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AIBU?

AIBU to take our DDs on a long walk?

98 replies

Joolsy · 08/08/2015 20:29

OK it was a lovely warm day today so OH decided it would be nice to do one of the walks in our book (1st time). It turned out to be quite steep uphill for 2 miles but with breathtaking views from the top. It was then a long, slow decline back for another 2 miles. Both DDs were crying on the way up as it was hot & they said their legs were aching. I quite enjoyed it myself - I just like getting out in the fresh air & getting some exercise. But I feel a bit guilty that we made them do this walk when they'd rather be doing something 'fun' and there probably wasn't much in it for them. AIBU to feel like this?

OP posts:

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BuggersMuddle · 10/08/2015 21:37

Gosh yes, YANBU. I don't know much about distances as no kids here, but I often wish my parents had done more countryside walking / emphasised more of the physical when I was growing up. I didn't have this, so wild camping was a stretch and also I now pursue activities (running, climbing, cycling) where I have limited aptitude: while I can't beat physiology, some of this would have been offset if parents had been at all interested in sports. Even now, I am fighting against both my genetics and my upbringing.

5Foot5 · 09/08/2015 16:39

You have to get them used to it young and make it fun. Lots of PP have mentioned geocaching and that certainly helps. Also I think family walks have always meant lots of opportunity to talk about all sorts of things and just generally have fun together.

As our DD got to be an older teen she had the choice whether to come with us on a walk or not. During exam times she would often choose to stay at home and study. However, it is gratifying that now as a young adult, when she is home from Uni she will more often than not opt in for the weekend walk in the Peak District and even the walking holiday abroad.

OP you should not feel guilty at expecting a 12 and a 6 year old to walk 4 miles, especially the 12 year old.

Florriesma · 09/08/2015 15:24

My 6 yo has done 10 mile hikes!(it wasn't supposed to be 10 miles)
Along with his brothers who 9&10. Ds 1 &2 love fell walking.
The 14yo I would have no sympathy with. The 6yo just needs to be trained up. We know that if we do a long hike one day we can't expect him to do that soon after and have to balance it up with something he'd love. There is a fine balance between inducting them and putting them off.

Egosumquisum · 09/08/2015 15:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ouryve · 09/08/2015 15:16

Trying to imagine the state of cheese that's been carried around on a hot day.

Sweaty!

Ragwort · 09/08/2015 12:54

Lots of children will just moan about a walk for the sake of it; my DS spends hours at his chosen sport every week, out in the fresh air, loads of walking and running, never moans about it - but suggest a fifteen minute walk into town and you would think I had suggested a marathon. .

Mehitabel6 · 09/08/2015 11:26

I do think it is a lot to do with parents- I can't imagine not walking which is why I answered the first time imagining they were both under 5yrs.
You have to make it fun and interesting.

brainwashed · 09/08/2015 10:56

Not a long walk at all and well within the capabilities of kids that age. My youngest DS walked up and down his first Munro ( Scottish mountain above 3000ft) at the age of 4. He does still moan sometimes when going out for a walk now but that is because he is a teenager and doesn't want to spend time with his parents!

Only1scoop · 09/08/2015 10:35

I do think it's a lot to do with parents though ....because myself and oh have always walked from childhood then it's normal for dd to go on huge walks and a bonus that she loves it as much as we do.

Lookingforwardtoholiday · 09/08/2015 10:29

We took ours for a long walk last weekend - they are 12,5 &9. They made such a song and dance about it, whining and complaining and the 12 year old sulking all the way there. Once they realised it was happening whether they lined it or not we had a really lovely day, stopped for a lovely lunch half way and it was a real pleasure

AboutTimeIChangedMyNameAgain · 09/08/2015 10:28

As a child my parents were always taking us on walks up hills, we hated it! Spent my childhood being dragged up bloody mountains.

Nothing wrong with it.

EmeraldKitten · 09/08/2015 10:22

I thought the ages would be under 5!

We did a lot of Lake District hikes with a 5 and 7 year old a few months ago. We got the odd whinge on the really steep bits but they both more than handled it and were out on the mountains for about 4 hours on a few days.

I agree with the pp...if a 12 and 6 year old can't handle 4 miles you really need to get them out more.

Egosumquisum · 09/08/2015 10:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mehitabel6 · 09/08/2015 10:19

I would never stop just because they moan and cry- they need to do more.

ChopOrNot · 09/08/2015 10:18

www.geocaching.com/play Try Geocaching if you want to get your children interested/not whingy about walking.

Mehitabel6 · 09/08/2015 10:18

I had to walk 3 miles everyday just to get to school and back from the age of 5yrs!

Egosumquisum · 09/08/2015 10:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Only1scoop · 09/08/2015 10:16

We have always walked dd was in backpack when very little but at 4 she was easily doing 5 or 6 miles. She's 5 now and we took her friend on a short three mile easy walk and she moaned and cried and hated it.

Never again

Lightbulbon · 09/08/2015 10:12

It doesn't bode well for their future health if a 12 & 6 yo can't do a 4 mile walk.

You need to drag them out more.

intheenddotcom · 09/08/2015 10:08

When I take teenagers walking (on a v. gentle incline, less than a mile, on a proper track) there is whinging, complaints it's too far, too steep, too dangerous from a few. It's always the few that have turned up in trainers, never walk more than the distance to the card and spend most of their time on the PlayStation.

OP - your walk doesn't sound too long or too difficult. Don't baby them - although the odd forest walk on a hot day is enjoyable. Maybe make it into a challenge - completing all the local hills before the age of 14 or something like that.

Mehitabel6 · 09/08/2015 07:36

Gosh- just found their ages- I had assumed they were tiny tots!
Your mistake was not doing it from when they were tiny tots. I took mine from babies and have photos of them all in slings or backpacks fell walking.

Mehitabel6 · 09/08/2015 07:32

It wasn't a long walk and well within their capabilities.

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Mehitabel6 · 09/08/2015 07:31

Just keep doing it until they get used to it! Make it fun with lots of rests, things to find etc. Try not to have straight road walking.
I can think of walks I moaned about as a child but am so grateful that we had lots of them and I absolutely love them now.

LilyMayViolet · 09/08/2015 07:29

That really isn't an especially long walk. Granted the first part was up hill but that's well within the capabilities of children of those ages.

Asleeponasunbeam · 09/08/2015 07:21

I bribe with a smartie or haribo at various points, just before the whinging sets in. So we usually walk to the picnic spot/ river/ rock we're aiming for, stop for a play, then bribe on the way back. 'sweet at the next tree'; 'sweet the next time anyone sees a rabbit'; 'sweet when you find a style' etc. I can make that last for hours. DC are 3 and 6. Prone to whinging, but we have a dog and live on Dartmoor!

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