AIBU.. Reactions to walking to primary school?

[Jaggedbubble]

Due to a house move, we had a hard time getting a suitable primary school place for DS in September. Thankfully we've now managed to secure one which is 1.3 miles from our new address.

I have a car but I fully intend on walking to school with him. We currently walk to nursery which is about half the distance, and I love our walks and chats together.

The thing that has really surprised me is the amount of negative reactions from other parents about our plans to walk. 'What about in the winter! What if it's raining! They will be so exhausted!' Some of them so dramatic like I'm commiting an awful act against my DS!

We are an outdoorsy family and have plenty of warm winter gear, decent waterproofs, scooters (with pull along strap if needed) and even a bike with large seat if he's really struggling in the first term.

Also it's a big school with absolutely notorious issues for parking/ driving at school run time so I plan to avoid the stress of that! And I will still have my car if there is an emergency/illness etc, but don't plan to use it otherwise.

AIBU to be a bit miffed at everyone's reactions?

Have you found a new school closer?
Yeah, it's just over a mile from home
Oh no, so you'll still need the car?
No, we can walk that!

I mean, it isn't THAT odd a conversation.

The only justification for being 'appalled' would be if the walk was on unlit NSL roads with no pavement! If its a mile through a built up area then you are definitely doing your child (and you, and the environment) more good than harm!

I would say fine except for very extreme weather such as heatwaves. Sun would be extremely strong at 3.30pm.

I also personally found walking to my childminder for pick up in sleet wasn’t worth it for even 10 mins 😁

Our primary was closer (just under, rather than just over a mile). We used to leave after our neighbors who drove, and I got home before he did. So, not only did we get some excerise and chatting / decompression time, we also saved time.

It's a great idea OP and if your DC can easily manage it it will be so beneficial, rain isn't acid!! Great time with your DC and a real tonic before school starts in the morning. Ignore the haters, people are just so odd.
When my little one's were younger I held a party and said that I wouldn't be issuing party bags and would be giving out a piece of cake and a kinder egg or something. So many parents were outraged, some were quite vocal about their opinions saying their children wouldn't come! 😂

Op one thing is consider is toileting. My boys obviously don't pee every ten minutes but even when they've had a wee at the end of nursery, someone's weget caught short on the way home. Often enough for me to have brought something to pee into. They are thirsty boys and big drinkers and slow walkers though

As a child I used to walk about that distance with my mum to primary school, then alone even further to secondary. My family didn't have a car, and back then nearly everyone walked. I know times have changed but it's a good thing you are encouraging healthy habits and exercise while they are young. The fact you are getting so many negative reactions from people irl shows how lazy and fearful our society has become.

It seems more odd that you've had this conversation with so many people, he doesnt start til Sept so why would that conversation keep coming up

I agree-I don’t think I ever had this conversation with anyone!

Some people automatically put themselves in the situation. If a person has work to get to and multiple children to ferry about it might automatically strike them as a bit stressful.

Our school had a walk to school week which in theory is a great idea. They suggest parking further away if you're not in walking distance (we're 9 miles away). It's really not possible to do this if you have work to get to and children at multiple schools it's lovely if you've got the time.

That's very odd! 1.3 miles is hardly far! Lots of families walked their DC to our Primary. I used a scooter when mine was tiny.

I did have a SW worried once that I walked my DD to school 20 minutes away!! Assume she must have just driven everywhere.

by hopping in their car...
Not quite the point of my post.

I would probably make a comment but it would come from my own issues and insecurities. I live 0.9 miles from the school mine starts in September (she currently does preschool there) and would love to walk more often. I sometimes try but it’s always a fucking disaster. Meltdowns, tantrums, whining, it’s so stressful to get her home. She won’t just ‘walk’ or go in her scooter, pram or anything. Yes I’ve fucking tried bug hunts and races and every trick in the book. I also have a 2 year old I’d have to drag along.

some children just don’t cooperate in any way shape or form. So I would just think ‘lucky you’.

