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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think a 40 minute walk to school nursery is manageable?

361 replies

Heckythump1 · 19/06/2019 11:15

We are looking at pre-schools for September for an almost 4 year old. (We've just found out we have to move in a few weeks) we have a few choices but our favourite on paper is a school nursery 40 minutes walk away. Neither of us drive so we will have to walk whatever the weather, although there are buses for some of the journey.
We are visiting all options in the next week or so.
Am I being daft wanting to send them to a better place further away or should I send her to a closer one that I don't like as much?

OP posts:
Sallycinammonbangsthedruminthe · 21/06/2019 21:27

Doable yes..practical no! I would suggest if your heart is set on this place then you book a cab on a contract for you and your little one every day....other than that it seems mad to me to even think about dragging a little one on such a long journey,,..the days are long enough and tiring enough for little ones without all the extra mileage...

ExsandOhOhOhs · 21/06/2019 21:30

No way.

mannersmakeththepig · 22/06/2019 08:09

I’ve not RTFT so apologies if this is doubling up, but I think it’s totally doable, and I really admire you for looking at alternative options than driving. Where I live, the air quality is horrendous around schools - and I can’t wait until driving is banned on all school roads. One of our local schools is on a major road and we would never let our dc go there because of the pollution.

There are amazing options for electric cargo bikes nowadays, and you can pick up a second hand one around £1000 - loads of money, but still a lot cheaper than a car - and probably your first year’s insurance, as a new driver.

Good luck. You’ll have buns of steel after a few weeks!

CecilyP · 22/06/2019 08:20

Buns of steel? Really? Its not exactly a long walk or cycle ride for a adult. It is simply a long walk with a 4 year old in tow. The nursery would have to be beyond amazing to justify it. One thing OP should bear in mind is that attending the nursery does not guarantee a place in the primary school.

ArcheryAnnie · 23/06/2019 00:03

@Heckythump1 I am late to this thread, but wanted to say that I've been in your position and did it - took my 4 year old DS to school every day, 40 mins walk each way. We walked there and back until he went to secondary school.

Pro: he became an amazing walker. I did get him a little scooter, which helped speed things up, but it made him into a kid who thought nothing of walking everywhere. He's never been interested in sport, so this kept him really fit.

Pro: he had so much energy when he was little, and I think having a long brisk walk before he arrived at school really helped work some of that energy off, so when he got into class he was ready to settle down and learn.

Pro: walking home together was a really lovely thing to do, a nice little space to talk about his day, look at things, aimless chat.

Con: it took up time. I worked part-time, which is how I could pick him up. I had to walk twice the distance he did every day (which was also a pro because exercise!).

Con: it's miserable when it's pissing it down.

When he started at the school, I was dreading the walk, and it became the normal thing to do so quickly. Even when he was bigger, we were both really surprised by children who moaned and dragged their feet at such a walk. when DS thought nothing of it. I think it gave him some really great habits.

Watsername · 23/06/2019 15:25

It's too far to walk for the child.

We had a child in my Reception class who walked 20 minutes there and back - they looked permanently exhausted and were unable to engage with any learning as they were just too darn tired.

SarahTancredi · 23/06/2019 15:50

We had a child in my Reception class who walked 20 minutes there and back - they looked permanently exhausted and were unable to engage with any learning as they were just too darn tired

Surely that would be indicative of far more serious issues than a 20 min walk to school Hmm why are schools offering rewards to kids who walk and cycle to school, introducing wake up shake up, or morning miles to get kids active and burn off their energy so they are ready to learn rather than all fidgety if they were all too exhausted after wards ?

20 mins is nothing if a child couldn't manage that I'd be down the drs

00100001 · 23/06/2019 15:55

"We had a child in my Reception class who walked 20 minutes there and back - they looked permanently exhausted and were unable to engage with any learning as they were just too darn tired."

It's probably because they didn't sleep well and perhaps had a shit diet, rather than the modest walk.

A 20 minute walk should not exhaust a child!

RubberTreePlant · 23/06/2019 16:46

We had a child in my Reception class who walked 20 minutes there and back - they looked permanently exhausted and were unable to engage with any learning as they were just too darn tired.

I think that's possibly the most batshit thing I have ever read on MN.

20 minutes of walking for a reception child is less than a mile. Ij an ideal world, ALL KS1 children should be walking that, twice or more a day. Preferably, quite a bit more.

SarahTancredi · 23/06/2019 16:53

Exactly. I mean what happened to doing an after school club or going to the park with friends afterwards. If they cant manage a 20 minute walk they cant manage basic normal.kid behaviour of running round a play ground. Doing pe. Or going to park. Many will be walking 20 mins to a bus stop. It's nothing.cant believe the walk got the blame here.

IceCreamSoda99 · 23/06/2019 16:57

Not sure if mentioned but what about play dates? Are most of the other children going to live locally to the school? I do think it's important to take this into consideration, I lived a 40 min walk from my school and though my mum drove as I got older it wasn't like I could just call for a friend, it was quite isolating.

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