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

[LlamaFace19]

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

Mine would be ok with the distance, but it would take a long time, and that would be an issue in the morning as we'd either not have time for her to finish breakfast (slow eater) or we'd be late. Also we use that time to do our reading etc

Also it could be pretty bleak in midwinter.

For that distance I'd usually get her to ride her bike just so it took less time, and I'd jog beside her.

There are thousands of 4 year olds running 2km Junior ParkRun every Sunday morning, and it only takes them 10-20 minutes.

Of course a 4 year old can walk a mile to school and back. So can a 3 year old. Mine would easily do that from age 2.5. They didn't ever use a pram from 2yrs 3 months, never.

People are too quick to resort to cars these days.

My 3 year old walked over 10k steps the other week. He’s a great walker and been out of a buggy since he turned 2. I see nothing wrong with 1.3miles each way. For an adult that’s a 15-20 minute walk, only takes longer for littles because they get distracted and explore.

Only observation, I find when it’s hot my toddler struggles walking with the sun beating on him and ask to be carried. Could a little scooter on the way home mitigate this?

I used to walk that far to school when I was 4 ! Further when I got to secondary.

i wouldn’t walk it now, because I’m 40, fat and drive a car.

….. I fully acknowledge I probably should be walking it daily and it’d do me the world of good!!

well done you OP. Keep it up.

I don’t see any issue walking 2.6miles a day recreationally but I would worry it’s a lot on her little body as well as school all day and playtime

You can't compare a 2km once a week park run with a trudge to school, a full day in school, Inc playtime, lunch, gym sessions and a trudge home.
Day after day in all weather's.
I'm on the logic up to a mile is probably OK, any much further becomes a long slow trudge for little legs.

I walked that (as well as my siblings) for all of my primary school years. We are all very fit, and in our forties. That 25min walk/skip/run each way truly set us up for fitness for life I believe! Keep going with it!

We used to walk this distance as children to school from the same age, most families didn’t have 2 cars back then, no problem at all. It would never work with my DC these days 🤣 kids a lot more assertive/whingy/ generally not used to it so can understand your friends surprise but brilliant if working for you both

@LlamaFace19

I think it's too far every day for a 4 year old to walk. And twice too - there and back. Two and a half miles a day all the time is a bit much. (IMO.) I'm an old gimmer now, but I remember having to walk to school with my mother when I was in infants and juniors - and it seemed soooooo long, especially in the winter. But when I look at the map now, it was two thirds of a mile - one way. It seemed much longer to me when I was so young/small.

Still, it can't hurt to try it out I suppose. The weather is very unpredictable in the UK though, and you could all be half way there and the Heavens decide to open. Your child will spend the day soaked. Unless you always put her in a raincoat and make her carry a brolly.

You will also get days when the rain is just too heavy, or the snow is too heavy and deep, or it is just too bitterly cold, or the sun is too hot.. And the hottest weather is not always going to be in the 6 week school holiday in July and August. Case in point, hottest day of the year this year, with unbearable humidity was the 9th of September, in term time!

And the whole of September now (virtually) has been like you would expect it to be in late July. An actual heatwave. In September! It would have been very unreasonable to expect a little 4 year old to walk almost two and a half miles there and back in 30-32 degrees C temperatures with 90% humidity!

I don't think I would ever have done this with mine to be honest. But then I never had that 'dilemma.' My DC school was 5 minutes walk, when they were at primary, and 3.5 miles at secondary. So we walked to primary, and I took them to secondary in the car.

There was a bus, but it went at 7.20am, and took an hour to get there, as it went through all the suburbs and villages etc to pick up all the kids. (They had to be there by 8.40am...) It took 10 minutes in the car! So this meant we didn't even have to leave the house til around 8.25am ... (Gave an extra 5 minutes in case of hold ups.) So we could get up at 7.30am instead of getting up at 6.20am which we would have had to do if they had got the bus!

I think it totally depends on your child. My daughter turned 3 when I had my youngest. At the time I purchased a double pushchair and friends told me I’d never use it as DD1 would walk everywhere. At the time she would hardly walk at all and just throw herself on the ground. Now she’s 3.5 and will walk the mile into town but will have to go in the pushchair on the way home. We also use it a lot if we are in a rush (as walking with a 3 year old takes 2-3 times longer!) or having a day/ holiday with a lot of walking. I’d also feel safer with her being in the pushchair if I’m alone with her and the baby as I can’t really catch her or wrestle with her if I have the pram too!
My friend recently went on holiday with her just turned 4 year old and they were doing 16000 steps a day! I think he used a bike some of the time. I was quite jealous, mine wouldn’t do it! She would just stop and demand to be picked up!

Yanbu.
Walking is great free exercise and really sets you up for the day. The number of parents who drive their kids right up to the school gate every day is really depressing (and terrible for the environment).