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?

My nephew had a child's watch style one and loved it.

He's a very active lad and needs constant activity. He's a year older and we've never once considered him going for a walk or run with his mum of an evening as anything other than positive.

I would do it start small and build it up. Wrap up well and look at all the xmas lights

I think it's a lovely idea, just don't put pressure on either of you to make it work.

I've got a fit watch recently - just a cheap one - and it's really motivated me to try to move more. My DC loves borrowing it, maybe that might be a way to get you both moving?

Sorry x posted!!

It depends.

When ds was 6yo he had a small operation (grommets) at the hospital where he had to fast after 1am until afterwards.
I asked him what he would like to do. His choice:
To be woken at midnight and go for a midnight scoot then have jam sandwiches and hot chocolate. This was February.

I'd say take her with you a couple of times as a "let's go and look at the Christmas lights" treat. If she enjoys it then you'll find she'll ask to go.

Walking at night is lovely. I've been doing it for over a year now. Stars, lights, quieter surroundings. Get a flashlight and reflective clothes and enjoy. Definitely start small at first.

*Torch

LOL.

I just moved here to the UK :) Still getting used to the different terms.

@Crystal90567

I think its awful idea. And very cruel. If you want your daughter to do an evening activity try football or ballet or swimming club or any organised club. I recommend you keep your dark cold wet dangerous walks to yourself. (Or start a class yourself eg Zumba) If police saw you taking a 6yo on a long night walk your be reported to SS. Id report it personally too.

Is this a serious post?

Evening strolls can be lovely for kids!

If yours is not used to them, build it gently. A 5k walk is perfectly normal and healthy for a 6 year old, just need decent shoes and be wrapped up.

When I see all the recommended walks in the area, it seems many families are comfortable with these distance. I am not just making it up.

Not everybody can walk a decent walk to school and back, it's fine to do it another time. Nothing worst and unhealthy than being stuck at school and at home all day.

Can’t believe how many are saying it’s too cold and dark. No it’s not.

Depends what the weather is doing and where you live, surely?

Walking on a crisp, cold, calm night is very different to walking when the wind and rain is horizontal in your face, and some places are like the latter for weeks on end.

Crystal90567

I think its awful idea. And very cruel.
If you want your daughter to do an evening activity try football or ballet or swimming club or any organised club.
I recommend you keep your dark cold wet dangerous walks to yourself. (Or start a class yourself eg Zumba)^
If police saw you taking a 6yo on a long night walk your be reported to SS. Id report it personally too.^

Is this a serious post?

You know, when you see how many parents insist on driving half a mile to school and would not consider being outside if there's a drop of rain, I fear it may very well be serious!

WALKING! The sheer horror of it! Child abuse to say the least

funny how all these people changed their tune when we had the temporary restrictions only allowing a daily outdoor exercise

I can’t see you being able to walk far or fast enough for it to make any difference to your weight OP.

I speak as someone who walks as my main exercise - I’m not against it.

Ideally you should do an hour a day fast walk. Are you really going to take a 6 year old on that?

@SummerBaby2020

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 so admire your partner! This is lovely 💝

I think the biggest problem will be pace (or lack of it). For it to be beneficial to you, it can't be a stroll and that is what you're likely get with a 6 yr old :-) For me, the time, dark and wet doesn't matter as you can dress them accordingly, but you can't make a 6 yr old march/jog for long. I don't drive so my DD (now almost 17) walked everwhere with me and she was fine but we weren't in a rush and I wasn't doing it to lose weight (should have done though) :-)

Go on your own, give yourself some head space. Then at weekends take both children out to run around and give them more excercise.

I think this sounds great. Make it an adventure. Put on head torches and explore together. We take our kids out for walks at night. We look at stars and explore the woodland. Lately we’ve been looking at all of the Christmas lights. It could be a lovely bonding experience for the two of you.

I think it's a great idea, especially with houses decorated at the moment.

Maybe each choose a house that you think is nicely decorated, take a photo and ask your husband to choose the nicest, with the winner getting a prize (her, obviously!!).

If there are no decorations near you and you have a car, you could always drive somewhere you know there are decorations and walk from there, choosing somewhere different every day.

I find the best exercise is the one that you don't put off and you could make this into special time for you and her - moving onto different ideas as the seasons change (nicest trees in drive, prettiest front door, barkiest dog). Clothing is everything - Lands End have down coats on sale.

A half hour walk even at a stroll is more beneficial (mentally as well as health wise) than not doing it at all and staying inside on the sofa.

@AddisonM

The problem with taking her bike/scooter is that she invariably gets fed up with it halfway round and I’ll end up lugging it back with me.

I think I might take her on short, slow walks some nights but do my own longer, faster-paced ones other nights.

Yup, this is the best plan.

Our children (4, 6 and 8) often go out with DH at night to walk the dog. They all enjoy it and it's good for them.

Why not walk with her during the day.
😂😂

Personally I would do it but not every single time.
We used to go walking at night as a family when Ds2 was about 6 and Ds 1 was 9 for about an hour. It was only when the weather got too bad we stopped.
The cold wasn't an issue we just wrapped up well. It was no fun in sleet and wind!!

I can’t see you being able to walk far or fast enough for it to make any difference to your weight OP.

I speak as someone who walks as my main exercise - I’m not against it.

Ideally you should do an hour a day fast walk. Are you really going to take a 6 year old on that?*

It's the psychological impact too though - getting a change of scene, fresh air. If you have depression you may not want to do a fast walk alone half way through a working day.

I agree with everything @Heifer said, you'll be better off going on your own and having a power walk, and then maybe starting something like C25K.

I'm not sure it's a good idea to give a child a pedometer, they should just naturally be burning off calories just by playing and running around like a 6 year usually does. Exercise should be something that they enjoy, rather than something they need to do to get x amount of steps in.

It's fine. Try it, if she gets tired, then don't do it the following night, or do shorter walks when she's with you.

Honestly it's not an all or nothing situation!

If police saw you taking a 6yo on a long night walk your be reported to SS. Id report it personally too
This has made me really laugh.!!
They seriously wouldn't. If my team got a call like that we would die laughing as well (social services)
Absolutely bonkers.

I’d be worried if a six year couldn’t walk for at least an hour - it’s less than many after school sports activities.

Try it. See the xmas lights, get into a habit and if she likes it great, if not at least you tried.