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?

Actually OP just to add, is there any elderly people you know with dogs? If LO doesn't fancy going often with you, I'm sure someone might appreciate the offer for you to walk their dog for them. Especially at this time of year! Or if you're on your own consider an audiobook. Just be aware of your surroundings if you're wearing earphones alone!

Lovely idea and she'll enjoy it once it becomes a routine. Go and see christmas lights, then as spring starts you'll be able to see the sunset etc. Evenung walks in summer are great too.

The problem is that to lose weight by walking you have to walk fast and for long enough to break out into a sweat. If you lose weight your daughter will too, and she's smaller. It would also put a strain on her developing joints.

I think its a great idea. Being outdoors and getting exercise is brilliant for depression, and it will be good for your DD to get into the habit of doing some exercise, as well as giving you a chance to chat. I can't see a down side at all.

My kids love a night walk. Hype it up a bit

Mumsnet is hilarious - usually on a post like this people have been walking their dc to Everest base camp since age 2 but today an evening walk is classed as cruel and a matter for social services 😆. Do people call them whenever they see dc walking home from clubs at night? At 6 my dc were doing the walk, plus an activity then the walk home again. Sometimes after 8pm. Thankfully no one ever reported me.

Mi really can't see why not. Walk round and look at the Christmas lights etc. As you say, start small and build up from there. Itcoukd be a special time for you both but if she doesn't like she can stay at home. What is there to lose?

The problem is that to lose weight by walking you have to walk fast and for long enough to break out into a sweat. If you lose weight your daughter will too, and she's smaller. It would also put a strain on her developing joints.

Half an hour activity deemed as bad for joints? Dc run about at the park climbing and jumping for more than that. They do running clubs, rugby, gymnastics, roller skating aged 6 yet a brisk walk is damaging?

Apologies for typos.

I used to love my evening walks with my mum. I think she just liked to get out in the fresh air and escape for a bit before settling down in front of the TV. She always told me that winter was her favorite time because lights were on and curtains not shut so she could nosey in. She loved to see how people decorated their houses, and marvelled at how different rows of the same house could look. We talked almost all the way around. Nothing spectacular, just normal chit chat. I think she was lonely and I'd got to an age where she could chat. Sometimes it was just me, sometimes my DB came along, sometimes it was just her and DB. It was never a chore and now is fond memories.

Go for it, you DD will soon let you know if she's not into it.

My daughter used to love a spooky walk in the dark. She is 17 now and not so keen to come with me. I love walking in the evening.
Sometimes do intervals so walk and run between lamposts.
Could your daughter bike instead if you want to walk faster.

Brilliant idea. Wear appropriate clothing and walk around looking at decorated houses, through the park, to favourite places etc. It’s a chance for some 1:1 time, fresh air and exercise. It’s a pity more parents don’t do the same.

Go for it! I’ve always taken a walk with my daughter from when she first started walking! We go whatever the weather and it’s a lovely bonding thing between just the two of us, we take a torch, even bought a bat detector to listen to the local bats! We even stroll through our local cemetery- it always looks so different at night and different seasons!!

I do a nightly 1 mile walk with my 2 year old so think it sounds great!

Another vote in favour! Mine are 5 and 7 and will happily walk 5k. They can also both run at least 3k as well which we do after school once a week. Energy levels increase with fitness so if she's lethargic it's a great reason to get her out and stretching her legs.

Other suggestions which might help could be a distance challenge (my then 6 year old ran half marathon distance in May and was super proud of himself), a real world based game (whatever they are called) like Pokemon Go or Wizards United or a smart watch to measure steps. And of course the christmas lights are lovely this time of year as PP said.

Wow at some of the responses on here!

It’s a great idea. My young children (5 and 7) come out walking with me most days. They often want to run which means I get decent exercise and sometimes they scoot. Fresh air and exercise is great for them, I’m very confused by some of the responses on here. I’ve done it for a long time with mine and they ask to go but I’m sure if she’s reluctant to start with she’ll soon get used to it.

Why don't you guys do something like Pokemon Go or a nightly treasure hunt (spot the X, Y and Z) in order to liven it up a little for her?

It sounds like a great idea, buy her a torch for Xmas so you go exploring and make fun shadows. I would manage your expectations around weight loss though, you need to burn around 3500 calories to burn a lb of fat, that's at least 35-40 miles of brisk walking for most women. It's a lot easier to create a calorie deficit through your diet and I'm always a bit sceptical of people who say they've lost s lot of weight through exercise alone. I'm sure the healthier mindset leads to healthier eating too.

Great idea, I sometimes do the same with our two who are 3 and 6 on the days they finish school and nursery at normal time (not PE or after school club nights though)

They really enjoy being in the dark and DD in particular often asks to go for a walk as her "reward" if she's been well behaved, as she loves the 121 time with either me or DH as we play I spy, I went to the supermarket, maths using door numbers etc.

DD is quite a brisk Walker now, but DS is still slow. If I want to walk for physical exercise then I have to go out alone, the time by myself with a pod cast or music is also a nice benefit

Also if you think you want to go a long way, it might be hard for her to keep up -- you could always suggest she goes on her bike (and you would probably have to speed walk to keep up, which may also be a plus!)

We take our 5 year old for a walk most nights. only about a mile there and back. If i give her a piggy back on the way back she goes further and i get an extra workout.

Can’t believe how many are saying it’s too cold and dark. No it’s not. It’s lovely time spent with your child. I walked every night with my dad and he used to tell me stories. We used to walk to the story tree, bluebell wood, the haunted house Etc . I do the same with my kids. Having said that I wouldn’t make a big deal if they didn’t want to go every night. Having a dog does help though

We’ve been doing it quite a bit with DS5. He gets lots of excercise anyway, but enjoys getting walk with the dog to see all the Christmas trees (I have to pretend to be Santa and throw “presents” into peoples houses)

A night walk, age 6, at 6:30/7pm - not a problem whatsoever.

I teach and we sometimes walk to a local museum and/or park. It varies between about 1-3 miles each way. The amount of children in year 1 and 2 who struggle with this is shocking!

Take her out and have a lovely chat. If initially a bit reluctant, you could get her a child size pedometer - lots of little ones love them and the challenge. It give her a challenge to achieve - take a photograph or two of x y z on the route, see how many lights you can spot, if dark she could wear a little head torch to make it feel exciting, etc.

Big it up as a special grown up mummy/big girl time.

Love the pedometer idea actually. That’s the sort of thing that would really appeal to her