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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Well no wonder so many children are overweight...

68 replies

Clary · 09/02/2010 18:55

...if the perception is they cannot walk a mile!

The children in FS2 at our school went to visit the local library today. It is 10 mins walk (by me) from my house; school is 7 mins walk (for me) in the other direction; so total walk was 17 mins for an adult, ie about a mile.

One of the mums commented "It was a long way for them to walk," as though it were an obvious truth.

I made this face and said (quoting Riven!) actually a 4yo can walk 4 miles; my DS2 (who is 6) walked 6 miles on Sunday with his dad.

Surely people don't seriously think a 20 min walk for an adult (so maybe 25-30 mins at most for a 4yo) is too far?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

TeenyTinyToria · 10/02/2010 00:12

Ah, I see, hmc. 7 miles is a bit far for a 5 yr old!

I was brought up in a household without a car, so have always been used to walking - have walked 8 miles home from work, and it doesn't seem a lot to me. Also like cycling a lot. Maybe I'm unusual though!

And Custardo - totally agree!

hmc · 10/02/2010 00:15

Unusual and very fit

Original poster

Clary · 10/02/2010 00:16

Yes apparently people really think that a 4yo can't walk a mile.

One woman said it, another goes, oh yes, mmm. When I suggested they could walk a lot further they were really surprised.

I genuinely think it is not the children, it is (some) parents waaaay underestimating the physical abilities (and frankly needs) of their offspring.

lol @ washersaurus yes I recall the thread in question...

OP posts:

BlueberryPancake · 10/02/2010 15:25

Can I just ask what business is it of yours to judge another parent who decides to put their child in a buggy even if they are 4 years old? What DOES it matter to you? I have a four year old who has knee problems, he is double jointed and has had x rays as doctors think he might have juvenile arthritis. And he is very tall for his age, but I would never have him walk if he tells me his knees hurt. If any one ofyou come up to me and tells me that my son shouldn't be in his buggy, I am warning you, the gloves will come off.

NormaSnorks · 10/02/2010 15:40

oh calm down blueberry....

As per usual, the thread should probably have come with the usual disclaimer "unless your child has special needs (medical etc)"

I think the OP is referring to the fact that too many parents these days are opting out of making/ letting their kids walk perfectly reasonable distances.

And I'd argue that it's everyone's business. With about one third of children in the UK obese, it's going to put a huge strain on the NHS in the future (lots of associated diseases with obesity) and we'll all end up paying for that through the tax system

Perhaps the most useful thing everyone could do however is to get 'Walking buses'/ Walk to School programmes up and running in their local areas?

onlyjoinedforoffers · 10/02/2010 15:56

its not just the walking its the 4 seasons in one day kind of weather they have to endure on the way there and back and anyway i cant talk ds2 sn gets a taxi to school which is a 10 minute walk away but he does walk miles and miles with his dad

overmydeadbody · 10/02/2010 15:59

I agree with the OP, some people are under the misconception that children couldn't possibly manage walking for any length of time.

It seems they don;t take into account the fact that chilren will happily run around a playground for hours at a time without tiring. If they can do this they can walk a mile or ten.

Children have more stamina than adults.

EVye · 10/02/2010 16:07

I have to drive to school as it is too far and the only walk would not be safe. Probably as a result of this my DD isnt keen on walking long distances.

She CAN for a whole day if it's going around a theme park, or with something exciting at the end of it.

She is very physical, does swimming / dancing etc and is constantly active, so not overweight. But, she doesnt enjoy walking much. I dont either, tbh.

Agree that 4yo kids should be able to walk a mile, and most would with the right incentive. Many parents probably have to fight battles along the way but I'm sure all of the kids on this occasion walked willingly with their teacher/friends on a trip, as opposed to in the rain to go to the supermarket with a harrassed parent.

RemyMartin · 10/02/2010 16:10

Well my 20 month old can walk at least half a mile. And he's not exhausted at the end of it by any means (unfortunately)

madwomanintheattic · 10/02/2010 16:15

georgimama already did the disclaimer lol. blueberry obv didn't read it.

(dd2 is 6 with cp - i make her walk ) well, mostly...

Original poster

Clary · 10/02/2010 18:15

Oh yes the kids weren't complaining abotu the walk (I happened to see them about half way there).

blueberrypancake of course I wasn't talking about children with mobility issues. But then neither were the mums who said a 4yo can't walk a mile.

There is a child at our school with CP and she would use a wheelchair for that sort of distance; but she is in a minority for sure; the vast majority of 4yos can walk a lot further than some parents seem to think.

Normasnorks thanks that's my point too re the NHS when people tell me it's no business of mine.

