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.

I'm honestly baffled at this.

I've read it all now!

No wonder we have childhood obesity issues when a 30 minute walk is deemed too much for a 7 year old!!

Provide a snack for on the way home.
You may be surprised by them but it’s not far for a 7 year old.

@thismummylovescake

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!

DD is like that too, we've always walked loads so she's just used to it. She walked 9/10/11 miles a day at Disney world without complaint!

It will be the only walk they have to do on a school day.

My 7 year old does this regularly. That's nothing tbh. We do it regularly cause we don't have a car.

that's really nothing. Are you not used to walking anywhere OP?

Of course it's fine! During lockdown my six year old has been doing long walks. And now they are back on she often does a sports activity after school. A half hour walk is nothing.

What is the exact situation op because on the face of it it sounds completely reasonable.

Are you collecting that child from school, walking 15 minutes to collect another child and then walking 15 minutes home?

I do that to nursery and back 3 times a week with my 3 year old. And we usually walk at least that far to the swimming pool, library, big park, shops on the other days. It’s perfectly fine.

My three year old walked on Dartmoor for over an hour last week. I didn't once think it was too far!
Your child is 7! Come on!

Kids run around the playground for hours 15 mins won’t hurt !

Bring a snack to keep them happy when tired after school.

Is this a wind up?

They should definitely be able to. As others have said, my 3 year old regularly walks to and from nursery which is 1.5 miles each way. He also walks the dog with me for an hour most days. Sure it may take some getting used to if they're not used to it but they should definitely be capable of that distance

OP what is your fitness level? It’s really odd that you don’t think a healthy child can walk 30 after school at the age of 7.

Why are you worried? Does your DC not do any exercise normally?

Bloody hell OP. My DC have both been walking 25 minutes home from school since reception. Usually at least one of their friends who lives nearby walks too and they end up running around like mad (part of the walk is through fields) so they cover twice the distance. I'd be extremely concerned about a 7 year old who couldn't cover that distance.

Both mine have always walked to and from nursery (from age 3.5)/school. Nursery was three times a week, 30 minutes each way plus the five hours spent there. Primary school is fifteen minutes walk each way for DS and secondary is 20 minutes each way for DD.

Absolutely baffling that anyone would think 30 minutes walk a day would be too much for a 7 year old, assuming no disability which you haven't confirmed. Whats the alternative? Carry them? Buggy?

30 minutes of walking! I would be concerned about a dc that couldn’t manage that(unless there are other issues at play).

Yes Sleepyhead

Would you normally drive that distance instead? I mean no wonder there’s so much traffic if parents don’t think 7 year olds can walk for a mile or so.

Are you in one of those areas where they all are driven to school in huge 4x4s despite living round the corner?
The 5 year olds here walk up hills with 20% gradients to get to school and back. It's me that struggles haha

Bit of a worrying post. No wonder so many children are so unfit. Unless there is a drip feed forthcoming?
A 30 minute work at the end of a school day is ideal to get a breath of air and decompress. It’s not adequate daily exercise for a 7 year old by any means, but it’s a start.

The kids I look after live 20-25 min walk away from school, they've been doing it twice a day since nursery, the youngest has been walking it there and back twice a day since she was about two and a half. Sometimes they ride bikes or scooters - is that an option OP?