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?

Mind you some people are really funny about children being around in the evenings. I once took my 5 year olds for a short walk before bed (8.30) in the summer and my mum's neighbours actually told me to take them home!

Going to a walk to spend time with your daughter - lovely idea
Taking your 6 year old on a long walk hoping you'll loose weight - terrible idea

Also I question the veracity of the story of a person who has lost 3 stone in 11 months just by walking. She must be eating less too. Its impossible otherwise.

If police saw you taking a 6yo on a long night walk your be reported to SS. Id report it personally too

🤣🤣🤣🤣 that's hilarious

My 4yo goes with dh on the dog's walk from 5:30-6:30 nearly every evening, he's dressed appropriately for the weather and loves the novelty of taking a torch with him just now.
Social services would laugh their heads off at you if you called them because a child was out for a walk with their parent.

@Crystal90567 are you joking?? You cannot be serious!

If police saw you taking a 6yo on a long night walk your be reported to SS. Id report it personally too

Report what?
Hello MASH team id like to report an appropriately attired loved child was accompanied by a responsible adult on a walk,in the dark. The child was chatting in an animated manner to the adult. There was hand holding and laughter.please send help

I think it's a great idea, though agree it won't do much for your weight loss. I'd be tempted to take DD out twice a week and then push yourself a wee bit harder for another couple of nights. But it's a lovely idea. Also I'd be tempted to have DH teach DD to cook on the nights you're out on your own so you come home to a lovely hot dinner, but that's just me.

In my arse is it cruel! But the one thing I would say is to please think carefully about bikes/scooters on pavements in the dark, that's a bit dangerous for other pedestrians. (I know you haven't suggested that but pps have)

I think it is a great idea but please for the sake of MN could you do the walk near crystal's house so we can be entertained by the subsequent SS call

Could she use a scooter maybe? At six my daughter loves whizzing along next to me (or just in front). That would keep you moving a bit more quickly too

@Northernlass99

How do you do 12,000 steps in an hour?!

That's more than walking briskly?!

Lovely idea OP

I'd absolutely take a 6 year old walking BUT you may find that with a child you can't walk fast enough to get a real benefit. You could take your DD every other day for eg.

I think it’s a great idea! If she is wrapped up nice and warm it will be great for her and you! I second the scooter or bike!

Mind you some people are really funny about children being around in the evenings. I once took my 5 year olds for a short walk before bed (8.30) in the summer and my mum's neighbours actually told me to take them home!

I find these busybodies really odd...none of their business! On holiday, we let 3 year old DS stay up until 9.30/10pm. Wouldn't work for all children, I know, but he has an extra-long nap in the afternoon, sleeps until 9.30am in the morning and then can come out the dinner in a (family friendly) restaurant in the evening. We then transition back to 7am-7pm for going to nursery when we return home. I'd be at anyone who tried to tell me off for having my child up late...We've had a couple of "You're up late, aren't you?" to which we simply reply that we're hoping for a lie in the next morning .

I'm surprised at how many people are saying that you shouldn't do it. It's a walk around your local area, hardly pushing her up Everest...

We often go for a walk after school / work. We love it (well, except DP, but he comes anyway), it's our family time. Totally agree with the PPs saying it's the best time because of all the Christmas lights.

Wrap her up warm, but she'll warm up while she's walking anyway. We take a torch now that it's getting dark and I keep meaning to buy some high-vis snap bands or something for my two. Something like that might keep her entertained too.

Of course you should. It will be excellent for you both.

Wrap up warm and crack on.

@HeelsHandbagPerfumeCoffee

If police saw you taking a 6yo on a long night walk your be reported to SS. Id report it personally too

Report what?
Hello MASH team id like to report an appropriately attired loved child was accompanied by a responsible adult on a walk,in the dark. The child was chatting in an animated manner to the adult. There was hand holding and laughter.please send help

Utterly ludicrous. what a stupid attitude to hold and a ridiculous thing to do. Honestly what is wrong with some people.

There's nothing my 6yo likes better than a torch walk with mummy to look at the Christmas lights. But it has to be a novelty so every evening wouldn't work, more like once a week.

If she wants to go then take her with you, if she doesn’t then don’t. You’ll probably find she’ll enjoy it more if she doesn’t have to do it and can just come along when she fancies.
We have dogs and at that age my kids would choose to come with me on dog walks about 50% of the time. Sometimes they’re tired after school and just want to relax.

I'd honestly be tempted to get 3 year old into PJs, wrapped up on top and into a buggy and push him round as well. Set DH some tasks to do while you are out :o

I love the notion that police and SW would countenance such rubbish

Really,there are some absolutely heartbreaking & scary things that children experience that warrant an intervention. A pleasant stroll with mum isn’t in the get help category

SS, step away from the Phillpotts of this world and concentrate on a 6 year old. She has been seen in a nice padded coat, matching scarf and gloves talking to a parent in an animated fashion and........walking

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.

I think this is such a sad post. It shows what a strange attitude some have developed to exercise, and to the simple pleasures like an evening walk.

At that sort of age I'd have loved going out for a walk in the evening with my mum. Maybe not every night, but a walk, a talk, different routes, added bonus of Christmas lights - very special.

The reporting to social services comment has made my day. Truly peak Mumsnet. Imagine the horror at taking a child out for a walk...

What's wrong with wrapping a child up warm and enjoying fresh air??

Do it OP. Me and my 5 year old often do a walk in the evening before bed. He sometimes takes his scooter but often walks and really enjoys the one on one time with me (usually battling for attention with his stroppy sister). As other posters have said its a good time to start as lots of Christmas lights about. My DS plans a route past his favourite lights. We usually do 2 miles but then I'll do a longer one another night without him.

It’s so laughable that I think surely people couldn’t seriously mean it.

Obviously there are lots of variables--your current weight, your metabolism/ speed of walk, flat/ hills etc etc but you would need to walk over 3 hours every day in order to lose about 1.5lbs a week- without eating any more than you do now.
If you want to lose weight, eat less (and do some walking for exercise and fitness or pleasure).