to think a 4.5 year old should be able to walk for 20 mins?

[lucysullivan]

After putting it of for years (major phobia) I've started learning to drive. However, I think it is going to take me a long time to be anywhere near taking my test. Of course this means that until I do pass my test (and I'm hoping I will pass one day!) ds and I have to use public transport or walk. It was OK when ds was in his pushchair because obviously it didn't affect him, but now that he has to walk (he's way to big for me to carry) he just complains and moans constantly.

Today we walked to the park, quite a nice day, which was about 20 mins away and he complained the whole way, kept saying why couldn't we go in the car (DH drives us around at weekends in our car) it was to far for him to walk, said he was 'to little' to walk such a long way and generally made me feel crap. Worse thing was when he said 'mummy why can't you drive, everyone else can' .

In my own mind I think a 4.5 year old should be able to walk for 20 mins, when I was his age my mum didn't drive and we had to walk everywhere. Just feeling guilty I guess that my 4 year old throws my driving incompetence in my face.

Ds (5yo) can moan and moan when he has to walk somewhere.

He is still annoyed at us for getting rid of the car over a year ago now.

He stops when he realises no one is listening.

THough I have had comments about how far I expect him to walk I really don't think 1 1/2 hours is unusual or particularly hard for a 5yo to walk, especially when there is a break in the middle. He's walked for longer than that at 3yo.

However 'walking' is still on ds list of our parenting crimes along with 'making him tidy his bedroom' and other such atrocities

So glad to hear that I'm not being unreasonable in expecting ds to walk for 20 mins plus. We got rid of his pushchair when he was about 3 so it's not like he's suddenly had to start walking, he's been doing it for well over a year! My dad rang today and asked ds if he wanted to come over for lunch. DS said 'as long as you pick me up grandad I don't want to have to walk up the hill' . Needless to say I made him walk, it was only 15 mins and a lovely day.

I do see a lot of older children around 4 or 5 being wheeled around in pushchairs still and I do wonder if this is because they too are reluctant to walk and their parents have decided its just easier to push them. Will not be resurrecting the pushchair though, no way!