..to expect my DS (2yo) to walk a mile?

[PicaK]

...with mum or dad obviously (just in case anyone thinks I'm sending him off to the shops on his own!)

Background is that I live on a country road without pavements and drivers who ignore the 30mph speed limit (grrr). So I tend to leave the house either with him in the pram or in the car.

Realised I don't really have a feel for how far "most" kids can walk at this age and what we should be aiming for when we go to the park etc.

Hmm, that sounds like I've got him on some boot-camp fitness routine - but that's so not me. I guess I just want to check I'm not underestimating what he's capable of.

A mile seems too far to me.

oh, and we are experts at silly walks and silly songs which helps us moving along. much to the delight of other people, I'm sure.

My DD is just two and can manage almost a mile she gets tired towards the end and needs a carry though, 6 months and I think she will manage it no problem.

DS1 only took his first steps at 20months and only recently at age 5 developed the willingness to walk any great distance. If I had tried to get him to walk a mile at age 2 (or age 3, or age 4 come to think of it...), we would probably just be approaching the finishing line around now!

And I was talking to somebody last week whos DD is 17months and insisted on walking half a mile home. The dd insisted that is, not the mum

Your ds is probably somewhere in between these two extremes, and i guess you have to find the balance between letting him walk and actually getting anywhere...

and don't listen to what people tell you he "should" be able to do, because it will only make you worry about it if he can't.

We took our DC 6 & 3 on their first 'big' walk at Easter, 3 miles up and down hills, from sea level up to 280m. It was hard work for them both, but the promise of a picnic at the top of the hill was an incentive as was the ice cream at the end. They both managed very well and I have now started walking them to school (1.2 miles). This journey is made easier by the sweet shop about 500m from home, on hot days they get an ice lolly, on others a piece of fruit that I have brought from home.