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 child as to whether it would work.
Dd1 would have taken it as a challenge and done it silently and determinedly. She wouldn't have asked to do it though because she wouldn't have wanted to get out of bed that early. 🤣
Dd2 would have loved the idea, but it would have turned into a "stop and have a drink" "now a snack", "look at this pretty flower" "Can you carry this leaf for me" "I'm tired can we sit down..."
Ds did not like cycling. Last time he cycled he fell headlong into the only patch of nettles for miles around; I don't think he's cycled in 10 years. But he might have liked the idea of scootering. Only thing is it would have turned into a practical demonstration of the tortoise and the hare. With him as the hare. He would have competitively told me how much faster he was going for the first half, and then lagged behind me begging for a break for the second. 🤣

But safety wise, depends on where you're going. Round here I wouldn't go on the roads, because every crossing you'd have to stop, get him off his bike, see him across and get him back on again, which would make the run very disjointed. But there is a lovely path through the woods that would be perfect for that sort of thing. It's off road, but close enough to houses that you don't feel isolated, and is soft underfoot. I'd have done it there.

It is no different to going running any other time in the day so yes it's fine personally I'd wait a few more weeks till its a bit lighter but certainly don't see an issue with it.

I don't see why not re safety if you are sensible - or is it all on roads?
But if it is your sanity/ movement therapy/ break from the kids thing, definitely say no!!

Totally fine so long as it is on an appropriate path - I mean, I don't anticipate you running on the pavement, with your kid cycling along on a busy road beside you, so I don't see what the issue would be! You'll be right there with them...I'd totally go for it in your shoes.

My 4 year old can comfortably ride for miles perfectly safely. She has ridden a bike with no stabilisers since she was 2.5 years and is very confident.

She rides to school every day and I would say there are plenty of other 4 year olds in her school who are competent bike riders.

Both my kids 4 and 7 ride to and from school every day. We were high vis jackets and have lights and they ride on the pavement. I would have no concerns about taking them out at 6:30am if needed.

My 4 year old rides her bike to school, why wouldn’t she? Obviously she is supervised but she is perfectly capable of riding twice a day there and back.

I'm guessing you don't run very fast or far, if a 4 year old can keep up?

I don't see why not. He's already awake, you have all his gear including safety gear etc.

No issues at all.

I honestly can't see anything wrong with this. And in a few weeks it will be light anyway.

Depends. Do you want him to come with you or would you rather have some alone time?

Don't feel guilty for taking time for yourself.

Lots of children ride bikes to school from age 4/5 onwards. Schools encourage it.

Absolutely. What a wonderful start to his morning! And yours! Some great bonding time.

Clocks go forward in March, maybe wait until then if you're concerned about it being dark? Otherwise I think it's great!

Depends where you run. Park, fine. Residential area, absolutely not. If your kid was cycling away making noise outside my house at half 6 I’d want to launch my pillow at you

If you are running on roads, no, I wouldn't personally, not in the dark. He wouldn't be able to stay right by you and would be quite small (and also unexpected in the dark) at that time of day. We live on quite narrow single lane roads though - it's dodgy enough to cycle around here as an adult during the day.

If on a running/cycle path, off road sort of environment, yes, I'd say it's fine as long as he stays on the path and doesn't veer off onto a road.

People are entitled to use the highway.

People need earplugs if a car or bike going past their house is too disruptive.

People come home from the pub at all hours, people set off for work at all hours, life is allowed to happen.

My instinct is only if it's light. I don"t know why exactly, maybe because his lights would be so low to the ground.

My kids cycled to school but school hours and BST aligned to mean it was never pitch dark.

There are parts of the UK where its dark going to school and coming home through much of the winter and kids still cycle.

How wonderful for you. My son’s really good at chess, can I have a round of applause too?

Nothing wrong with this, it sounds like a lovely memory to create with your little boy! He'll be perfectly fine out with his Mum 😊. People fuss too much.

I think a lot depends on where you are running.

Narrow pavement next to busy road I’d say no just in case he veered off, how does it work if there is another pedestrian etc.

Pathways in park fine as long as you are both considerate of other path users

Road absolutely not

How much noise would a 4 year old on a little bicycle realistically make.

I think this is very dependent on your area/route, the ability of your 4 year old to listen to instructions reliably and their cycling ability. My ds at 4 no not a chance, my dd at 4 probably but I'd probably wait until it gets lighter to start.

Do it! You only live once- he won't want to do it forever!