Aibu to ask for ideas about transporting 4 years olds

[Bburago]

Take my twin 4 year olds to nursery every day as I work full time. It’s a 3 mile round trip. They are great little walkers but very slow. I currently use a tricycle with a handle on the back for me to push them which they love and is fine but it’s a little rickety and old, I cannot see one online that is bigger or more of a robust design.

Ican’t drive as there’s no parking at nursery (and it’s insane traffic every day: near to motorway) : nearest car park is pay and display which would soon add up. They’re too big for the buggy now. They can’t use balance bikes/scooters as there’s too many busy roads to cross (and then I’d have to walk home with 2 balance bikes and helmets?)

I’ve googled endlessly and really don’t think there’s another solution but thought I’d ask the wise people of mumsnet anyway. Any ideas for transporting 2 x 4 year olds?

Get some good scooters. We had a microsprite. If they're not gliding along, they're easy to pull along by the handle bars. They are pricey but they last years. Dd used hers most days for 8 years.

@SleepingStandingUp

I don't get how balance bikes use up less energy / are overall quicker than just walking

Because once they have got the hang of it and can balance they can get some speed going.

Tbf I'd underestimated what difference coordination and balance makes @Lockdownbear 😂😂

@SleepingStandingUp

You clearly haven't been out and about with a 4 year old lately! my then 4 yo on a balance bike would not have been quicker than walking, esp given the main roads op mentions so it's not like they can go masses ahead esp with two of them. Do parents run alongside then? What if one stops anf the other keeps going? Genuinely curious as I'm dreading it when my twins are that age although it's only a mile each way

My son got so fast on his balance bike that DH had to put on his running shoes and jog alongside him. Then I got DH an adult scooter so he could keep up

I'm not sure how you'd manage it with twins though... could you channel their competitive streak and get them to race each other to each "check point"?! (ie each place they have to stop and wait for you)

My DC can go much faster on their balance bike than I can run. Hence no bike by busy roads.

I was thinking of all the stopping, poor coordination and keeping pace with an adult

That was to @Changechangychange esp given twins so mismatched paces and not wanting them to be too far

I’d suggest that if you’re going to use the balance bikes that you train them in first on a safer route with regards to stopping. Great to get them used to waiting at landmarks, so for example “wait at the next lamp post” and then give them their next target when you catch up.

My two lads were very close in age, and the balance bikes were a god send.

What really encouraged them to cooperate was making them get off and push their bike if they erred. And it didn’t have to be a long push either, just “now you have to push it to the next lamp post (or wherever)”. They absolutely hated having to walk it instead of ride and that meant they were very compliant with instructions. Consistency was absolutely the name of the game though.

Yes that's how I trained DS. Very easy (much easier than getting him to comply with anything else!)

Walk and scoot I think, or just walk. I would also put them in high viz vests, and bright/light coloured helmets if scooting.

No harm in asking nursery if they can put in a buggy park or find somewhere to stash scooters or balance bikes. They're not big. If enough people ask they should cater for their (very well paying) customers.

It's really helpful to have more than one option just to break it up.

@SleepingStandingUp

That was to *@Changechangychange* esp given twins so mismatched paces and not wanting them to be too far

Yes this is really hard with twins (or any 2 young siblings). One of mine is faster than the other and can get a bit frustrated going at the slower pace. What's worse if if one falls off and is hurt and you find yourself carrying a heavy child, scooter, bags etc and trying not to lose the other one! I have the twins plus another dd so I aim for most journeys to be along quiet roads with verges between the road and pavement or in the park!

With a bit of practice you can definitely train two 4 year olds to ride balance bikes or scooters and stop when they get to roads. My eldest rode her bike to school at that age, and then I used to go with a 6 and 4 year old both on bikes later on too. But it will take time and practice for bikes or scooters to be quicker than walking. Mine were already riding confidently before we tried doing it on the school run.

Let us know what happened, OP.
I dont' understand how you'll solve the "Nowhere to leave balance bikes at nursery" problem.

@SleepingStandingUp oh I agree twins complicates things, but presumably that’s an issue walking too.

My twin girls are 3.5 and we walk or balance bike to preschool and back every day. There's some pretty precarious crossings, but they are really good about stopping and waiting, as we have practised loads.
I'd be mortified pushing children that age around.
🤷

I'd be surprised if you can't find anywhere at or near nursery to lock a pair of bikes up. I've always locked mine and my kids bikes up outside schools and nurseries, just to gateposts etc if there wasn't an actual bike rack. Also if you ask nursery they might well say, yes they can leave them in the garden or something.

A bike trailer that works as a pushchair? Something like this: www.tredz.co.uk/.Hamax-Traveller-Twin-Child-Bike-Trailer_237479.htm

A bigger buggy with a buggy board attached - and they take it in turns?