Walking distances and 3 year olds

[BsshBossh]

My DD turned 3 last week and we've ditched the buggy (well, kept it in the shed, to be used only on long days out - perhaps). My view is to get her walking as much as possible now so that she builds up her stamina. She's capable of walking 1.5 miles in one go without tiring which is great as that's the distance to the big park in our area with the lovely cafe? Then she walks back after a play and sit down.

How far can I expect a 3yo to walk? How far can your 3yo walk comfortably (this is discounting those DC with disabilities)?

stickylittlefingers, yes DH and I are a "walk everywhere" couple. We live in London, don't have a car and walk or use public transport all the time. We always have long days out in central London walking everywhere so I really want to get DD walking properly and build up her stamina. I have to say, we ditched the buggy completely a few weeks ago and in the space of 2 weeks she's walking so well and so fast. No dawdling at all. She simply gets on with it. I think I'll just encourage her more and more now after reading about some of you here.

My 2 year old (and 3 months) walks about an hour (slowly). We didn't ever really get into pushchairs and used a sling until she was about 1 year 10 months, then just used a pushchair for long journeys. Now it varies if shes happy walking but will usually do about an hour.

I walked 5 miles at once when I was 3, but it is still noted amongst the family so I guess it's probably unusually far. :)

yes you're right - if walking is just a fact of life, rather than an annoying alternative to the car/bus, chances are that the dc are not going to be so bothered by it. It's practice, like anything else.

Also I love holding their little hands! You don't get that in a car [soppy ha'porth emoticon]

Mine is 3.4 and she can bounce for HOURS on the trampoline and run round in pontless circles for ages....but she appears only able to walk about 5 steps when wego to the shops

DS is just 3 and is exactly the same, he can run miles if he's doing something he wants to do but if I'm trying to get him to walk to a specific place he sits on the floor complaining that his legs don't work.

I normally find it easier to put him in the double buggy but I am starting to think I should get him walking more.

DS2 is 3.9yrs and tires easily. Although one day I had him out and about running about and walking from 10.30am until 6pm. bear in mind this consisted of walking down approx 100 stairs then walking 1,217 feet and up another 100 or so stairs, then round a farm. Back through greenwich tunnel and up to greenwich park to the very top and then back down to the bus.

Only when we got near home did he say "Mummy please carry me now as I have little legs and they are tired" - I went and bought a buggy as there really is no way I can carry him he is too heavy.

DS1 on the other hand was walking without a buggy from about 18m old and only had the buggy for long days out.

We ditched the buggy for ds1 when ds2 was born, he was just 3. He did whinge quite a lot at first but soon built up stamina, although in bad weather I cursed my decision not to get a double.

By the time summer came (so about 3.7) we were walking over a mile down the canal to the big park, having a full day out including running about and then walking over a mile into town to catch the bus (plus walk from home to bus stop), all in all I would bet on 4 miles or over. There was a bit of whining and dawdling involved on the way home, but we had a buggy where he could balance on the footrest for a bit if desperate.

I doubt I will ditch the pushchair for ds2 until 4 tbh, I like an easy life now (unless he really wants to walk).

I must add we don't have a car either and walk/bus everywhere, so ditching the buggy is a bigger undertaking than if you go by car most of the time.

As for the weather, I took DD (just 3) out in the rain with me to go to the cafe in the park 1.5 miles away and she was great - walked right alongside me and remained (most of the time) under the big umbrella with me. However, I've bought her a kid's umbrella and I'm going to get her to practice using it for herself.

We'll be going into central London this Saturday without the buggy - plan on spending a good few hours there. We'll see how DD does.

Thanks again for all the responses to my OP. I'm completely motivated to keep working on building little DD's walking stamina. Inspired by many of your little walkers . I guess I'm lucky in that she only dawdles and whines 10% of the time as she knows that I'll just keep on walking - now she keeps up most of the time as she knows there's no alternative - even to the shops.

We do regular weekend walks to nearby village with DTs, 4,5 miles.
They have also done 7 miles once, 3.5 miles return. DH and I were a bit spent, ahem, the Dashing Duo kept on running about the garden once we got home.
I ditched the buggy shortly after their 2nd birthday(well, broke the wheel and refused to buy another one) so we walk everywhere and they have incredible stamina as a result (better than mine at any case...)

DTs are 3.5.

We ditched the buggy at 2.5 yrs for SS2 (can't really remember with DS, DD1 or SS1 but was probably the same age). We go on walks nearly every day as we have dogs, an hour or more a time. We went chessington 2 weeks ago and they spent the whole day walking round. They're 5,4,4, 3 and 8 months (8 month old obviously still in buggy).

I did find it odd when my friend had a baby and bought a double buggy for her and her 4 year old. I couldnt imagine putting a 4 year old in a buggy, 4 year olds can go to school!

Yes, I think if you have one child- or one younger child (say under 5) then you can achieve a lot as you can give them attention when they need it if the grumps or other issues (eg weather) hit.