People are lazy. If you are physically able a walk to school should be the norm (barring SEN, disability, dangerous walking route etc). The amount of people who drive past us walking to school and get there after due to traffic and parking issues is crazy (we are literally 15 min walk away so not far).
Walking should be the default where possible imo. And I'm not a wfh flexible worker I jump straight on my bike and peg it to start work at 9am in a clinic so not easy!

I think it also depends on if you also have any pre-school age children (as in under 4, not necessarily at pre-school).

We live a similar distance and walked easily when my eldest started reception as her sister was a baby in the pushchair but now she’s three and too big for a pushchair and of course also has to do the return journey with me, I find that some days we will drive ‘half way’ or I will ask my husband to watch her if he’s WFH while I do the school run with just the eldest.

4 walks a day on a swimming lesson day for example can be a bit much for a three year old

We don't have a car so no choice but to either walk or get the bus (which only goes halfway anyway). Plus parking is horrendous - it does surprise me how many people do drive though who live much closer than us!

Seems a weird thing to discuss. Also it's not really a choice between walking 1.3 miles and driving. You can drive half way, park and then walk. It saves time in the morning and solves the parking problem.

This just seems absolutely bonkers to me. 1.3 miles isn't far. Driving half way would be a 3 min drive - it would take longer to load the car, put seat belts on and pull out than actually drive(!) - you might as well do the entire journey.

I understand there are some parents that need to drive because of working times and it would otherwise be impossible, but I do side eye a lot of parents I know who drive when it doesn't seem necessary, especially the neighbours who have to leave before me just so they can get a parking space and then just sit in the car for 20 mins waiting for the school to open.

I don't discuss my school commute very often but I genuinely get the impression that people feel sorry for my kids because between the ages of 4-7 they've walked for half an hour twice a day, it's just nuts.

When I lived within walking distance of a school I have no recollection of ever getting a lift! I remember it being so slippy one day I fell over in front of a queue of traffic waiting at some red lights! Highly embarrassing for a 12 year old!

I've just looked how far it was. The same 1.3 miles!

My DM didn't work and we'd walk all the way together when I was at primary and half the way when I was at secondary and she tied it in with the morning dog walk.

I understand walking to school isn't practical for many, but it's definitely not something to be shocked by!

Keep walking. Or cycling .
its just 1km to my kids school, but the ride there and back is the best bit.
I mean we have some crappy days. Grumpy grouchy days. But they wouldn’t be improved by being in a car.

And this is (part of) the reason we have an obesity crisis!

Walk with them. Everyone who can should walk their kids to school.

I live in a village and our walk is half a mile. The number of parents in the village who drive for drop off is astonishing. Yes fair enough if you are going onto work afterwards but many don't. Our school is very good if it's chucking down and open the gate five minutes earlier if need be. My son's pre school (same building) don't usually open the door until 9am but usher them all in earlier at the slightest spot of rain too. I'll admit I've driven to school twice in almost 2 years. Both times when one of us has had the sickness bug and didn't want to chance the walk. Other than that we walk in all weathers.

In Switzerland small children are all expected to walk to school. Alone.

Your plan sounds brilliant. Far too many wimpy kids and precious parents who can’t walk more than 10 feet or get cold/wet.
As long as walking doesn’t make you late for work (sounds like you have that covered), crack on!

Primary was about the same distance for us. Always walked DS to school but for the first couple of terms I did pick up in the car. He's pretty robust but it was so full on at school and everything being new he really struggled on the way home. Once we hit the summer term and he was more used to school life we walked both ways.

Walking is absolutely fine, of course. My only concern would be play dates. Sod's Law says his best friend will live a couple of miles the other side of the school. And after school clubs in the winter. And days when you are a little unwell-unwell enough not to want to add an extra 3.5 mile walk to your day.