Walking with my nearly 4 yr old

[Sarahh2014]

2 miles at a time? My ds goes to nursery 2.5 days a week but on the other days I like to get him fresh air so we take the dog for a 2 mile walk around our village (I use map my walk app to monitor the distance) Sever well meaning people have said it's too far for him but I think it's fine

Several

If he's not tired or struggling or asking to sit down/be carried then assume he's fine!

If he doesn't complain and you don't end up carrying him then I'd say it's fine.

If he's fine then there's not really a problem. Too far for some, not worth mentioning to others. Humans did evolve for a fair walk in a day didn't they?

Yes its fine. Few people including kids do enough exercise, so I can see why some will think its too far, its not.

That's fine. Children get used to it. We go geocaching, and my 8 year old DD often walks 8+ miles with us, very little complaints. We don't rush, and stop along the way to look for the treasure, but still cover the distance.

Sounds brilliant. My DS loved going walks at that age. Only he'd definitely do more than 2 miles with all the running back and forth!

My (just) 3yo could do that no problem, but I know some of her peers would struggle.

If he's happy, then carry on. If he's not, you'll be carrying him!

The well meaning people are wrong.

Thanks I know I'm not bu.im just trying to give him regular exercise it just surprised me at the pearl clutching so to speak, we have legs that are made for walking after all

I had a friend who thought I was BU to make my 4 year old, the time, DS walk 1.5miles to school. In reality it's just modern day laziness.

My DS3 can happily walk two miles. He gets a bit tired jogging two miles but walking isn't a problem. For a four year old two miles really shouldn't be a problem.

Yes it is modern day laziness!

I don't think it's too far at all.

However we have had this said to us - but we don't drive so our children have always walked and been fairly happy to do so. Though we kept pushchairs round longer than other families to help aid this and that goes down badly as well.

If it was too much for him, pretty sure he would let you know loudly. It's not that much walking, and if he is used to it, what would the problem be?

I am more concerned about people who seem to believe that a couple of miles is too much for a child! I wouldn't put a heavy rucksack on his bag (or in all seriousness any bag at all) and make sure he wears decent footwear, but it's good for them.

I find the idea of measuring it to make sure he does 2 miles a bit odd but nothing wrong with him walking. He would soon let you know if it was too much I am sure

I’m a childminder, one of the ones I look after is 4 and walks three miles a day on school runs. The nearly 2 year old is currently walking about 1.5 miles a day and is gradually building this up.

When I say they walk, the older one actually runs most of the way and the younger one probably does more than 1.5 miles by the time he has gone the wrong way and then doubled back on himself a few tines.
The fresh air and exercise will be doing you both good. Far easier to entertain them outside than cooped up in the house all day.

I measure the 2 miles for my benefit as I'm trying to lose weight and it tells you the calories

He is nearly three. If he is tired or his legs hurt he will make sure you know all about it. As he seems quite happy with the situation I would ignore the naysayers.

At my kids school they used to go on a whole school walk each term of around 5 miles.All the reception kids managed it.