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.

To add to this my children's school are currently doing a walk to school initiative where they're actively encouraging pupils to walk rather than be driven. They have a chart to pin point the days they have walked and how long it took. I myself walked to school everyday a 25 minute walk, if anything it's good for your grandchild.

My 6 yo walks 20 mins to school and back every day. Then we drop the bags at home and set off 15 mins in the other direction to collect the 9yo and walk home again. Barring physical or other difficulties it should be no challenge at all for a 7yo.

Honestly, that walk is nothing.

When my youngest was 4, for a period of time I used to walk him to school in the morning (20-25 min walk), back home at lunchtime (the end of his session), back there in the afternoon to collect his sibling and home again.

I wouldn't have said he was the most active 4 year old, but he was perfectly capable of managing those 4 journeys of up to 100 mins walking a day, so I can't see why a 7 year old would struggle to walk 2 15 min journeys.

Gosh, if an otherwise physically able 7 year old can't walk for 15 minutes ...

Of course, it should be fine!

@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.

What concerns you about it? Why do you think a 7yo wouldn't be capable of such a short walk?

Do you do any exercise yourself?

15 minutes too far?!

Are kidding me?

It takes 20 mins there and 20 mins back for my two. They are 6 and 8 but have been walking there since they were 5 and 6.

Stop being precious

I am simply concerned it will be too far for my grandchild

Why would you be concerned?

Every single poster has said it’s fine, very little in fact.

NHS says it isn’t enough exercise.

So why on earth would you be worried?

Am on the floor laughing at this. With this attitude it no wonder childhood obesity is a problem. You obviously don't approve of the way they are being parented. Some good advice from Waterbottle123 and said more politely than i would say it

????

I do this with my 3 year old to lift her big sister

Wow! Your one word answers are very strange OP. Every single person has said it's fine yet you continue to think it's not. What a very odd thread.
PS - and as the grandparent, it's not your call to make so keep your nose out.

Surely they are used to walking that long, given they should be doing more exercise than that in a day anyway? Why do you think it’s too long? Even at end of school day, it’s very normal

??! My children do a 3 hour dog walk every Saturday and Sunday and they are 5,7 and 9. As well as 25 minute walk to school and back!! How on earth is 15 minutes too long???

OP are you expected to do the walk? If so, is it really concern that the child can't manage it, or that you don't want to and want a reason to say no?

I would have no issue with expecting my
4yo to walk that far. At 7 it should be easy.

Of course they can do it.

They might not be actively enthusiastic, but kids that age are perfectly capable of spending far longer than half an hour running around playing ball or in a playground or on the beach, so this would be a walk in the park. Literally.

You are worrying about precisely nothing.

@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.

Do you are judging their parents?

DD has been doing a 20 min walk to/from school since 4. Before that we would do walks in the park, on the beach etc (still do).

You should never go with them to somewhere like Legoland. I don’t think you could handle watching him walk all day. Sometimes UPHILL!

It seems really very sad that anyone would think 30 mins walking could possibly be too much for a 7 year old (in absence of any mobility or other health issue). Very odd that someone could think this surely.
Op what’s the real deal here ?

OP, 15 minutes at 7yo walking pace is only around 1/2 to 2/3 of a mile

Why do you think they're not capable of that?

A 7yo should be able to easily do it, assuming no underlying health issues that affect their mobility.

Whilst of course this isn't a case of competitive hardship, 30/40 years ago most young children would be walking to school from 4/5yo as there'd be no alternative and what you're talking about would be very much at the shorter end of the distance scale for many of them.

My 7 year old niece's walk to school is 15 minutes. She does that 5 days a week there and back (with an adult), and then usually accompanies one of her parents to walk the dog in the evening for another 30 minutes. She goes weekly to athletics club, tennis and swimming lessons. She also goes running with her mum a couple of times a week and does junior park run on Saturday mornings.

30 minutes in one go would be fine, let alone split into two 15 minutes.

Take a Scooter

Yes it’s the MIL being spiteful towards the DIL

Are you the one doing the pick up so you're worried the child will get too tired and you'll be stuck?
Do you feel it's too far for you?

As an aside, is it's school pick up, is unlikely to be there and back with no break. Pick up is never that smooth in my experience