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!

A lot of 4 year olds are capable of cycling 3-4 miles without issue, especially at a running pace rather than a cycling pace. At that age mine would just need a hand on their back for some assistance up any steep hills, usually a drink stop every 15 mins or so but it’s quite reasonable to expect a 4 year old to manage this.

Are you actually going to get any running down though? You'll be stopping every second for this or that for him?

You never seen kids on the school run on their bikes, scooters, skateboards then?

Is it because it is your alone time and the thought of a child imposing is very annoying?
If so, I don’t blame you at all, so use the darkness as an excuse and perhaps revisit the idea in Spring!

running done

Depends on the route and your preference i wouldn’t personally wouldn’t change a valuable solo running slot!

@WhatAboutDarcy - Ds nursery takes all the children out on the bikes. Some on just running bikes, some pedalling. Obviously not in the dark, but they take 20+ 3-5 year olds through the woods behind the kindergarten. It’s around a 5-6km loop. Which would be a decent run for most adults

Id try it and but I'd also be pretty strict about rules. If this is a rare bit of you time then he needs to respect that too and not be demanding.

I swam a lot before kids. After kids I swam on the spot a lot!

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.

Exactly.

Unless he's a magical 4 yo, it will be so frustrating for OP, she won't be able to run consistently. She'll be stopping at roads / lights / navigating obstacles with him

However, if there's a park with a clear path / running track, it would be lovely to do that together occasionally and it's great he wants to come.

@InnocentAndDeranged I think that poster meant sending the child on their own to do the school run

I wouldn't want DS to come, not for safety reasons but because my exercise time is my time, brief bits of the week without a 5 year old asking me five million questions a minute, where I can clear my head and focus on my body, listen to music and nothing else, it's very important to my well being and stress management. I have an emotionally and psychologically difficult job and I need to keep on top of it.

It is so mumsnet, you’re right. 🤣

I can’t see a problem with him coming if you put lights on the bike and him in a high vis vest!

At that time in the morning, children only a year older will be making their way to school alone on foot, bike and scooters in many different countries. Go for it !

This is spot on and would be my main concern for you OP.

If your fine with him joining though, crack on. Sounds a great way to set up for the day.

I'd do some practice runs at weekends.
Then decide from there if it is for you or not.

I'd give it a go, see if it works well for you both. I don't understand the safety concerns.

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

What do you mean @Soontobe60? Lots of kids cycle/ scoot to school from the get go?

My main irritation would be the constant chat and stopping to look at any interesting trucks/cranes/service vehicles so I'm not sure I'd find it enjoyable but I don't think there'd be any safety issue.

I’d give it a try. Just see how it goes.

Agreed. If he's awake anyway why not? If it proves troublesome think again.

Do it on a weekend first, so you can be completely flexible about how long it takes without worrying about getting to nursery/work or whatever and guage whether it's doable on a weekday.

I don't understand what safety issue there could be? My only concern would be the run being ruined by stopping/starting 😅

I think its a great idea. I used to run and cycle with mine from this sort of age. The only thing is that the running is not going to be so good (you need to plan routes carefully and go slowly), so maybe not all the week so you can get a decent run in as well? Safety wise if you are with them, stick to good pavements have a helmet, lights and hi-viz I do not think there is an issue. It is also getting lighter now all the time.

If he's already awake then why not? I'd probably do it in the summer when it's light already. But that's redundant because me and my kids are lazy arses!