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.

How is it too far?

My primary school was a 40 min walk from home, I did that for years between 5 and 11 years old.

Your child should be able to run around for 30 mins without stopping at 7 years old.

My just turned 4:year old would be absolutely fine with that.

It’s certainly not objectively too far to walk - but depending on the circumstances it might be too much to ask.

If they’d just got to the childminders at the end of a day at school and then immediately had to set off on a half hour round trip to collect a child from a different school every single day rather than relaxing/doing homework then that wouldn’t be ideal.

Of course not! This is a completely normal and age appropriate expectation! What do you think their legs are for?
Just leave plenty of time for dawdling and enjoy a natter as you go 👍

Sounds like a nice healthy distance. 30 mins walk is a normal sort of length.

How many people have a fewer than 15 min walk? I'm just thinking of our local primary school and very few houses are within a 10 min walk I'd say

If your child can't walk for 30 minutes (disabilites and SN aside) there's something very, very wrong imo.

I know I risk of sounding a bit "back in my day" but at that age I could manage 5-6 miles a day.

Is it half an hour at your pace or their pace though?
Mine did 0.6 of a mile, which was about 15-20 minutes, there and back when he was four. It was a bit painful in winter, but ok.

DD was going that twice a week from pre school, 5 days a week from reception. She now walks 25 mins each way to/from juniors.

I've seen so many kids who can't walk any distance because they just never walk anywhere & it's so sad. 15 mins each way in NOTHING

I think it’s fine too. My children were walking a mile to school aged 4. Having said that, is it a one-off or every day? If it’s a regular thing it would get a bit tedious, I might try to come up with an alternative plan if possible.

Yes it would be at the end of a school day which is my concern.

Really? Bloody hell

No, 15 or 30 mins is a nice walk. At 7 they're well past that age where little legs make walking harder for them. I'd be worried about a 7yo who struggled with it. TBH, I'd expect them to be running ahead, given the opportunity.

Unless you're going to tell us now that there's a reason it's particularly difficult for this child.

Totally fine. Really don't see the issue

Are you being serious OP?

My just turned 3 year old walks 35 mins to/from nursery every day. Not a bother on him. He’s been doing that for about 6 months.

Unless you mean unaccompanied?

I would be more worried if a 7 year old struggled with 30mins tbh. Obviously not including a child with any additional needs, in that case I would expect the parent to make a judgement call based on the individual child.

My 3 year old walked 40 mins to the shop the other day, sat in the trolley then 40mins back no issues. Not trying to one up anyone one but giving you an idea of what I think is typical.

Its not far enough to even get close sufficient exercise.

No, it would be about 3 times a week.

Give him a snack & he'll be home before he's finished it!

@TrinidadQueen can I check- is this the only walk they have to do? Or is this on top of another walking school run of their own?

If the former, then no- half an hour round trip for a 7-year old child with no disabilities is completely fine (and normal).

Surely that's a normal walk for most? Even if they are coming back as well, it's well within what I would expect a 7 year to be able to do, in normal circumstances.

Do you mean you have a seven year old who has never walked for half an hour?!

My 4 year old happily walks for 2-3 hours on a weekend if we go out for the day without any complaints so I'm sure 30 mins for a 7 year old is fine!

How on Earth is that too much?

My 7 yr old DD walks that 5 days a week by herself.