uphill most of the way back. My nephews also do about a mile to school.
Is he used to walking or has starting school come as a shock to his legs?

stormelf · 27/09/2022 10:35

Ours is only ten minutes, you can see the school from our house, but my four year old is still tired on the walk even though we walk absolutely everywhere

WowStarsWow · 27/09/2022 10:36

I think that’s way too far, my DS just started school and it’s a 4 min walk and he goes on his scooter. Seems cruel of your DH to “not let him” go on his bike. It’s made me feel a bit sad actually. My DS couldn’t walk over an hour per day every weekday, he’s already knackered from starting school.

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HunterHearstHelmsley · 27/09/2022 10:37

About 90 seconds from mine to my nephews school (we are in the same house). A lot of parents drive as the school has a massive catchment area. Most people who aren't in the immediate vicinity.

HappyHappyHermit · 27/09/2022 10:38

I agree with you, it is quite a walk and especially so for little ones just starting school who ate exhausted with the new routine and everything anyway. Ours is a 10 min walk, which seems a nice distance. could they take he has and get off a stop early to have a bit of a walk too maybe?

Unicorn717 · 27/09/2022 10:41

Our school run is just under 3 miles altogether a day for my son and it takes about 20 mins each way, he's 5.

workinmums · 27/09/2022 10:42

Oh no, its way too far for a 4 year old. The fact that he's even asking to go on the bike suggest he's tired :(

SpikeGilesSandwich · 27/09/2022 10:43

It takes us about 20 minutes to walk straight there in a morning but it always takes at least half an hour to walk home because he's tired. School is exhausting for the little ones.

BabyofMine · 27/09/2022 10:45

0.5 miles which takes 15 mins with Daddy and 25 mins with me because I’m not well. So I guess the total for the day is the same as yours but it’s done in two stretches so doesn’t feel as bad (and she’s proper dawdling on the way back, looking at nature stuff etc as she has time too with plodding old Mummy!) I think doing that in the morning is quite a lot at the beginning of the school day.

We also take her in the car if it’s raining and pick her up in the car some days after school to go somewhere so it’s not the same every single day.

LifeIsaRollerCoaster1 · 27/09/2022 10:45

When I was on mat leave my then 3 and 5 year old were walking 35min there and back, it's about 20-25 min if I walk it on my own. I'm back at work now and feel they are missing out on the exercise (they do walk the 1 day I'm not working) but there obviously isn't the time to walk when we are at work so they are driven. I think it's great exercise and if I didn't have to work would have them walking all the time. I think people are very lazy, the amount of people who drive their kids from walking distance (when they aren't shooting straight off the work) is plain lazy. I'd side with your husband, great exercise, I always walked to school and was always very fit and active.

beachcitygirl · 27/09/2022 10:46

Way way way too far. Your dh bejng a dick.

Ilovedthe70s · 27/09/2022 10:46

45 minutes to my grandchildren’s primary school and nursery. Slightly longer coming home as it’s uphill most of the way.
I take the pushchair for the homeward trek for the four year old, she’s very small and being Wales the uphills are very uphill!

NuffSaidSam · 27/09/2022 10:47

I agree with your DH. It's too far on the way home after a busy day at school, but in the morning a healthy four year old should absolutely be able to walk presumably just over a mile.

I'd let him scoot or cycle himself, but I wouldn't be cycling him or taking him on the bus. I think this is partly why we have a problem with childhood obesity, our understanding of what is a normal healthy amount of exercise is very skewed.

Give him a month and he'll have got his time down as well, the only reason it takes 45 minutes is because he's not used to walking.

SleepingStandingUp · 27/09/2022 10:51

Is cycling it going to be less tiring tho??

We do 0.9 miles, even the 7 yo sometimes stops for a rest 🙄. My twins are only 2 but when they start nursery we'll still be doing it in the buggy. Then I think we'll be busing it in for a bit (still a walk either end but not so long obv) and walking home.

What would bother me is that DH is totally ignoring his child plainly telling him its too much.

SpinningFloppa · 27/09/2022 11:01

20 mins

SpinningFloppa · 27/09/2022 11:02

Can’t use a bike or scooter as it’s up and down hills

Wnikat · 27/09/2022 11:05

Oh come on it’s not ‘way way way’ too far. No wonder there’s an obesity epidemic in this country! At most it’s about 10 minutes too long. Can you compromise and he go on the bike every other day?

Iguanainanigloo · 27/09/2022 11:07

It takes me 7 mins when I walk to collect the DC, about 20 on the way home as they have to stop and look at every bird/stick/conker/leaf/stone they find! I'd say that's too far op. At that age his little legs must be aching by the time he gets there

HorribleHerstory · 27/09/2022 11:15

How far is it in distance OP?

A mile, mile and a half, two miles?

Ours used to be a smidge over one mile and we walked, still do now only the DC is not yrR any more. The older DC at secondary walk just over two miles to school.

It’s alright for them, they only walk it one way up and down! The parent dropping off does it four times not two. I get my steps in.

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 27/09/2022 11:17

My daughter goes on her scooter there and back, its 15mins/1 mile each waym

Why can't your son ride his bike there and back according to your DH??

eddiemairswife · 27/09/2022 11:18

I'm surprised some people think it's too far. The child will get used to it pretty quickly. Walking is good exercise, even for children, even if they find it boring.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 27/09/2022 11:18

8 minutes
My friend does a 25min walk because the traffic is so bad to their school- her LO is on the scooter. I think its ok for now, but come winter and carrying book bags etc its going to be difficult for such a young child- lots of moaning to contend with.

Leakingroofagain · 27/09/2022 11:20

My 3yo does a mile on balance bike to nursery. I don't understand not using bike or scooter, who has that much time to amble along - and you could ride the scooter back and have a semblance of a morning.

sittingonacornflake · 27/09/2022 11:22

@quirkyquerty exactly the same commute time as you with an ENORMOUS hill. It's fine. Lovely in fact. Best part of my day.

BruceWaynettaSlob · 27/09/2022 11:24

Unicorn717 · 27/09/2022 10:41

Our school run is just under 3 miles altogether a day for my son and it takes about 20 mins each way, he's 5.

You walk 3 miles in 15 minutes?