Too far for 4 year old to walk?

[Thejoyfulstar]

Sorry, this is so mundane. Feel free to just do the poll if you don't want to reply (it's super boring!)

My 4 year old goes to a club after school (the club requires the kids to be quite active). She will be 5 in a few months.

It's a 25 minute walk from our house (and of course 25 minutes back). I'm trying to get at least 10,000 steps in a day to help with losing baby weight and this seems like a good opportunity to get my steps in.

I have a baby who will be in the pram, so can't stick my 4 year old in a buggy or anything like that. I tried the 'ride on' attachment before, and it really hurt my back as I don't have arms like Inspector Gadget. DD would just have to walk alongside me. The walk itself is lovely: a straight road along a long row of leafy trees. The weather where I live is currently beautiful.

I can't help but feel guilty that it's too far for a 4 year old to walk. On the other hand, we are trying to promote a healthy, active lifestyle for our kids. I would just drive if the concensus was that the walk is too long for little legs as its only 5 minutes by car.

So,
YABU: it's unfair to make a 4 year old walk for 1 hour in total
YANBU: this is fine for a 4 year old

I would encourage her to walk that distance but be prepared to allow more time, both for tiredness (especially on the return journey) and for all those little things that are fascinating to a young child, like butterflies, diggers, picking flowers etc. I agree with the person who said take a snack - some children are a bit lacking in energy after a full day's activity and they are transformed after just a few bits of something nutritious.

My dd 5 would struggle with this

she’s tired after school. Has done some clubs at school but is shattered

we live 5mins away and by the time home she’s tired, that’s without the long walk before and after

tears would happen if had to walk 25m. Then hour club. Then 25m home

i prob would walk there. Drop her off. Walk home to get car. Pick her up in car so she only does one journey

holidays and weekends she can walk for ages but after school and hour activity to then walk 30mins each way would be too much

That would be too far for my little one and I'd get full on exhaustion tantrums. I'd swap the baby into a fabric sling and put the older one in the pushchair if she started complaining about being tired.

I agree. I'm not sure what's reasonable for a 4 year old as mine are younger, but am about to go and get DS1 from nursery in the buggy with baby DS2 in a sling.

It's one of those things that depends on the child more than their age. My dd was walking 20 minutes to and from nursery at 2 years old, she's 3 now and I'd expect her to manage this just fine unless she was ill or something. But I know friends kids who would struggle with it. Maybe you could build up to it and see how she gets on walking just once per day. We walk a lot, we don't have a car, so my dd is used to it.

Mine 'only' had to walk a quarter mile uphill home. You'd think I was making them drag a huge stone to build a pyramid behind them some days.

But as soon as they had a friend to walk with or a 'mission' like saying hello to Lucy the Three-legged Cat at the 7th house on the right, puddles to splash in, frogs to chase, finding signs of badgers or stopping off at the park/sweetshop, they did Dog Miles with the running up, down, around and back again. And then wanted to play outside again after a quick snack.

It wasn't physical strength or distance that was the issue - it was whether they wanted to move.

Perhaps you could take an emergency snack or drink when you meet her? Not to pull out every day, but for the tired and grumpy ones?

A normally healthy 4 yr old can easily walk for an hour ( and more).

On the weekend or school holiday yes I agree

Not after a full day at school plus hours activity

Borderline. It's almost too far for a 4 y.o.. But just about OK. Do it. See how it goes.

I'd pack a compact sling (for preeschooler+ age) and if my 4yo got tired, would out her in my back in that. That way, its extra effort for you, which will help with the fitness but not much extra stuff to carry.

But I am a bit of a self confessed crazy sling woman (tandem carrying newborn + 2 yo within 3w of section sort of crazy).

If you aren't used to that sort of weight on your back, perhaps the newborn in a sling and 4yo in the buggy in the way back.

That's less than a mile. I did this back and forth to school each way for the whole of primary school. Moaned sometimes and was tired but I wouldn't say it was too much at all. Kept us healthy. It's also a good time to chat as a family.

YANBU. I take my son to pre-school on foot as often as possible. It's only 0.7 miles either way, but he is only three and a half. As long as the route is safe, you are probably doing your child a favour by letting her get out and stretch her legs as much as possible.

YANBU, my little one's nursery is 30 mins walk away so we walk there and back 3 days a week with baby in the pram, rain or shine. Snacks to combat a bit of whining on the way home because it's a long tiring day.

That's about 2 miles not too far for a 4 year old. Stop being rediculous my kids were walking that far at two sometimes more some days. My son wouldn't sleep if we didn't go for a walk every day. I don't drive though but do think people these days are too dependant on they're cars. I had my second child 6 weeks before my first turned 3. So didn't want him getting lazy and dependant on a pram. They're older now but walk for miles and never complain. Start them young the excercise is good for them.

I'd use a buggy board or just walk slow with breaks it necessary. When my 3 year old asks to be carried and we don't have the board I tell him I won't but we can stop and rest for a bit

My daughter was walking a mile and half to nursery at 3. Because it was the only one in the area that could meet her SEN. I would have to walk to town anyway to get the bus and would be half way there anyway. Wasn't worth having to struggle with folding buggy up a baby and a severely autistic 3 year old on rein's. But she was used to walking. Can't beat a good walk to get you motivated in the morning.

My kids were walking the 2.5 miles to school from aged 4. It’s so good for them and a lovely opportunity to chat with them. Distract him with counting the trees/sporting green cars/blue front doors etc if he starts to flag or gets bored and/or moany, but once he’s got used to the walk and built up his stamina he’ll be grand.

Thank you so much for all of the tips and perspectives!

So off we went on our journey, setting off just after 3. Didn't take long for me to wilt in the heat (28 degrees here today) but thought I would see how we got on, hoping for some shade. DD soon complained that she was tired within 5 minutes of walking. Her fringe was sticking to her forehead with sweat and she had no suncream on. I could hear in her voice that she wouldn't last long and I was feeling a bit hot and bothered myself.

I drove 😂

I feel like I've disappointed so many people on the thread 😆 but I did take it all in and am going to continue to do more walking as a family, with a scooter, snacks, water and regular breaks.

Thanks all!

I walk to an activity with my kids that's closer than that and they happily managed it from 5.5ish. All kids are different, bit your walk would be too much for mine in the heat plus school and the activity.

Exactly, that's not a long walk at all. If it is a long walk then even more reason to do it.

We did it from Reception throughout primary school. In all weathers. It's character-building, and they sleep better for it. Had to laugh when in the summer some driving moms started up a "walking bus" like they'd invented walking their kids to school.... come bad weather they were back behind the wheel.

Havnt disappointed me at all @Thejoyfulstar

you did what was right for your dd. She was tired hot and grumpy

28 sounds heaven to our chilly 8/9 and drizzle

uou are obv not in the U.K.

tho the other day was 22 and lovely

Walking in the heat is always harder, do some shorter walks and try the longer one if its a bit cooler next time.