To think that almost two miles is too far to walk back to school after an Easter service?

[Aero]

All infants with no parent to transport them back to school will be bussed back, but all juniors will be expected to walk back along a busy main road, with a major roundabout to negociate, with heaps of traffic and fumes.

There is no bad weather contingency plan (I asked this morning). They will walk whatever the weather. Now this distance is no problem for ds1 (10), but for dd, it will exhaust her (she is 7.5), never mind breathing in 2 miles worth of traffic fumes, so I feel under pressure to change my plans so that I can bring her back myself, but it's not so easy for working parents and imo, the distance is too far and if it rains like it has for the last few days, the children will be drenched!

I'm sure this is a cost cutting exercise as in the past everyone left with no lift back went by bus. The bus just made two journeys as there are a fair few children in this position.

Under 2 miles is not very far... a 30 minute walk? They will probably enjoy it!

Measure it on www.mapmyrun.com and find out EXACTLY how far it is. I bet it's much less than you think

Yabu

2 miles isn't that far, and we've walked more than this with infants (well, Y2) often.

Nearly two miles is nothing. They should be able to manage that.

2 miles shouldn't be too far for a healthy 7yo to walk

2 miles really isn't that far. Maybe they're encouraging them to get more exercise?

I did measure it in my car today mp. It's just short of 2 miles. I'd be surprised if they could do it in 30 minutes.

Yabu.

Seriously, are you really worried about your 7 year old walking nearly 2 miles?

Is it the distance or the route that bothering you?

I'd be fine with the distance, she'll be with friends won't she? I'd have loved it at that age.

I'd agree that 2 miles is far less than you assume when you hear it said. And at the risk of sounding like an old git, that was completely the norm as a walk to school in the days before people drove their kids 2minutes up the road.

YABU - unless your dd has health probs you haven't mentioned.

I used to walk for hours at that age.

MAybe my parents were just mean

My two year old manages two mile walks without any problem. They'll have fun, it's not far!

Can your DD not walk for 40 minutes? Also, do you keep her inside if it's raining? Start her on a few practice circuits now (3 times round the park while you sit on a bench with a book )

Dd is nearly 7 and we walk almost that far to school every day and have done since she was 3. Busy main road, loads of traffic, no bad weather contingency plan. Day in, day out.

There's no reason why a healthy, fit 7 year old shouldn't be able to manage two miles, really there isn't.

BTW, when we walk to nursery, it takes ds1 45 mins walking or about 35 on his scooter. We dont do it every day; we get the bus half way, to prevent the tedium factor kicking in. But as a rule, he has no problem with it. He's 4.

sorry Aero yabu. dds (7 and 5) regularly walk this sort of distance. how far do you think the average 7 year old runs around the playground at a normal lunchtime play? and the only bad weather plan you need is coats.

I expect to see all MNers with 7 year olds out in the rain in trackie bottoms and a whistle

I used to walk further than this twice a day when I was at school - not many parents had cars when I was 4. This distance should be no trouble for any reasonably healthy 7 year old. Does she not walk anywhere?? Suely they'll have coats - a spot of rain won't hurt them - they don't rust!!

It sounds like fun - as long as they are supervised properly I can see no problem - a spot of fumes from traffic won't hurt as a one off - unless you live in the absolute middle of nowhere I wouldn't have thought the air quality would differ that greatly from that in your back garden.

Let the poor kids walk - they may even like it and want to do more of it and that can't be bad can it?

I'm assuming they'll be accompanied while negotiating the roundabout...

And the reason the traffic fumes are so bad is that people think it's necessary to drive short distances like nearly two miles.

Our primary school now has a policy to schedule in time to walk whenever possible, rather than use buses/cars/taxis. It isn't always practical - for instance for weekly swimming lessons - there just isn't time.

But for one-off outings to local places - churches, museums, abbey, town hall, tree planting they always walk now. I guess the furthest they have been is about 2.5 miles each way (except for on residentials where they take them on long all day walks!)

I approve wholeheartedly, but then my boys have always walked a lot in all weathers.

lol

actually my 5 year old is a total wuss and struggles to walk anywhere without coming over all Victorian Damsel and needing a rest or wheezing, so I do sympathise - but even she can manage a walk into town and back

Just be extra gentle with her in the evening and let her slob out in front of the television earlier than normal!