However...it's a lot harder with 2 kids under 5. There is double the risk of grumps and your attention is divided between them. Maybe my kids are more prone to temper tantrums/grumps than some of the posters- or perhaps there are methods I can learn from them! Am genuinely impressed with those ditching buggy at 2- would really like to do this, perhaps I should work on it. I just can't imagine my DD (2.5) doing the school run walking yet- that's 0.5 miles. She would be very slow- but perhaps I should try- should I go for it, no buggy, or should I take the buggy and get her to walk a bit/buggy a bit- I need a hand for my 4.5 year old so any advice on what to do if I end up carrying her when she's tired and he needs a hand- tricky...

Tgger, can you build up your DD's walking stamina - just the two of you - when your DS is at school?

DS (3.11) has happily walked around 5 miles (with lots of snacks). Pre-school walk is 1 mile and he always asks to go home the long way (about 1.5 miles) if we have time. DD (2.6) walks with us but ends up on my shoulders about 1/2 way along and then she hops down for little bursts of walking when she re-energises. I rarely take a pushchair out though but DD is pretty light so I don't mind carrying her if necc.

Ooo, that's interesting leddeeburdee. Can you have DD on your shoulders and have a hand for DS without it getting dangerous? Haven't carried DD on shoulders much but when I have had to have both hands on her for safety. She's also quite light (Less than 2 stone) so not such a prob carrying her.

Yes, I think I will start to build up DD stamina. DS is only at nursery- starts Reception in September, so not quite so much time just her, but certainly are times when just me and her (way back from nursery for example)- just I normally would have the buggy with me too if she's gone in it then I think maybe she's tempted/a bit lazy. She's not wedded to the buggy like some her age, but she normally wants to go in it when it would be fine for her to walk and not go in it when it's not that convenient- busy/long walk/.

Tgger, that's how I've managed to ditch the buggy - by putting it in the shed and not taking it out with us as DD kept playing games and walking a few minutes then whining to go in the buggy then jumping out ad infinitum. Now she walks brilliantly (when I don't have the buggy with us!). Perhaps you can take her out without the buggy when back from the nursery run... To the shops, round the block, to the park etc.

My 3.9 yr old dd2 will some days walk miles happily and on others will moan and whinge after about 100m. Our school run is about 15 mins walk so I normally put her in the buggy just to make sure we get there on time. Sometimes she walks back after dropping off dd1, but it is hard to persuade her to when the buggy is there! 3 days a week she is at pre-school very close to our house and gets dropped off first. Last week she had a tantrum about not taking the buggy to pre-school (it is honestly only about 5 houses away) but that was more of a control thing than really not wanting to walk.....

my ds now four walks for miles, he has done for ages, thoroughly enjoys country walks with the dog. we walk everywhere we can and only take the car if it is long distance. I think you make children lazy if they get used to mum and dad's taxi service

Ditched the buggy (well backpack) just before DS3 turned 2. At that point he walked 4miles a day on 4 school runs (a mile each). Now he is 2.5 and at playgroup himself so only does 3 school runs a day so down to 3miles. On days when he is overtired he goes by bike instead.

At weekends if we go for a walk he will walk for miles. We tend to walk a couple of miles have a picnic, then do another 2-3 miles.

DS1 however would only walk any distance if it was on footpath at that sort of age. DS2 would be more like DS3, but was very clumsy - fell over so many times on the school run banging his head that he wasn't allowed to walk for a while and had to go by bike!

Ooo blimey! I think you win. How long did it take to walk a mile at 2? Is he a big 2 year old? Am very impressed, also interested with the bike thing- is that his bike or your bike? Perhaps I will just go for it with my 2 year old (well she's 2.5 now).

He is a slightly on the small side 2 year old! But very active. He currently walks (runs) a mile in about 20mins-25mins. Guess it took about twice that when he first started walking it.
With the bike it is a bike with a handle on the back so I can push him along. Not a trike. He is quite capable of pedalling most of the way (other than the really steep hill), and recently has surprised me that he can pedal on the flat when DS2 (nearly 5) is stood on the stabilisers at the back! Best investment I ever made. I bought it for DS2 about 3 years ago for £30 and calculated that between DS2 and 3 they must have done over 1500miles on it!

Our preschool walk is all off road across fields so the hand holding DS while carrying DD on my shoulders hasn't really been a problem. Thinking about it when I am carrying her and have to hold DS's hand I've moved her onto my hip. Which wouldn't be ideal for longer distances I guess!

Thanks all for your inspiration all those with 2 year old walkers. I have decided to get DD walking more, and will gradually build up. She walked most of the way back from school nursery run today, so almost half a mile at not too slow pace. She probably would have walked the whole way had we not come across her friend in the buggy ;-).

So much is about expectation, going their pace and building up slowly I guess. Think it'll be a while before I ditch the buggy but you never know. That bike sounds interesting! Haven't seen them, only the trikes with handles- do you have a link/what make is it?

DD is quite small and light but very active and energetic. She is more into the trampoline for example than DS. No, carrying on hip is no good. I am wondering about a cheap rucksak, that has minimal faff. Not a sling- don't really get on with those. Just a frame? Hmmmmm.