To think a 37minute school run is ok?

[jultomten]

We are house hunting and I have found two houses I like with a 37min walking distance to the school we want. One of the things I was really looking forward too with the move was to be able to walk the kids to school instead of driving like I have to do now. But is 37 minutes too long to walk twice a day? Am I just going to end up driving?
If iabu how long is the longest walking distance you would consider doing?

For private school, probably fine although I guarantee you will start driving once the novelty of the walk wears off, especially as private schools are set up to deal with kids arriving by car. If you want to walk just choose your nearest state primary, which if you're in an urban area won't be more than 10 minutes away, and you'll have the added bonus of walking in with all your children's classmates, playdates after school, a sense of community etc. Personally I wouldn't walk 37 minutes 4 times a day if I didn't have to.

It would probably be ok once in a while in good weather but it's a fair time commitment when you add it up. I know I'd start with good intentions but would probably be in the car within a week.

I used to drive till we moved when my twin girls were younger but now they are 8 and I have a 1 year old and pregnant with 4th, I walk 45 mins x 4 each day and it's great and keeps me fit and kids love it too x

DD's school is a 15-20 minute walk with DD and a 10-15 minute walk on my own (depending on mood/energy levels!).

We are in a village and our house is one of the farthest from the school. We are also one of the only families to walk every day, in all weathers .

I would much rather walk than try to run the gauntlet of parking anywhere near school (an impossible nightmare). However, it is quite a pretty walk, even in the winter. We walk alongside a canal for part of the way. There were swans on the canal today .

Sorry - I should have added, I probably wouldn't manage to walk 37 minutes there & back every day, at both ends of the day, purely due to time constraints.

That said, it wouldn't take me 37 minutes to walk 1.2 miles.

30 min school walk here too (at kid pace), it's fine (and great exercise for the dcs). We often cycle too. Car only used in poor weather. I enjoy the return walk ....gives me valuable 'thinking' time.

I really wanted to be able to walk to school for primary, but couldn't get into local schools. In the event, it was fine - the convenience of driving and you can still park further away and walk a bit on the days when you have time.

We have approx that distance and mainly drive. We are in an awful town for traffic but we are moving to 5 mins walk away, very soon.

Having read some other responses I'm surprised many think it impractical. 3dcs here...all primary...it really is fine. I'm a bit 'no nonsense' though and my dcs know not to waste their breath moaning.

37 minutes for a 1.2mile walk sounds like a lot! I googled mapped my route which is 1.1 miles and it takes us around 20 minutes and google maps says 23 minutes so about right. I have an 8, 7 and 3 year old. 3 year old in the buggy with the bags (phil&teds double). They have good shoes, good warm coats and rain gear under the buggy. Its good for them and good for me and my mental health. I miss the walk if dh does a drop off every once in a while on his way to work. I do have to do my route there and back 3 times a day as the youngest is in preschool until 12.30. I do hop the bus occasionally and I have to make sure I keep on top of things at home and with dinner on early because it can be tiring especially on rainy days. I am learning to drive but parking is so bad at the school I doubt I will drive for collections unless I arrive 20 minutes early and hang around! Its not a long walk at all to be honest but can be a pain in the wet when you have 3 bags, some shopping, raingear to sort and ballet to get ready for once you get home

Check out what kit they will need to take in. Sports bags for rugby and cricket can be very cumbersome. Also musical instruments. I suspect you'll find few would walk it on a regular basis, especially with 3 children's baggage. Might be worth parking up at drop off/pick up to see what is expected. Is it urban or rural?

is it rural?
we walk (1m each way)
and my two end up plastered in mud by the time they get there
(maybe they are just clumsy, but we leave the house presentable and end up looking like scarecrows by arrival)
prob not the private school 'look' you are going for?

I would try walkingbtbe route with your kids and see how long it takes. 3 year olds can walk slowly.

(sorry not read all comments) 'but' my sons school is 1.9 miles away, not sure about Google map minutes on getting there but it takes us at least 45 mins to walk, there's too schools closer but they don't have an SEN unit in them and I was advised by educational psychogist to sent him there and it is an absolute nightmare some days and can be quite depressing during the winter months and he's only in p1! I would definitely try to find a closer one if you can , think I read it was a private school though so it could be quite difficult. I don't drive and I am £520 during the winter months just now a month, if I could have a closer school I would!

