Parents really do need to slow down when they’re walking

[Parker1970]

This is a given for me, but when I look around I see all of these parents who are walking at an average pace, but of course their little ones they are pretty much having to full on sprint while holding their hand, and it’s only amplified when they’re holding hands with both of their parents. Again this is obvious to me that when you’re walking with your little one you need to slow down so that they’re little legs can keep up. For example even when I slow down my two are still working double time to walk the same distance that I am. I feel like my parents need to recognize that.

Are you self-aware of that? When is the first time you became aware?

I can remember having to walk fast to keep up with my dad when I was little, and now I'm a fast walker and my DD had to walk fast to keep up with me and now she is an even faster walker than me. Seems to me that walking fast can turn them into faster walkers which is a win. But the evidence against that is DS, who is stubborn and won't walk faster just to keep up with me so I have to slow down for him. A bit. I'm still trying to get his speed up because slow walkers drive me nuts, and walking fast is good for the health.

I'd never get anywhere, if I walked at the pace of my toddler. Fine if we're just wandering round the park, but sometimes I have places to be.

I don’t ever mind slowing down for them. I can only imagine it must be hard to hold a hand while you’re on your tippy toes and having to work double time to keep up. Sure it’s a little bit slower but at least they’re not having to run. Wouldn’t you still get to the places you need to be?

Sometimes people do have time constraints in their lives.

I agree with PP, sometimes I walked quick and the kids would run alongside me (generally they might have more stamina than you give them credit for) sometimes, if we had nowhere particular to go / be, I would slow down and meander together or watch their little legs sprint off ahead or in circles around me! It's definitely different if you are walking somewhere for a specific purpose rather than just walking for fun, or have to walk in all circumstances / weathers because you don't drive.

I remember in this horrible case, the judge criticised the mum and step dad for this. On cctv shortly before he was killed they could see the parents striding along and the little boy having to run not to be left behind. It was all part of their lack of care and empathy.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-50419697.amp

sometimes there’s time to wander at a young child’s pace and inspect everything of interest along the way. Other times you need to get where you need to be and they need to learn that. Very young children should be carried or in a pushchair if they can’t keep up.
my boys are now 6ft and leave me behind and joke it’s because we rushed everywhere when they were primary school so they had good training!!

Both my dm and Gran walked fast,
I was a fast walker, still walk quite fast.
Dd used to complain when she was a dc.
However, both dc are adults now and I’m the one who struggles to keep up and my dm has a walking frame.
It goes full circle.

I’m a fast walker. I got them scooters so I had to walk faster to keep up. I can’t be doing with dawdling round when you’ve got things to do. Or I’d stick them in the pram to go to the park and let them dawdle around there.

Well, no because I have to be places at a certain time sometimes and it's not always possible or practical to leave half an hour earlier.

My dad has always been a fast walker and I just learned to keep up with him - now DH moans that I’m the fast walker 🤣

Walking at your toddlers pace is a nice idea in principle but life doesn’t always allow for it.

I mean let’s just say they didn’t get distracted or anything. Would you walk at their pace then? I guess the point I’m trying to make is that I feel like a lot of parents easily forget that their kids are having to run just keep up with them at their average walk. Mine don’t get too distracted, they do here and there. I’m just trying to put myself in their shoes. Holding a hand that is so high above your head that you have to stand on your tiptoes, then the legs are easily 1.5 times bigger than… all of you. Then let alone if both parents are holding her hand.

Just trying to think how it feels for them lol

I mean let’s just say they didn’t get distracted or anything. Would you walk at their pace then? I guess the point I’m trying to make is that I feel like a lot of parents easily forget that their kids are having to run just keep up with them at their average walk. Mine don’t get too distracted, they do here and there. I’m just trying to put myself in their shoes. Holding a hand that is so high above your head that you have to stand on your tiptoes, then the legs are easily 1.5 times bigger than… all of you. Then let alone if both parents are holding her hand.

Just trying to think how it feels for them lol

I mean let’s just say they didn’t get distracted or anything. Would you walk at their pace then? I guess the point I’m trying to make is that I feel like a lot of parents easily forget that their kids are having to run just keep up with them at their average walk. Mine don’t get too distracted, they do here and there. I’m just trying to put myself in their shoes. Holding a hand that is so high above your head that you have to stand on your tiptoes, then the legs are easily 1.5 times bigger than… all of you. Then let alone if both parents are holding her hand.

Just trying to think how it feels for them lol

I mean let’s just say they didn’t get distracted or anything. Would you walk at their pace then? I guess the point I’m trying to make is that I feel like a lot of parents easily forget that their kids are having to run just keep up with them at their average walk. Mine don’t get too distracted, they do here and there. I’m just trying to put myself in their shoes. Holding a hand that is so high above your head that you have to stand on your tiptoes, then the legs are easily 1.5 times bigger than… all of you. Then let alone if both parents are holding her hand.

Just trying to think how it feels for them lol

I mean let’s just say they didn’t get distracted or anything. Would you walk at their pace then? I guess the point I’m trying to make is that I feel like a lot of parents easily forget that their kids are having to run just keep up with them at their average walk. Mine don’t get too distracted, they do here and there. I’m just trying to put myself in their shoes. Holding a hand that is so high above your head that you have to stand on your tiptoes, then the legs are easily 1.5 times bigger than… all of you. Then let alone if both parents are holding her hand.

Just trying to think how it feels for them lol

I hate seeing young kids wandering along pavements behind their parents /carers while the adult is staring at a phone.
Not everybody is looking at something so important at that moment in time that they can't watch their child rather than the phone.

I mean is running really so bad, especially as a child? I used to love that feeling of holding my mums hand and speeding along. When my toddler gets tired he shouts “pick me up now” so I am not too worried he’s silently suffering.

Guess you never had to walk everywhere, to all appointments, to do all shopping, every nursery run. You soon realise there isn't enough time to always slow down, especially if you have to get to an appointment.

I’m pretty certain that the vast majority of parents are fully aware of this, and their children get through sometimes have to sprint along a bit just fine.

We have become a nation of fatties. Kids exercising is never a bad thing!

I don’t know about this. I slowed down for my DC and I never really got that speed back…now they leave me behind!

Thinking about this, I think I spent years chasing my parents, but hey were we fit and often asked to go to bed!! At 63, I still walk as much as possible and at a fair pace, often getting comments as to why I walk as far as I do! I think walking is a great exercise for tiny peeps and a little bit of pace is a good thing.

I would say most people are aware that shorter people have shorter legs and need more steps to match the pace of a bigger person. It’s hardly groundbreaking news. Unless you think parents in particular are a bit dense? When you see people rushing it’s usually because they are late to an event, train, nursery etc.

It was the other way round for me. DS was an absolute energy ball and I struggled to keep up with him!

@Parker1970 I get what you’re saying but when you have to get to places by a certain time then wandering along at toddler pace just isn’t an option.