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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think 1.3 miles isn't too far for a 4 year old to walk?

186 replies

LlamaFace19 · 07/09/2023 13:20

Hi all. DD started Reception this week. Her primary school is 1.3 miles away and we walk as I'm trying to become more active and this seems like a good way to get some steps in! It takes anywhere from 25-40 minutes depending on how much DD dawdles. She used to walk a mile to nursery. She manages the walk fine and actually seems to enjoy it as it's a good chance to natter! But I was recently talking to a friend who seemed horrified at the distance and said it was far too much of a trek for a 4 year old? I don't think it is, especially for DD who has been walking a mile to nursery since 3, but what do you think?

YANBU - It's fine
YABU - Too far

OP posts:
TropicalTrama · 07/09/2023 13:39

If she’s fine she’s fine! Mine would have been fine with it in the morning but often used to struggle at the end of the day even though we’re only half a mile from school so we had the buggy board as an option all through reception.

Flippingflamingo · 07/09/2023 13:39

My 4 year old would walk that easily. She would moan about it, but could physically manage no problem.

Could you look at cycling for a change? My 4 year old can cycle for a good 5-6 miles now so it gets us places much quicker!

LolaSmiles · 07/09/2023 13:41

It's fine to me.
A lot depends on how active the child is. If they've been active from a young age and are used to moving then that's going to be doable.
If they're used to being carted around in a buggy or car until they walk into reception it's probably too much for them because they've never been expected to. In that situation I'd hope the parents started to instill reasonable levels of activity.

shivawn · 07/09/2023 13:43

My 22 month old easily walks the 2km return trip to visit his grandparents and we do that most days, he actually runs along for most of it. I don't have a 4 year old but that sounds like a healthy walk to me!

BettyfromBristol · 07/09/2023 13:44

I have always walked a lot and so have my DCs. In walking circles, people who hike etc, the rule of thumb for a healthy child is a mile per year of age each day. So a 4 year old should be able to manage 4 miles if they were used to it.

Distracting with chat, playing a game or similar will help. Rain? Well, those puddles look fun, shall we jump in them? Snow? Shall we go via the park and see how much snow there is?

Children do not benefit from being mollycoddled.

cravingmilkshake · 07/09/2023 13:44

My just turned 4 year old walked 2.5 miles on Sunday, it that was only with the promise of cake or ice cream In a cafe afterwards. Not sure she would do it all day every day x2

crackofdoom · 07/09/2023 13:45

YANBU. You are doing her- and yourself!- the world of good. Plus, you don't have to stress about finding a parking place near school.

If you were feeling evil you could casually mention to your friend that it's children inside the cars who are exposed to the most vehicular air pollution 😈

Thesearmsofmine · 07/09/2023 13:47

Thats fine for a healthy able bodied child. I don’t drive so mine have always been used to walking since they were out of the pushchair. Its good to start the day by moving your body and getting some fresh air, sets you up for the day.

crackofdoom · 07/09/2023 13:51

BettyfromBristol
I need to up my game then! I usually plan walks of max 5-6 miles with my 8 year old! (We have done a couple of inadvertent 8 milers, one when he was 6 and I'd forgotten to bring snacks and it felt tantamount to child abuse 😬).

I was in Bristol last weekend funnily enough, with his 13 year old brother, and we did end up walking 13 miles!! Which he coped with as well as me, he just needed to consume a truly awe inspiring quantity of food 😆

Picklewicklepickle · 07/09/2023 13:53

Mine is just starting year 2 but she walks 1.3 miles to school every morning. Well she mostly scoots which is easier and I’m trying to get her to cycle. I do pick her up in the car a lot though as she’s in after school club till 5 Mon-Thurs and it’s late by the time we get home after a long day.

We’ve had some comments about the long walk too!

Original poster
LlamaFace19 · 07/09/2023 13:55

@cravingmilkshake she's not walking 2.5 miles twice a day?

