To think kids should be able to walk in the rain

[MiaMarshmallows]

To school if it is less than 30 minutes away?

This reminds me of when mine were little. We could walk to school in literally a few minutes - can see school out our window.
I remember one wet morning another mum pulling up alongside me and saying “I feel so sorry for you not driving and having to walk them all the way to school in the rain”.
I was lost for words - she had to walk near enough as far as me from where she had to park!

@Kanaloa how uphill? I went to Ben Nevis primary.

I walked an hour (uphill both ways) in snow and rain every day, pulling a wagon behind me, wearing only a pillowcase and crocs, being chased by wolves See that's only funny when the previous comment claims something a little outlandish.

But many kids walk to school in all weathers. Many walk quite a few miles in all weathers. They have no choice. ALL kids should walk to school in all weathers. OK catchment areas aren't what they used to be, but that should still be true... if we all really want to make a difference to obesity levels, the planet etc.

We did today and got drenched even when in full wet weather gear.

I live in a village and there's a footpath to the school the next village over. I see loads of high school children doing the 20-30 minute walk come rain or shine. They're fortunate that it's a route only really used by locals. It floods terribly and if we didn't slow down to 10mph in parts they'd spend the day soaked after being drenched by the passing traffic.

@CuriousaboutSamphire

It’s pretty clear what it was responding to given that I quoted it. It was a ‘kids today blah blah don’t know they’re born’ post.

Of course some kids walk to school. Some don’t. Most parents will have their reasons for however they travel.

I walked an hour (uphill both ways) in snow and rain every day, pulling a wagon behind me, wearing only a pillowcase and crocs, being chased by wolves

I feel soooo sorry now (not) for all the kids who have to walk to school because their mums dont have the pertrol to waste on the school run. There were no school runs in the 1950s and 1960s because few people had private cars. Fewer kids were fat, spoiled and wrapped in cotton wool.

I walked 2 miles back and forth to school hail, rain or shine and so did my friends. We made an occasion out of it. It was only in the most inclement icy weather when I was given a penny (old pence) for the bus and not even then if my mother did not have it.

[quote Pedalpushers]@Kanaloa how uphill? I went to Ben Nevis primary.[/quote]
Imagining a year 3 class rock climbing and trying to keep their school shoes good 😂

@EatYourVegetables

YANBU. Obesity epidemic, climate emergency, and a fuel crisis, yet some people can’t walk for 30 min.

As for the poster who says But it took me 2 hours to get ready, YABU, jeez, what do you do for 2h, it took me less time to give birth.

Good for you! Took me 4 days but you must be a better mother/woman/person than me.

I'm older. I had no choice as my mum didn't drive, so I walked to school in any weather.

A coat, and appropriate shoes and you'll cope (dry socks would be a welcome addition). Polyester trousers dry out quickly, or I had to wear a skirt, so it was just very cold, red legs.

Actually the biggest problem for me was keeping my books dry - I had a eurohike waterproof rucksack, but in winter I'd double bag them in carriers too, otherwise they'd all get damp.

And I wasn't unusual - everyone in my village had to at least walk to a bus-stop or the station to get to secondary, most walked to primary school unless they got the school coach (in which case they'd have been stood at the side of the road waiting for it getting soggy instead)

One of the main reasons i passed my driving test recently was so we didn't have to do god awful wet,windy school runs.Fuck that.

I think people are conflating two separate issues on this thread.

Kids should walk more, and adults should walk more. 30 minutes walk is not a big deal.

But I am very fit, walk 10k steps a day, plus go running four times a week and on my 10-minute walk to the tube this morning, my entire bottom half got soaked and I've spent a morning sitting at work fairly wet. It won't kill me, but it wasn't pleasant and nor was it in any way character building, so I wouldn't see any reason to put my kids through the same if it could be avoided?

It depends on how heavy the rain is and how adequate the clothing is. Proper waterproof clothing can be expensive, especially if you have more than one child to kit out.

Ffs sake what is it lately with not making your kids do anything anymore

my dsis ex complained that my dn had to walk to school in the rain it takes him 15 minutes hes 14 ffs -he wont die

Everyone moaning about kids- much of the problem is the adults, adults want a quick easy life

My 13yo went in stair rods of rain in his hoody with his coat in his bag, it is less than 10mins tbf. Anyone without disabilities should be able to walk 30mins in the rain assuming they have and wear a descent coat and shoes!

@CremeEggThief

It depends on how heavy the rain is and how adequate the clothing is. Proper waterproof clothing can be expensive, especially if you have more than one child to kit out.

That's part of the problem I think. The modernising of our lives and expectations.

Years ago waterproof clothing would have been high up on must have lists. It was expensive back then too!

These days cars, mobile phones, television and all sorts of other gadgets have overtaken that need and expectation.

So, in the case of cars especially, one of the things that makes walking to school difficult is cars splashing through puddles. But if any passengers were kids and they changed to walking...

Decent waterproofs don't cost more than the average phone contract, television/music streaming services. It's just that priorities have changed.

There are all sorts of accommodations that each family would need to make, but many more kids than currently do so could walk to school, in all weathers.

@EatYourVegetables

YANBU. Obesity epidemic, climate emergency, and a fuel crisis, yet some people can’t walk for 30 min.

As for the poster who says But it took me 2 hours to get ready, YABU, jeez, what do you do for 2h, it took me less time to give birth.

I did drive mine today, I never do normally, but one is really injured and shouldn't even be back at school and it was p*ing down with gales.
30 minutes is quite far, depends whether you're happy and that's your expectations, we bought our house to be walkable to school (15 minutes if they dwadle)

I agree. we have a secondary school nearby and parents clog all the local roads by parking half an hour before school even finishes every day so they can be as close as possible. Seeing as school admission is by catchment the majority must live less than 2 miles ie. 30 minutes walk away. Parents need to get a life, kids need to toughen up.

Mine would have been happy to walk in the rain but there was nowhere for them to store boots and waterproofs so they would have been stuck in a carrier bag and carted round all day leaving them damp and unpleasant to wear to walk home again.

Yet - take a child out in the rain they will LOVE it - if they are given permission to actually enjoy themselves they whoop and leap and splash.

Yes, and if you take them home and make them sit in wet clothes for the next couple of hours, as they would in a classroom they will complain about it.

Come rain or shine mine walk everyday 20 mins there 20 mins back does them no harm.

Will children melt in the rain?

No.

Its September. Stop being soft.