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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to make a child walk 4 miles?

38 replies

KindergartenKop · 15/02/2018 16:26

I've just got a Fitbit and it measures how far I walk. I've been out a lot with 5 yo Ds this week and today and yesterday he walked 4 miles on both days. MIL thinks IABU. I reckon it's a healthy habit. AIBU?

OP posts:
19lottie82 · 15/02/2018 16:27

If he can manage it I think it’s great! He’s not going to drop down dead!

mumpoints · 15/02/2018 16:28

My 3 year old complains long and loud if he has "achy legs". If he's not complaining, I can't see it doing any harm once in a while. Every day for school (for instance) though and it impacts on PE and other activities.

Horses4 · 15/02/2018 16:29

Not at all unreasonable. I don’t drive so my 4 and 7 year olds walk between 3-6 miles most days. I do at least 8 because I then walk to work. Additionally 7 year old has juvenile arthritis - it keeps her joints mobile to walk a healthy distance. Obviously if she is having a bad day I minimise the distance for her, but 4 year old regularly does 4/5 miles a day.

ExFury · 15/02/2018 16:29

If he's used to it and not complaining of pain then there's no harm.

If you normally drive him everywhere and then suddenly started walking then it's a bit much to just do everyday with no build up, but it's all relative to your normal life.

ReinettePompadour · 15/02/2018 16:30

Do you normally walk 4 miles in a day?

I recall walking my 5 year old that distance with the dogs frequently. However if you walked that far just because you had your fitbit then maybe cut back a bit and build up to that distance over the next few weeks.

InDubiousBattle · 15/02/2018 16:30

I think it's fine. My 4 year old will walk that on weekend days. He struggles with much more than a mile or so in one go without a bit of a sit down though, but broken up over a day is perfectly manageable for him because he's always done quite a lot of walking (we don't drive).

UpstartCrow · 15/02/2018 16:32

We used to play out all day at that age, yanbu.

niccyb · 15/02/2018 18:49

My daughter walked 4 miles when she was 4. Made it interesting for her. Gave a piggy back if she got tired. Took a pic-nic, stopped for lunch. Saw the animals in the fields. She was shattered when she got home but it was a good day out and didn’t spend a penny other than on the pic-nic.

WhooooAmI24601 · 15/02/2018 18:50

YANBU. Children that age can walk miles if there's enough sticks to collect, weird-looking leaves to throw about and sights to see. I love taking the DCs on a trek and tiring them out.

Gottagetmoving · 15/02/2018 18:52

If he can physically do it, then it's fine.
Take no notice of MIL Unlike many parents, you will have a physically fit child.

Narnia72 · 15/02/2018 18:53

We've just done 6 miles round Hatfield Forest with a 6, 8 and 10 year old. They loved it. Much better for them than being on the xbox all day (which is what my 6 yr old would do, left to his own devices)

OutyMcOutface · 15/02/2018 18:54

My three year old walks more than that sometimes without complaint. Is your MIL fat by any chance?

Aquamarine1029 · 15/02/2018 18:55

My kids were both walking that long at that age. We have always been big on fitness and regular exercise. If they are happy doing it definitely keep it up! This is a great foundation for them to have for their future health.

Chienrouge · 15/02/2018 18:56

According to my Fitbit I do about 6 miles a day. I’m a SAHM to a 4 and 2 year old (pushchair refuser) and all my walking is done with them in tow, so I guess they do 6 miles a day too! Doesn’t seem to be doing them any harm.

Lucked · 15/02/2018 18:57

All at once might be a bit much if not used to it but if it is lots of short trips then that is easy enough. Worse case scenario is being 2 miles from home with a 4 year old who refuses to go any further.

We are a mile to the school so if we walk sibling to school morning and afternoon then that is 4 miles but I don't do that very often.

Nquartz · 15/02/2018 18:57

This is good, it is too easy to drive everywhere. DD (5) walked about 4 miles last Saturday & walked between 5&7 miles a day on holiday.
I'm expecting her to walk more at Disney world in the summer so she's got to practice 😜

LadyFlumpalot · 15/02/2018 18:59

Not at all! DH and I regularly take the kids for a stroll along the cliffs on the South West Coast Path. Our usual route is approx 6 miles and they love it. We take a little pop up tent, the cooking stove, tea, hot chocolate, snacks and have a little picnic on the beach when we are halfway. It's lovely. The kids are usually the ones telling DH and I to hurry up.

m0therofdragons · 15/02/2018 18:59

Mine did 11 miles 2 days in a row then 7-8 miles the following 4 days at age 5. They're perfectly able to do this (we were in New York) but maybe not every day.

SheepyFun · 15/02/2018 18:59

Firstly, it's fine. Secondly, will some of that distance just be around the house/garden etc. rather than out walking? My parents have a house with a lot of stairs, and when getting it ready for guests, my mum tells me she can get to 10,000 steps without going out at all (did I mention the stairs?!). That's extreme, but you get the idea!

HildaZelda · 15/02/2018 19:09

@OutyMcOutface, I was wondering that too! Has MIL ever walked 4 miles?!

kaytee87 · 15/02/2018 19:13

Just after my nephew turned 2 he walked 3 miles. Took ages but he loved it then had a good sleep afterwards.

Wakeuptortoise · 15/02/2018 19:16

Both mine managed 5-6km walks around the local peak national park from about 18mo. Not everyday, but couple of times a week.

FayJay · 15/02/2018 19:16

I think it’s fine if he doesn’t mind. I wear a Fitbit too and I’ve averaged 12000 + steps every day this half term. DDs (6 and 8) have walked everywhere I have. It’s good for them to be active and they are used to walking.

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 15/02/2018 19:18

Well my Fitbit tells me I’ve walked a mile today and I’ve actually been doing practically nothing because I haven’t been feeling too well. I certainly haven’t been out of the house. BUT my DCs definitely used to walk several miles at a time with us when they were that sort of age so it’s perfectly reasonable. These days a family walk easily hits 12 miles but they are 14 and 19 now.....

Ummmmgogo · 15/02/2018 19:20

It's about 10000 steps isn't it? perfectly reasonable. children are like dogs. they need a good walk or they destroy your house 😂