to wonder how much exercise is too much for a 4yo / 5yo

dementedpixie · 02/01/2021 23:04

Sounds a lot. Did they complain?

nimbuscloud · 02/01/2021 23:04

The 13k in the snow would be challenging for an adult.
The 3ks would be fine.

UsernameSaved · 02/01/2021 23:05

Are they a 4/5 year old St Bernard?

UsernameSaved · 02/01/2021 23:05

@dementedpixie

Sounds a lot. Did they complain?

Of course not- it didnt happen

SimplyRadishing · 02/01/2021 23:05

Is 16km in a day too far for a 4/5 year old????
Yes. Far too far.

TheKeatingFive · 02/01/2021 23:05

What do they say?

Original poster

disneybee · 02/01/2021 23:06

YABU - No it's not too much, you can never tire a 4yo out!
YANBU - Yes it is too much

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WhenAWrenVisits · 02/01/2021 23:07

Is this real?

Original poster

disneybee · 02/01/2021 23:07

@SimplyRadishing

Is 16km in a day too far for a 4/5 year old???? Yes. Far too far.

Sorry i should have clarified, they skipped the 3k daily run the day they did the 13k mountain hike!! So 'only' 13k in one day!!

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UsernameSaved · 02/01/2021 23:08

@WhenAWrenVisits

Is this real?

No

I did 8 miles in the snow up hills yesterday- it took almost 5 hours

Original poster

disneybee · 02/01/2021 23:08

@WhenAWrenVisits

Is this real?

Yes honest to god it is. My very intense friend and her DD. I am wondering if I am being unreasonable / judgey in how much she pushes her child. I really think the poor child needs some TV time!!

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Changethetoner · 02/01/2021 23:09

depends if the child is fit. as in is the child used to doing a lot of physical excercise? I think a one-off long walk mountain adventure sounds good, but why the daily running? surely an active child doesn't need to do that as well as playing normally?

Original poster

disneybee · 02/01/2021 23:11

@Changethetoner

depends if the child is fit. as in is the child used to doing a lot of physical excercise? I think a one-off long walk mountain adventure sounds good, but why the daily running? surely an active child doesn't need to do that as well as playing normally?

Yes the child is very fit to be fair, her parents regularly take her on outdoor expeditions, they are both outdoor enthusiasts. Hence why maybe I am just being a bit judgey - thats the way they are used to living their lives and that's what their child is used to. I just sometimes feel a bit sort of sorry for the child...!!

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sirfredfredgeorge · 02/01/2021 23:12

Too much, is too much, it will be highly individual, a 4 or 5 year old will almost certainly not be able to voluntarily to do too much, humans are self limiting without extreme outside motivation, drugs, or undiagnosed disorders, none of those are likely in a small child. Obviously with "no carries allowed" then it may not be entirely voluntarily.

But you cannot say a particular something is too much or not enough, as it may be appropriate for the individual, if surprising. Doing too little for a very aerobically fit child will just reduce their fitness, even if for another child that amount would significantly build fitness.

Equally like all exercise, a 2 day snapshot isn't relevant to fitness, it's a whole life activity and avoiding injury is the main thing that's relevant to a 2 day snapshot - walking and scooting are low injury risk in any case from fitness related (as opposed to trips/falls, but that's different)

MeowMeowLikeACow · 02/01/2021 23:13

My DD has just turned 5 and would manage all that but she was scrambling up mountains from age 2. I know other children that would really struggle.

Original poster

disneybee · 02/01/2021 23:13

Although most of the time I feel like the child is very lucky - not many kids get the opportunity to get out and about in the wild the way she does. I just felt the last two days' activities seemed so.... intense!

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SomethingsGottaChange · 02/01/2021 23:15

22K in two days!!!

This cant be true!

If it is, thats disgusting

MeowMeowLikeACow · 02/01/2021 23:17

If it's her normal lifestyle then she will be used to it. We (me, DH, DD 5 and DS 8) did 16km the other day over and round a snowy fell. It's what we've always done. We take hot chocolate in a flask, have all the correct clothing etc. The kids love a scramble and will opt for the most difficult route they can find.

Original poster

disneybee · 02/01/2021 23:21

I think the thing that's getting to me is the way my friend sort of boasted about the 'no carries allowed' bit, even when her DD was whining they still made her trek on.

Like fair enough, take your kids on long runs and hikes, but boasting about pushing them when they are tired feels a bit off. I think my friend is kind of proud about how strict she is, which I am a bit uncomfortable with. But my friend otherwise has a heart of gold and I am wondering if it's my place to say anything.

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Notcontent · 02/01/2021 23:22

@SomethingsGottaChange

22K in two days!!!

This cant be true!

If it is, thats disgusting

I don’t understand that comment.

Most children - and adults - get much, much too little exercise on a daily basis.

lcdododo · 02/01/2021 23:23

All depends. DS (2) walks around 4 miles a day easily but other children his age wouldn't

SlB09 · 02/01/2021 23:28

16k! Surprised they could do anything the day after!! There's 'no carries' which I get but also from what your saying it feels a little selfish as in the child is being pushed for the parents benefit at 16k in my opinion. I am absolutely for doing these things with children -

in fact any tips on getting a 3 year old to walk abit further are welcome as I loved long walks/hikes pre child?!!

But 16k does seem excessive, a middle ground between adventure for the kids and enough of a walk for the parents seems more comfortable for me but then I do agree with others I that if this is what they are used to?? Be interesting to hear from a peadiatrician/leads orthopaedics specialist.

Cleverpolly3 · 02/01/2021 23:29

@disneybee

Is a daily 3k run in the snow, plus hillwalking 13k in the snow (no carries allowed!) followed by another 3k run the next morning and a 3k round trip on the scooter in the afternoon too much for a 4yo / nearly 5yo?

Yes

SomethingsGottaChange · 02/01/2021 23:36

@Notcontent

What do you not understand???

You think 22K for a 4 YEAR OLD is ok?

Original poster

disneybee · 02/01/2021 23:43

@SlB09

16k! Surprised they could do anything the day after!! There's 'no carries' which I get but also from what your saying it feels a little selfish as in the child is being pushed for the parents benefit at 16k in my opinion. I am absolutely for doing these things with children -

in fact any tips on getting a 3 year old to walk abit further are welcome as I loved long walks/hikes pre child?!!

But 16k does seem excessive, a middle ground between adventure for the kids and enough of a walk for the parents seems more comfortable for me but then I do agree with others I that if this is what they are used to?? Be interesting to hear from a peadiatrician/leads orthopaedics specialist.

Sorry I have been misleading here - they are generally doing 3k runs in the mornings, but not the day they went hillwalking. So it was only 13k that day, not 16k.

Personally I love hiking and long walks too, and take my kids out most days for long treks but just locally. Maybe I'm a little jealous of my friend for having the ability to go on these adventures - I have a younger child too so unable to go hiking on this level.

It's just the mentality surrounding it and the pushiness. I often find my friend's strictness towards her child difficult to be around. Her child seems happy enough though (if a little intense like her mum - she can be bossy and overbearing with her friends including my DD which can be difficult to navigate)

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