OP posts:

bidibidi · 10/02/2010 18:26

Many people who drive everywhere don't know the real walking distances between places. They tend to vastly over-estimate because they're used to having to get between A and B by circumnavigating the town one-way system or similar.

Nevertheless, my gut response was to OP was 'Well bully for you!' Because some kids are knackered by a 2 mile walk roundtrip on top of a long school day. You're not the one having to deal with that particular overtired child that evening, who may have to walk an extra half mile home too, or is scheduled for some kind of strenuous physical activity after school, so easy for you to be smug about it.

I know rather few adults who would willingly walk as far as a 2 mile round trip, tbh. So I'll agree with you all on one thing -- It's the parents who have the lazy habits!

muggglewump · 10/02/2010 18:33

I saw a post on here recently, recommending that someone hired a buggy for a 6yr old when they went to Disney.

I didn't comment, hell would freeze over before I went to Disney but I felt like saying, 'not only do you take them to Disney, you pander to them being a bit tired and ferry them to attractions, at age 6'.
I bet that's one difficult child.

DD and I walk loads as we don't have a car and doesn't even think to say anything. It's not something to comment on in our family, it's life!

MarineIguana · 10/02/2010 18:50

My 4yo DS is used to walking 1/2/3 miles and seems to love it. But I have often had faintly shocked/disapproving comments from people we're with that it's such a long way for a little boy to have to walk etc.

I know plenty of people whose DC will only walk a tiny bit before having to be carried - or who can only proceed at snail's pace because they won't tell their DC to walk with them at a reasonable pace. Bonkers. I used to go to a class with a friend and her DC - god I used to deard it, it tok ages while we waited for her DC to stop every 5 feet, backtrack, arse around etc.

bibbitybobbityhat · 10/02/2010 18:54

Well, that one parent who thought it was a long walk was patently wrong. I don't think you'll find many Mumsnetters disagreeing with you tbh Clary.

Miggsie · 10/02/2010 18:56

The school in Africa that DD's school is twinned with has pupils who walk 6 miles to school, and they get their only meal of the day when they are there. Then they walk 6 miles home.

Get those lazy women and kids off their arses!

sarah293 · 10/02/2010 19:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

Clary · 10/02/2010 19:11

@ the idea that a 4yo will be sooo exhausted with a total walk in the day of 3 miles...

But yes bidibidi, and bibbitybobbity, I guess my OP is a bit "yeah and?"

I suppose I just wanted to rant about the nonsense spouted by some parents and apparently believed - which as you say is often because they drive everywhere so have no idea how long (ie not long) it would take to walk. Thanks for hearing me all

OP posts:

Original poster

Clary · 10/02/2010 19:12

oh Riven I didn't say it was you! I just love it as a rule of thumb!

(not that I can walk 46 miles...nor could a 20 yr old do 20 miles I guess - it's good up to at least 10 tho )

OP posts:

RubysReturn · 10/02/2010 19:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mistlethrush · 10/02/2010 19:24

Clearly I am a Bad Mother as last spring bank holiday, when ds was 4.3, we did a 7mile walk - we did take snacks and stop a few times for a short spell - but he was mainly out in front and we didn't have a single objection. We had built up to that during the week by doing quite a few 3 and 4 mile walks first... Oh, and after lunch and a train ride, he probably did another 1.5miles on the way back to the cottage....

woodyandbuzz · 10/02/2010 19:27

I drive most places, even short distances. I would would walk more if there wasn't so much dog poo on the pavements (have 4yo and 2yo). I would prefer to get in the car and avoid it and I think it is a shame. I've had enough shit on everyone's shoes and I'm not having it any more!

BikeRunSki · 10/02/2010 19:37

DS is 17 months and walks about 200m to the post office. He loves walking to the post office, but does have to inspect every gate, stone etc on the way.

I never drive him to nursery either - about half a mile. I don't want him to think that it is normal to drive such a short distance.

minxofmancunia · 10/02/2010 19:44

pmsl at the poster who wouldn't bother with the car if it was 3-5 miles away or less, how much time do you have in your day??? Aren't their other things you and your children would rather be doing?

I'm all for walking but this kind of ponceryesque behaviour is nonsense. You'd never get anything done!

I'm all for littlies walking though, I banned the buggy when dd turned 3 for fear of making her lazy. Trouble is my God is she slow and a dawldler! Does anyone have any tips to get a 3.5 year odl girls walking speed up (who has a v fast walking mummy!)?

Desparate to get out for some proper walks this spring.

Original poster

Clary · 10/02/2010 19:46

minx you need to make it exciting - eg how many xxx can we count / walk this far and there will be a xxx for you (eg chocolate button or whatever is a good reward for DD) / run a race with her (that always worked with my DS2)
etc.

Short walks (eg to school etc) are good with doll's buggy.

OP posts:

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