To expect my DCs (Yr 7&9) to walk 40 mins to school and home again.

[Lauresbadhairday]

My DCs are at an independent school and therefore most of the children live some distance away and are dropped off and picked up from school by parents every day. We live a 40 min walk away and I think my DCs should be able to manage this to and from school. They are 12 & 14.

They moan daily about walking - "it's too far", "my bag's too heavy, "it's raining", "none of my friends walk" etc, etc.

Now by my own admission I have been too soft and have dropped them off/picked them up quite frequently however I really want this to stop and for them to walk. I am getting much tougher and have not given them a lift at all since half-term but the moaning continues.

So, AIBU in making them walk 40 mins to school and back? If the general consensus is that I am then I will suck it up and give them a lift but I really think at 12&14 they are perfectly capable of walking this distance daily.

Apologies for not reading the full thread, but YADNBU. I think someone up thread wondered how we managed to do this in the 60s and 70s without demur. We certainly didn't have obesity problems, and lots of us have taken exercise as a way of life ever since.

I do understand why your DCs might feel aggrieved at not being ferried about like some of their peers, but they'll be right on trend by taking regular exercise every day and by being environmentally aware by not using the car.

No lockers at our school so only absolute essentials to carry each day!

Today for one of my boys that was a pencil case (exam) and for the other one books for 4 lessons, planner, pencil case, homework (rarely done in lesson books these days) PE kit, cookery ingredients and container to bring home results,

Oops posted too soon...

Cricket bat for after school and spikes. Imagine carrying that lot around to all your lessons all day and then adding on wet weather gear as well. It's quite a hefty amount all day for a 13 year old!

I had a 40 min walk as a 11-18 yr old and hated it. Was actually 20min walk then bus then 20min walk and the same on the way to school, and everyday I would wish that my dad would pass on his way home from work and give me a lift; he did occasionally.
My bag was so heavy, I was tired after working hard all day and I just wanted to be home.
I've ended up with a lifetime of back issues including surgery, that I partly blame on carrying all my stuff, I was in physical pain each day.
I'd say give them a lift some days if you can or get them bikes to use.

I'd say a 3.30 finish is unusually early for an independent school. I work at one and have looked at timetables for several others and they all finish at 5 or later with an 8.30 start. They have boarders as well as day pupils, though, and I think that has an influence.

2x swimming bags, 2 x PE kit, 2 x games bags

Do they actually do swimming and PE and games every Monday? Or could they just take the bags in as needed?

The OP's private school might have lockers for everyone? Some schools still do (two out of my kids' schools do).

Anyway, I'm in the "get them bikes" faction. Two of mine cycle to school (the ones with lockers) and it has been so good in terms of them being independent generally - they can go where they like, when they like. They have panniers (normally one, two for PE/etc days) and leave the panniers on the bikes during the day and just take their bags out.

Wow cardibach! Is that all taught lessons, or does it include after school sports or homework club?

when I was at secondary school I used to walk an hour to and from school and spend my bus fare on sweets :)

Yanbu, 1.5 miles is not a long walk! I walk 5 miles to & from work every day (2.5 each way), and in a year I can count on one hand the number of days it was really too unpleasant weather to do it. If you're walking at a decent pace you're not cold. If its really wet you can make an exception & give them a lift, but can't see any reason why this shouldn't be the exception rather than the rule.

Walking sounds fine, with maybe a lift in heavy rain. I walk to work.

I walked about 2 miles to secondary school - so about half an hour - and it was enough, especially in bad weather and with heavy books. i wouldn't expect my children regularly to walk further than that and I wouldn't have sent them to a school further away.

1.5miles! Let 'em walk.

My 17 and 13 year olds do this every day with heavy bags as no lockers at school.
If it's pouring with rain, or they've been ill/injured I occasionally give them a lift, but otherwise I'm just glad they (in particular the 17 year old) get some daily exercise.
Most pupils do walk/cycle in so they don't think anything of it.

I had to walk and cycle when I was a child and that fitness has never really left me. Mine do (can get bus home if they want) and as they are not sporty, I think it is good for them.

YANBU on the time - it depends on how far you expect them to be able to walk in 40mins (Have only read p1 and p10).

My dds walk 1.5miles to and from school each day, and it tends to take them 40 - 50 mins as they walk with friends, chat, and put the world to rights. They do it quicker if they are ever on their own.
In the Winter, if they stay for an afterschool club, or if they've got cookery to bring home combined with it chucking it down with rain, then - when I'm available I will go and fetch them, but the default is to walk. Bit o fresh air and exercise each day does them the world of good, not to say all the conversations with friends.

I think it's habit forming, as others have said. My ds only had to walk 1.2miles each way, but he thhinks nothing of walking a couple of miles to a friends house or whatever, and is quite amazed now at university how short a distance people will get a bus for - he'd rather keep the money in his pocket, and will also often get there just as quickly.

They should walk!

Going to work, I have a 15 min walk at each end (20 mins on train) and while I don't mind the walk, my shoulders and back hurt if my bag is heavy. So now I usually cycle with paniers...35 mins and 7.5 mikes. Cheaper and better.

Give them the bike optin if they don't like walking.

I think it's too far. My year 9 often has 1 1/2 hours of homework a night so a long walk home would probably finish her off. They are children and work hard at school. It's not about the distance but the length of their day.

We have no car and live in Canada - everywhere is far lol! I have to walk 20 mins just to get bread and milk both in -25 (-40 this past winter!) degree weather and in plus 30 degrees. Rain or shine we walk. Public transport is only reserved for particularly long distances. My kids and I (am currently 35 weeks pregnant, they are 4, 10 & 11) are used to walking and it is great exercise and character building.

YANBU

If it really is taking them 40 mins to walk 1.5 miles then I'd say they need the exercise!

I used to walk that distance to school and back... And I enjoyed it! I'm only 27, have things changed so much? I had a lot of homework too so don't see that as an excuse.

I understand your dcs aren't keen, but cycling really is the way to go. It's quick, they retain their independence, they keep fit and if they get big baskets they can carry their heavy bags easily. Have they done much cycling? Maybe they are worried about cycling in traffic. A quick road safety course might help. I live in a town were everyone uses bikes every day. Before moving here, I rarely used one and didn't really appreciate how great they are.

Just wanted to say, my DD (14) has a 35 minute walk. No problem with that.

But her bag weighs half a ton, and if it's raining then she'd be soaked. It's a big school so lockers are only used for PE kit.

It would be awful for her if she had to walk EVERY morning in any weather.

She always walks home, but at least she can then get changed into dry clothes if it's been raining.

YABU.

40 mins each way is fine. It's only 2 miles. And so what if it's raining? As long as they have waterproof coats and proper footwear, it could be quite enjoyable.

Children are meant to get an hour a day proper excersise. A steady walk to school and back will really add up their general fitness

Walking is such a nice enjoyable way to relax before and after school.

I agree with Frenchmustard - it's a good way to unwind and process the day before getting stuck into homework.

They may be able to rationalise the school books - do they all have to come home every night? If they plan their study some could be left at school on some nights.

I had a very similar walk to school and I had no problem doing it in the morning but I used to hate it in the afternoon. I was tired and I was hungry. I used to avoid it as much as I could by getting lifts from friends parents or going to the library until I could be picked up. If I knew my DM was home from work and chosing not to pick me up I'd have been moaning everyday too. I think a compromise of a pick up outside of the worst traffic would be a good idea.