We do 1 mile each way, but it is quite a nice walk past a stream and over a field. At first it was a real pain getting the 4 year old to do it...Could take us up to 45 mins with multiple stops and strops, but now she's used to it and as long as I have a snack with me it's fine. We only drive if it's really tipping it down. So far about 3 mornings this academic year, and that's in the north west, the home of rain. If it's just wet then it's wellies and waterproof top and trousers.

Met our lovely neighbours doing the walk so we have a nice chat on the way!

You're describing a distance similar to my youngest's school. When I googled it, 1.3 m estimate 25 mins - it's almost entirely flat, and 2 sets of traffic lights to get across roads. I've walked it now and then but never as the school run because we've always cycled it. The car gets used now and then but the big incentive is that the car always takes longer than cycling. At peak times it is slower than walking would be as the road route is less direct and badly traffic affected.

Sounds like you shouldn't back out of the houses you like just because of this, but seriously look at cycle options! Oh and I agree about the kit problems mentioned by many - I've managed a lot of things by bike but, for example, cakes for cake stalls don't survive well! My son's now 11 and cycling on his own, but we need to sort out a way of him carrying more than he can manage at the moment - school bag, PE bag, boot bag don't work altogether. Luckily his violin is rarely required on normal school days ... (lessons outside)

ment to say for taxis £520 I would be £7 a day less though if I got the bus bank and he got the bus home with me but that can sometimes be more depressing than walking in the rain or snow

My girls go to a private school and we live in the country, we are not the only walkers to and from school as a lot of the local children who are brought up here have always walked. You only see the cars that belong to parents that live quite far away

Sorry but not RTWT but can you not walk on the days weather is OK and you don't have to carry loads of stuff and drive the rest of the time???

I must have missed the OP saying she has to do the trip 4 times a day?

with a private school it's also a good idea to check finishing times. My DDs finished at 3.30 for reception - yr2, 5pm for yr 3 up and 6pm for yr5 and up, so walking home in the dark in the winter and potentially split finishing times could make walking impractical. another one here who have multiple bags - books, PE kit, musical instrument, ballet......

Don't do it. I moved 5 months ago, luckily just rented to test the area and I thought a longer school run wouldn't be too taxing... It's horrible! We drive every day now and I hate driving to school too. Just found somewhere much closer (7 min walk) and counting down the days til we move in!

I do this and think it's really good for the dc.
We do spellings/times tables on the way there. By the time they get into class they're properly alert and ready to sit and focus.
On the way home they get a chance to shake off the school day and reconnect. The dogs get road walked there and offlead on the way home through the park.
I work from home most of the week so exercising everyone in one easy hit is a winner for me.
As an aside, a decent breakfast and good all-weather clothing is a must and the DCs learn really good road sense and how to be comfortable and safe in public.

I don't think it's great for children to be ferried to different activities in cars all the time.

I second using a bike. The times I've drove, I've watched someone cycle past me as strapping DS in, I'll overtake them along the route somewhere but they pass me again as I'm getting kids out the car etc. takes no time at all. I'd be tempted if I had a bike!

Finding it quite interesting how many people say don't do it. Schools are having real success with getting all the children to do a daily run.
I think walking to school, even in the rain is good for both physical and mental health, and sets them up ready for the day.
The OP is clearly happy to do it son not a problem.

Sorry I posted too soon before.

We used to walk about 0.8 of a mile and I would leave at 8.30 to get there for 10 to 9, usually took us about 15 mins tho.

Maybe 20 mins is hopeful, 25 mins more realistic.

To those talking about enormous sports kits and cooking equipment and double basses, this was not my experience of primary. I have no doubt it is yours but it is certainly not everybody's and the OP should know this.

We used to take in PE kit at the start of each half term only; mine had school dinners so the only thing to carry was a book bag, usually with a book and a notebook in it. Once DD started clarinet she had to take that in once a week as well.

I think it is totally doable but as you can see OP, there are many opinions. I might be tempted to try doing the walk with me DC if practicable to see how it was. And yy remember you will be going there and back twice a day.