Letting 4 year old come running with me at 6.30am?

[Giraffeantics]

Early morning runner. 4 year old wants to start coming with me at 6.30am on his bike. Feels wrong given it is dark and he is so young. Am I being unreasonable if let him join me? I would obviously reduce distance covered and only let him.join occasionally and wear a high vis. He has always been an early riser and is awake by 6am each day. Hm..... help!

It depends on the route, obviously. But I think it's fine.

Mine would have been delighted with a very early morning adventure like that.

depends where you go

He’s 4😂😂😂. I doubt the Op is sending him off to school on his bike!

In less than two weeks it will be light at that time so I would wait until then before trying it for the first time.

By mid September (when it stops being light then) you will be very confident about running with him and how safe he is.

I dont get the safety concerns. Obviously mum will ensure child is lit & visible & on a safe route.

I did this with my 3 year old during covid, it was great fun.

I think it's fine. My daughter is an early riser and started coming on my dog walks on her bike about 6am at that age. Very rarely does so now a year on.

It’s a lovely thing to do. I sometimes take mine on dog walks at that time - it’s so nice to chat away as the sun comes up and a much nicer start to the day for us all

Im not sure why you would be worried. What would be the issue - are people worried it would tire him out for school as our 4 year old had bags and bags of energy and was fine on a bike at that age, its not like hes going alone.

Yes, I'd wait a couple of weeks.

I don't see why not, mine would have loved that (if I were at all a runner ..)

I think it’s fine. School starts here at 7.30am, and many neighbours children walk or cycle from about 6am (some will cycle with parent to local station for example and then have to get train or bus the remaining journey as not many schools close by).
School starts at age 6, and many 6 year olds do the journey in the dark with no parents.

4 year olds can be fabulous cyclists! My son did a 30 mile bike ride with me a month after turning 4.
I stopped running with him cycling as he was too fast and I couldn’t keep up or run the distance 😂😂 I have to cycle with him now 😂

Go for it OP!

I really don't get why people are saying no!

It's fine - it's getting light at 6.30am anyway.

Great idea. Good to start an exercise routine with them. DT’s came running with me from that age.

I have no issues from a safety point of view, presuming the route is appropriate and you are with him.

It will change your running experience though, so maybe tell him that he can join some days but not every day?

My only reason to consider saving no would be that's my alone time, headspace, solitude. But if you have that covered at another time then you can do it if you want to.

I did this with my dad as a child. Think I lasted about 2 runs before deciding that it wasn't for me.

If it's a safe area for him to cycle why not?

Plenty of families around here are seen with children and dogs at 6/7am.

That's a coastal cycle route and walk or an old disused railway line.

Not sure why people are saying it's not safe. It's going to be lighter in the mornings soon anyway and presumably you'll be on the pavement and not the road and he will have all the right safety gear.

The only thing is, you'll have to accept it's going to be all about him, and less about you and your run.

When he gets bored halfway and wants to go home you won't be able to continue your run 😂

And you'll have to slow down according to his pace, talk to him, encourage him etc.

So it depends if you want a good run, or a bonding activity with your 4 year old - I don't think it will be both!

It'll be fine. As long as it's not a country road or anything.
He'll probably get bored on day three anyway.

My kids come out in their bikes while I run sometimes and I think this is fine if you are in a cycle path and not the road.
I leave for my my run just before 7 most days and no longer need a head torch so it will be light at 6:30 in a couple of weeks!

It’s getting light anyway so it’s not that

But how far can he cycle v you run?

Lol. This is so mumsnet.

Your average 4 year old doesn’t do this. The reality is that at age 4, most would be wobbly, unreliable cyclists who would get bored and be slow after a while.

I don’t see why not, although it will probably change your run having a 4 year old on a bike in tow.