To take my six year old on a nightly walk?

[AddisonM]

I need to lose some weight. I’ve been struggling with undiagnosed depression and I’m trying to dig my way out. I have been following a friend on Facebook who has dropped three stone since January just by walking. She walks every single night for miles. She looks fab.

I used to run and go to the gym but I can’t seem to muster the energy or confidence right now. So maybe a long evening walk is the way forward.

My six year old daughter is a bit prone to laziness and doesn’t really do much exercise. She’s not keen on it and I find this a bit difficult to accept, tbh (I mean I get that she doesn’t like it but it’s important to be healthy and she has couch potato tendencies). I’m thinking about taking her with me on these walks. I don’t know how up for it she will be but she’s quite clingy with me just now so she may come along just to be with me. I thought it would be nice. We could chat. We walk to school every day and I quite enjoy it.

Husband not keen on the idea (he would be at home with three year old, who wouldn’t walk far enough). Says it’s up to me, but thinks it’s a bit dark and cold and that she wouldn’t enjoy it.

Has anyone else done this?

This is a great time to start because so many houses are decorated with outside Christmas lights, it will give your daughter motivation to keep walking. I take it by nightly, you mean in the evening and not keeping your daughter up past bedtime. Try it and see, if she enjoys it (my DD would love the time with me) then fab. Nothing to lose.

Are we talking about a several mile walk at the end of the day, after a full day of school? I think you'd be mental - your kid will be exhausted and it'll throw your whole evening out of whack.

Best thing is to try it. Also she doesn’t have to go every night. If she’s too tired or it’s too wet, just go by yourself those times.

Evenings will be freezing. She’ll hate it. Why not walk with her during the day.

I don't know...how many miles and what time? I assumed you were a single mum until you mentioned your dh and that you wouldn't actually be able to go unless she came with you.

Because she’s at school and I’m working.

It’s a bit different but I’ve been suffering with PND since I had my little one in June. It was my partner that suggested we all go out a walk when he comes home from work before my DD gets her bath so every night we get her into her pram suit, all wrap up warm and go a walk normally a 5k. Yes it’s dark and cold but it’s actually helping so much and I look forward to these now and with it being Xmas we get to see all the lovely lights and peoples houses all done up. I don’t see the harm in it just get the 2 of you wrapped up warm and off you go.

Is your husband maybe not happy the fact he will be left alone with your 3yo?

I really thought you were going to say you were a single parent and had no choice!!!!

I am with your husband.
He is at home if you want to walk, walk.
Don't drag your 6 year old out in the wet cold too.
I also (weirdly) wonder if there is some tranference here and question whether you'd be suggesting this if your daughter was your son.

For the nights it's too wet - put Walk at Home into YouTube, lots of indoor walking videos, I've loved these over lockdown

No he’s fine with being with the three year old. They’re tight 😂

How long a walk are you talking about, I think that's the deciding factor here.

Do it. It's a great habit to get you both in to. Will be good for your mental and physical health and will fe some lovely 121 time with your daughter. Be prepared for some loans from her but she will find it esker as she gets fitter.

My DH's grandmas used to walk absolutely everywhere fir miles with her children in tow from a very young age. So they are perfectly capable of doing it.

She will most likely hate it, whine, get cold, and walk slowly. You'll enjoy it far more and walk more quickly and further on your own.

Go out and look at xmas lights. Go for it.

I wouldn’t with a 6 year old in cold dark weather, but if you want to start yourself then I’d do it.
For the 6 year old I’d save it for weekends and day light.

In that case I wouldn’t make her go in the evenings unless she wanted to but I’d cut down on her couch time at home and make weekends active.

Sounds like a great idea and will get your 6yo into a good habit.

Try it

I'd try it, as long as its not too far and you are wrapped up well. If she hates it then you can leave her home with Dad, but if you still go your might find she wants to go the next night to have special Mum time.

I used to love taking the dog for a walk in the evenings with my grandpa. My favourite memories are of the winter months when it was cold and my grandma would wrap me up warm and we would sometimes see rabbits in the fields! It felt like a grownup thing to be allowed out after dark and that it would have been scary but my grandpa was there so it was ok. I think you could make a thing about her being big enough to now go out in the dark for grownup time with you and see what you can find and take a torch etc. Come home to a small mug of hot chocolate. It could make some really special memories!

Very mixed!

I’m not really sure how far. I haven’t really thought it through. I guess I’d start small and build it up.

You could always get your DD to scoot or cycle alongside you, that way she's quicker, and you can pull her along (extra resistance training!) when she tires out.

As for being cold, its only about 1 degree colder at 6pm than 4pm.

Why not? She could come every other day if daily is too much. Or scooter or bike?

This time of year especially you can do routes to seek out the houses with amazing lights

I think its a great idea. If she is reluctant try adding a purpose in, e.g. posting a Christmas card at a friend's- might help her get into it.

It's often nicer being out at night in December when the Christmas lights are out than in the daytime when it can't be arsed to get light.

I've got night owl DCs who like a nocturnal walk if they're struggling to sleep.

Pokemon Go is a good motivator to get reluctant children out (maybe not great for brisk walking). It's saved our family sanity since October.