when will my 2 year old be able to walk from A to B without distractions?

[spritesoright]

Okay, I realise this is a somewhat silly question and I will probably be told 'never'. She is only 2 and very curious about the world, which is natural of course.
I am anticipating yet another nursery pick up where she wants out of the buggy after 2 minutes and insists on walking the rest of the 20 minute journey on her own. Well it would take me 20 minutes but sometimes it can take us up to an hour because of distractions.
She wants to wander into people's front gardens, pick leaves and berries, play hide and seek, pick up and throw stones, rub her hands along dirty cars (yeuch).
I don't put the reins on her anymore because she's very good at stopping at the road and she likes her freedom but I find myself constantly cajoling 'come on now, stay with mummy' or worse 'if you don't come now you're going in your buggy.' Cue major tantrum and me strapping a screaming, kicking 2 year old into the buggy.
I'm expecting too much aren't I? I feel like being a parent requires the patience of a saint and I just don't have it after a long day at work in particular.

Sorry, this was more of a rant but if anyone has any suggestions I would be thrilled to hear them.

Get her a mini micro scooter. She'll be going so fast she won't see the distractions!

My ds still does this and he is 3.7yi. To be fair, less so than he did at age 2- but I still have to add time onto a normal walk- as he wants to inspect spiders webs and walk on walls etc. tbh just relish it! If you're not in a rush (say on the way back from somewhere) then let her explore at her leisure. It's a good way to pass the time, (and it's free), and it is satisfying her natural curiosity!

Well my ds was 3 in august and im finally seeing the end of this seemingly never ending dark tunnel! My ds was an absolute nightmare pickin up just about anything and touching everything! He would rub hands on dirty cars/walls/you name it and it drove me INSANE! My dd never wet through this stage so i found it very irritating that ds did.
BUT it is now eased up considerably in last few weeks and we can make it quite a distance without me coaxing and blackmailing.
Of course if hes very tired he can revert to form but i try telling him what a big boy he is walking well and it usually works as he wants to hear hes grown up.
Be assured this stage wont last forever, just feels like it at the time :-\

My DS was about 3 when he stopped this. He could still dawdle and be easily distracted until he was about 4. It does end...eventually!!!

Painful crash frequency among my kids on scooter is about once every 20 minutes, so not something I can recommend.
I'm afraid I resorted to tantrums & buggy strapping, instead. Try to let them dawdle but sometimes you just can't.

My 5 year old stil had trouble ....

My ds was like this, but i just went with it and let him explore. Now he has a scooter i have to run to catch up with him.

when they're about 30.

My 9 year old still can't

LOL about the 9 and 30 year olds. Sounds like 3 is a fair consensus though.
I decided yesterday to dig out the reins again even if it makes it more difficult whilst holding onto the buggy one handed. It's better than making idle threats for five minutes before giving chase ( then she really thinks it's fun).

Walking with children always makes for a slow journey.

On the bright side, it's good that she's interested!

My 4yr old still does this. I spend the whole journey barking like a military commander: 'keep going, come on, walk with me, what are you doing?!?!?' I've only recently got him to start holding the side of the buggy when we walk otherwise he won't/can't keep up.

He has a scooter and a bike and goes pretty fast, but is also so busy looking at the world around him that he tends to swerve off the pavement, so I'd rather have him on foot!

I love that the 5 minute walk to school often takes longer due to DC [5.11] spotting snails, slugs, spider webs, climbing lamp-posts, balancing on walls....

When I don't want to count slugs or look at the worms, we have running / jumping / skipping /hopping races.

Or suggetsing we go to bench / corner / some other landmark, 'cause there are always lots of blackberries / spiders / big puddles there often gets us some of the way at a decent pace.

I love this bit! Stopping to look at worms or triangular manhole covers, or going over every last letter of the street signs 50 billion times. Takes us aaages to get home but as long as the baby isn't crying I'm happy for him to do it, he's learning so much and we have lovely conversations.

You should relish it, they are little for such a short time.

My 2.5 year old refuses to get in the buggy, so I don't even bother taking it out with me any more. I've found that taking her doll's buggy for her to push helps keep up momentum, as does talking about the thing we're walking to (and trying to make it sound really exciting!). Or if that fails, I run ahead a few steps & say 'can't catch me!' and she usually runs after me! Although having said that, if she's tired, none of these strategies work and I end up carrying her!

DS1 is 3.1 and has definitely improved in recent months, although he is still easily distracted by just about anything, particularly sticks, stones, and stuff to climb! His scooter usually helps (although we have to stop for imaginary traffic lights). He also quite likes holding onto the little carrier handle of the pushchair. Could never keep him on a buggy board!