How long is your reception age dc walk to school?

[quirkyquerty]

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.

I’d have no issue with that walk in the morning (and realistically it is probably more like 25mins once they stop dawdling - DS used to take 30mins to walk the 1km to school at the start of reception, by year 1 he is doing it in 15-20mins.

I’d let them take a scooter or have a ride on the bike on the way home, just because reception kids are usually shattered by the end of the day. But that isn’t because it is “so far”, any distance can be too far in that first term.

That's too much imo. Our ds' walk is 15 mins.

Probably great for his health, but maybe he could do with the scooter if he's too tired for school.

By half term, they're all a lot fitter and stronger, by Christmas, they cover Dog Miles (three times as far as you do with all the running around with friends) and by Easter, even the August born tiny ones are absolutely fine with it.

Of course it's not too far. He'll get used to it and the exercise is good for him. All the people exclaiming about how far it is are the reason there's so many fat kids.

That's borderline cruel. It's just way too far. Poor boy, especially when the weather turns colder he shouldn't be doing that walk.

Exactly, he gets to school tired and then had to get through the entire day and then do the same exhausting walk home.

MumCanIDoThat He doesn’t walk home, you made that bit up!

Mine are a bit older now but they walk with a just turned 4 year old reception child.

It’s about 20-30 mins walk depending on how slow they go. And there’s a park at the end that they will play on before they go in.

My dd did that walk, she's an August baby. She walked home too afterwards as well as doing breakfast and after school club, she did it for 3 years. She coped but I found it a pain. We live much closer now and I love it

this is hilarious! You should really read up on how the Scandinavians bring up their kids 😹

Sorry to hijack your thread OP! People saying use a scooter, can you recommend any good ones? My nearly 3 year old has a scooter but it doesn't seem to be very good, goes off on a tangent and doesn't seem that sturdy. I will be in this position next year with a walk to school which would take me just under 15 mins but I'm worried about my little girl not being able to do it fast enough for me to get to work on time, so any good scooter recommendations would be appreciated!

I think it's too long. My DD has started at reception this September and she is sooooo tired when she gets home and that's just with the 8.30am to 3.15pm school day never mind adding a 40 min walk either side of the busy day.

Goodness way to far- cruel of your DH to be making the poor boy do that....he will be tired just by school at that age not alone walking miles before/after aswell! Our school is only a mile each way, 10 min walk, but DD even struggled with that sometimes, especially as she didn't sleep well all through reception year!

Cruel 🤣🤣🤣

7 or 8 minutes

Mini micro scooter

But you're not living in Scandinavia and that means bugger all to your child so your point is quite stupid really.

Do you think British children are genetically less capable of walking a fairly short distance than Scandinavian ones? Otherwise it’s a parenting difference. I agree with Emma that you wouldn’t find Scandinavian parents thinking it’s cruel to make children do that walk. I can’t imagine parents in any other country thinking that actually, except the USA.

The number of people who think just over a mile is too far for a healthy four year old to walk is deeply concerning!

I'd strongly encourage those posters to do a bit of research into how much exercise a healthy four year old needs in a day/across a week. If you don't let them walk more than half a mile a day, you're going to really struggle to meet those levels and that will ultimately result in overweight, unhealthy children down the line.

@NuffSaidSam totally agree.
How do people (including children) get fitter? By doing more exercise.

Loads of children in my dc’s school do half an hour to 45 minute walks to and from school, it’s so good for them. Younger siblings do it 4 times a day if they’re on the school run and are fine with it. They build up so much stamina and fitness. Those saying it is cruel are batshit. Some people don’t drive and live in a crappy public transport area. Children can walk.

You need a Micro Mini. All the children round here have them. They are really sturdy and stable and turn well.

These.

My pair have Globber scooters. They really like them. Some models have lights in the wheels, a good feature on grey mornings.

We used to walk 20/25mins (an adult would walk it for 15m) and even though we got used to it fairly quickly the weather getting worse had a huge impact. We had heavy rains and even hail and oh so many windy days.

Also dc would have a daily run at school so it can be too much for a four year old.

We moved schools since and I am so grateful for the shorter distance.

That's incredible.
It takes me over half an hour to walk 1.7m to town centre.