1 hour 10 minutes total daily walk to school

[Itsneversimpleisit]

Is it a lot?

Twenty minutes there in the morning, twenty minutes home.
Twenty minutes there in the afternoon, twenty minutes walk back

With a 5 year old

Is it a lot or average?

You will get used to it and start to enjoy it, I am sure

If you weren’t doing this before then yes you will! Just don’t go treating yourself to a chocolate bar when you get home because you’ve had a little walk!

Only if you sort out your diet too, but that's extra time each day when you're not sitting and snacking, and I find getting some fresh air and exercise makes me more inclined to eat well.

Obviously on the way there you have to amble at child pace. Can you walk faster on the way back to make it more of a work out for you? I quite like being able to work exercise into my routine with the school run.

It will definitely help keep you fitter! You might find you do it faster, alone at least, once you have been doing it for a wee while.

It’s fine - my DS is 10 now but we have been doing 30 mins to school and 30 mins back since he was in reception. As a result he is now a great walker and has never moaned about it. Some parents at school sometimes say ‘I could never get mine to do that!’ Or ‘they’d moan all the time!’

Me and DS have always used it as ‘our time.’ An hour in the day with no screens, no cleaning or anything to do but talk to each other. I’ll be sad when it stops when he starts high school next year.

haha! sorry no! I don't think so, it is such a tiny amount of exercise - you would probably be on your feet walking around for that length of time anyway, wouldn't you? Just not thinking of it as exercise if you are pottering around your house rather than travelling in a straight line

Also, could you cycle or could DC use a scooter (that can be stored at school, not for you to carry back)?

What's the problem? That's not a long walk, surely?
Has the child complained? It's not too much at that age, in fact it's good.

I never did. Still don't. 3 kids later. One left in primary school. But hey life works like this. 20 minutes is great. Could be so much worse.

20 mins walk is perfectly fine. Most people do that.

how about you go in running clothes and run the journeys that you don't have your child with you? Faster, and more calories burnt.

I used to do the same walk with her in a buggy when she was little as the shops are there too, I enjoyed that, this not so sure yet.
I also walk my dog daily too, hence why wondering if I’ll lose weight

Yes, I walk faster when on my own

I've done it. Annoying in the rain, but good way to get some steps in. Be prepared for DD to be knackered coming out of school while she gets used to it, so good idea to bring a drink.

That's seems fine to me - nice way of getting steps in! Not so nice if pouring with rain..

I wish more people did this. I live round the corner from a primary school. Fair enough if the parent is going off to work but plenty of them go home again and drive round the corner

Sounds good to me- 20 mins each way is fine and will probably be a lovely time for you both to chat.

A 30 minute walk will burn about 150 calories, so say you burn an extra 200
calories a day? That’s not bad! But you’ll also get all the other associated benefits of walking too!

do you combine the walk to school with the dog walk?

I’m quite lazy and found it quite annoying!
Annoying? a short walk? you do sound lazy.

I do this, 25 mins each way. Had to do it once when temporarily without the car and I realised I was setting off about the same time due to horrendous school traffic and parking.
Got used to it really quickly, downloaded great audio books to listen to, and loved having my step count for the day ticked off without having done much really!

It's about what I do. It's great. I always meet my 10000 steps per day!

I think this is fine but also it would get tiresome having to do it day in day out over and over.

You probably won’t lose weight unless you are sweating.

I did a similar commute (in a hilly area) while also pushing another kid in a pram for an entire year and didn’t lose weight.

The dog walking won’t contribute if you do that anyway unless you are already losing weight.