To think this is too far to walk?

[TrinidadQueen]

To school for a child?

15 minutes there and then 15 minutes back. Child is 7. It's to collect another child so would have to do the walk back immediately.

Reverse? Are you the child?

You're a grandparent, so you:

a) have been a child
b) have had a child/ren
c) currently know a 7 year old

And you've never known a 7 year old, in all that time, to do half an hours' gentle exercise?

Fuck me.

30 min walk is nothing.
If they were playing out running around with their friends for 30 min would you think it was too much?
If they were in a football match etc would you worry?

Dd2 was doing that at 2.5 to take her sister to school every day

Per NHS 'Children and young people aged 5 to 18 should aim for an average of at least 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity a day across the week'

So a 30 minute walk should be fine even on top of any lunchtime playing. My friends 5 yr old can walk 3 miles in the countryside although may complain she's tired for the last third if there is nothing of interest to look at.

OP it'll be fine. If they're tired, persevere and they'll adapt in a week or so.

Bet your children walked further to their schools op.

Get over yourself and your opinions. You're wrong, accept that. If you want to end up hated and isolated from your grand kids, carry on being an idiot. But you'll only have yourself to blame.

That is absolutely no distance at all. A 7yo should be able to do that easily with energy to spare.

This is so weird. I don't know any 7yo without mobility issues you could manage it.

The distance from my house to my junior and middle schools was just under a mile and a half and it took us roughly half an hour each way. I did this every school day from the age of 6.

No wonder we have an obesity crisis in this country....good grief.

Unless disabilities or extreme weather conditions are involved, that seems fine.

[quote AgnesWaterhouse1566]

My DDs preschool was a 30 minute walk there and then 30 minutes back she managed that age 3!

If they're not used to walking, they may find it hard at first - my friend's kids were terrible walkers at this age, but that was because unfortunately she had (temporary) mobility problems and so was having to drive them everywhere. But jolly them along the first few times and it will be fine. (As primary school lunch is so early, many kids appreciate a snack when they come out of school, so that might help.)

But in general, 30 minutes walk is absolutely fine - I'm another who did that twice a day through primary school.

Absolutely fine, you have to remember there is a 6 hour gap in between starting school and finishing. It will be good for their health.

OP will you be the one making this journey with GC?

Oh dear, another interfering MIL, 15 minutes is a very short walk!

From Portlandia ‘Get the Gear’.

My two managed a half hour walk each way from the age of four. It's fine, in fact it's really good for them! You can chat while you walk, hear about their day with few distractions. If a child with no disabilities can't manage a half hour walk then I would be really concerned and think that they really need to increase their physical activity. It would not be healthy to be so unfit at such a young age.

No, not at all.

My 3 year old (who hated walking) would do it easily, steep uphill, too. As did I despite having a leg brace on.

A lot of the schools near me are signed up to the daily mile and the kids basically walk/run/jog a mile at some point throughout the day when teacher says to go. It could be morning or afternoon. It’s on top of playtimes and has been shown to increase attention in class etc etc. I think a half hour walk is completely fine unless as others have said there’s a disability.

@MrMeeseekslookatme

Unless they are walking through Mordor, then I genuinely do not understand what the problem is.

Hence the suggestion of a snack, I suppose. Pack Lembas and an Arkenstone and you should manage alright, I guess.

Why are you worried it's too far?

When my eldest was 5 we had a 40 minute walk to school every day. He just got on with it.

Kids who are never given the opportunity to walk complain and get tired. Give them the opportunity and they develop lots and lots of stamina.

@beela

Wait, what? Is this a reverse?

I'm laughing at the idea of a lazy 7 year old coming on Mumsnet to get support for their cause.

I think this must be a wind up, though. Nobody really thinks that a typical 7 year old can't walk for half an hour.

I'd be worried if a 7 yr old struggled to walk for 30mins. What do they do on days out, family walks etc?