OP posts:
Starwarslover · 07/09/2023 13:55

Don’t put the buggy board on the buggy it will create bad habits and she’ll be used to that distance from nursery anyway. I think it’s a perfectly normal distance, people are driving much too much nowadays, walking is good exercise for children and if they start young in my experience they don’t moan as much about it when older!

shearwater · 07/09/2023 13:56

I think it's fine if your DD is fine with it.

I had a similar walk home from school, 1.5 miles I think. I remember distinctly aged 5 weeing on my doormat as I crossed the threshold (my mum gave me a cuddle rather than being angry) as the school toilets were manky and I hadn't wanted to go, and couldn't hold it any longer.

So you might want to get her to go to the toilet at school before you set off.

Snoken · 07/09/2023 13:57

I had a similar school run when mine were 5 and 6. I walked and they scooted though. I think we never left in good enough time to walk it but scooting was fine as I also got a bit of exercise keeping up with them.

transformandriseup · 07/09/2023 13:57

I've just checked the distance and our walk to school with 4 year old is 1.1. DD has never really enjoyed walking and does get a bit stroppy but I think she will be ok. It's the same distance to her nursery so she is used to the walk.

For others it may be too far.

freespirit333 · 07/09/2023 13:58

She would let you know if it was too far! I’m envious! My DS is 4.5 and school is a mile, or just under. He scoots or bikes but it can take an age, so much whinging, me pulling him on the scooter/him walking at the pace of a snail while I break my back wheeling his tiny bike. He used to be such a good walker as a toddler! Perhaps I should have stuck with it rather than introducing bikes and scooters as he’s probably out of walking practice now. There is no way he’d walk that distance in that time, and willingly.

Although hilariously he can run junior park run, not fast, but in about 18-20 minutes. And that’s 2km, about 1.5 miles.

blahblahblah1654 · 07/09/2023 13:58

Seems ok. My 3 year old would manage fine.

Esgaroth · 07/09/2023 14:01

It's great. Children who use active transport to get to school concentrate and learn better. It also improves behaviour. You are doing her a big favour.

Parents who drive their kids to school to be 'kind' to them and not because they absolutely have to due to their own commutes are not being kind at all.

We always cycle to save time in the mornings, unless the weather doesn't allow, but they only get driven to school if it's a full storm!

itsmyp4rty · 07/09/2023 14:01

As long as she has the right gear so she's not arriving at school wet or cold (or you take her by car if it's pouring) then I think it's fantastic. How much healthier would the country be if everyone did that with their kids everyday?

shearwater · 07/09/2023 14:01

On the other hand when I used to pick up DD1 from school in reception/Y1 sometimes, DD2 in pram/buggy, she had clearly been holding in emotion all day and used to unleash it on me, she was an exhausted and angry little person. Even though it was only ten minutes walk if I was doing it over again I'd get a buggy board.

Hufflepods · 07/09/2023 14:04

The childhood obesity rates are much less surprising when you realise the number of people who think 1 mile at a time is too much for a school aged child!

PoppyFleur · 07/09/2023 14:06

Getting young children into the habit of walking is a great way to keep them fit and tire them out!

My son and I would walk 1.1 miles each way to primary school. It was good exercise for me. DS is now in secondary school and I miss the walk, it takes a bit more motivation to fit in exercise now!

megletthesecond · 07/09/2023 14:07

It depends how much time you have.

My walking time for that would be half of a 4yr old. Not much point walking if you're late for work. I reduced my work time to start at 9:30 so we could always walk to school then head to work.

MrsRachelDanvers · 07/09/2023 14:08

We evolved to be walking-as soon as children were too heavy to carry, they walked. It’s weird how a 4 year old might not be considered capable of walking for half an hour. Sitting down kills us.

Flo84 · 07/09/2023 14:09

My son's school is the same distance and we walk. He has walked that far for three days a week since he was 3 years old to nursery in the opposite direction so now we are doing five days a week in the other direction and I am expecting a bit of moaning but we chat on the way and it's quite pleasant. As he was only 3 when he started nursery he did only do walking to school and he went in the pushchair home but I only did that for half a term and then he walked both. They get used to it quite quickly.