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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is too far to walk?

545 replies

TrinidadQueen · 03/06/2021 14:39

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.

OP posts:
soreenqueen21 · 03/06/2021 15:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Stevenage689 · 03/06/2021 15:12

@TrinidadQueen

I am simply concerned it will be too far for my grandchild. Please do not throw such accusations my way. It is a simple enough question that I am asking.
Every single poster has said it's totally fine. Most have even highlighted that it would be actively good for her.

Children should be active.walking is beneficial to mental and physical health.

DisgruntledPelican · 03/06/2021 15:12

My 16 month old spent longer than that doing laps around the garden at the weekend.

ThursdayWeld · 03/06/2021 15:12

I bet it's not OP's daughter who is causing the "problem" here... Is it your DIL, OP?

takingmytimeonmyride · 03/06/2021 15:12

Bloody hell, mine were walking 40 minutes (at their pace) there and back from reception age. My then 6 year old walked up Snowdon and back! 15 minutes is a brief stroll unless they have disabilities.

This really can't be serious. Actually I believe it can based on when I worked at the school and loads of kids complained it was too far to walk to the local shop or church (about 15-20 minutes walk) for a visit, because they were so used to going everywhere by car.

littlepeas · 03/06/2021 15:13

Of course it isn't too far. My ds did an 11 mile hike in Yosemite National Park when he was 7!

Dishwashersaurous · 03/06/2021 15:13

Seriously.
Worried about a NT 7 year old walking for 15 minutes, or even half an hour.

No wonder we have an obesity problem in this country.

Nonmaquillee · 03/06/2021 15:13

I would imagine it’s the bare minimum amount of exercise a seven year old should be doing every day.

AssassinatedBeauty · 03/06/2021 15:13

It is a completely normal and reasonable distance/time to walk. I did 45 mins in the morning and 45 mins after school when my youngest was in reception, 5 days a week.

nanbread · 03/06/2021 15:13

YABU, especially given they don't do any other walking during the day.

In fact I'd actively encourage it, school can be very sedentary and children are meant to have something like 3 hours' exercise a day. My DS (same age) wears a Fitbit and despite running around at break time most of his physical activity comes from our walk to and from school.

MrsTerryPratchett · 03/06/2021 15:14

Children should be active.walking is beneficial to mental and physical health.

And because you are both facing forward and there's no pressure, they tend to share things they might not otherwise. I find walks are when I learn the most about my child. That and bedtime.

Please OP be a lovely MIL and DMother and let the parents decide about things like this.

VaguelyInteresting · 03/06/2021 15:14

My 4yo walks 20 mins to and from school at the start and end of the day, with 8 hours of running around at forest school in between. He’s fine. He also regularly walks 3-4 hours at weekends, in chunks of about 1 hour with short breaks for snacks and play.

So far I’ve seen no adverse effects- except I have to buy him new wellies every 3 months.

Why are you worried about this?

Looneytune253 · 03/06/2021 15:14

I'm a childminder and me and my little ones (under 4) all walk a cpl of hours a day. They can rest when needed but would prob do about an hour before they wanted to sit down etc

OrangePowder · 03/06/2021 15:14

What makes you think the child couldn't do it happily OP?

ThisIsStartingToBoreMe · 03/06/2021 15:14

According to NHS guidelines it's not enough!

NHS guidelines

ThursdayWeld · 03/06/2021 15:14

I don't think the OP is telling us her whole agenda here...

Pipsquiggle · 03/06/2021 15:14

OP, in the absence of any further details, assuming there are no mobility issues for the child or the adult, 15 minutes walk to/from a school for a child is absolutely fine. Mine walks 25 mins since he was 5.

looptheloopinahulahoop · 03/06/2021 15:15

It's fine and will keep you and them fit.

MistyFrequencies · 03/06/2021 15:15

This is crazy. My 2 and 4 year olds would walk that. It's definitely not too far.

paralysedbyinertia · 03/06/2021 15:15

Of course it isn't too far. 15 mins is nothing.

Padamae · 03/06/2021 15:16

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

dabdab · 03/06/2021 15:16

Mine did a 20 minute-each-way school run @ 4 years old, it will be fine. Allot extra time, bring snacks and water if you are worried, take the time to notice the small things along the way (bird song/flowers/wind blowing tree tops/count how many green cars/ first person to spot a ‘z’ on a number plate etc etc). They will build up strength and resilience and it will be good for you both.
You are giving them a life skill to know that they don’t have to drive everywhere.

youshallnotpass9 · 03/06/2021 15:16

DS use to do 45 minutes one way till we got him into a close school. Now does 20 minutes one way and is still bouncing when he gets home.

I don't think the OP is telling us her whole agenda here...

^^ This or the OP's home is under a bridge

rattlemehearties · 03/06/2021 15:16

very odd to think this is too far! My children have exactly this school run on foot daily. In fact, my youngest did it there and back before starting school when we used to drop off the eldest, so would have been age 3-4 (walking)

nanbread · 03/06/2021 15:17

@OrangePowder

OMG so the child's parents think it's OK and Grandma disagrees? Let them do it, they'll soon find out if it's too far it won't be
Not necessarily, it could be that the GP is looking after this DC and has been asked to collect another child now and has forgotten what's ok for a child that age.