How far can one reasonably expect a 3yo to walk?

[mummyluvsyoo]

It's a lovely day and I want to take my DS aged 3.5 to the local park. It is about 2 miles from here to the duck pond in the park, and there is also a fun fair in the park today which will add another half a mile to get to that. The obviously we will have to walk back.

He has walked around town with DH, but generally we use the car the and the furthest he usually walks is from nursery which is just over half a mile?

We have the pushchair but the trouble is once he gets in it, he won't want to get out and at 15 kilos he's a getting a bit heavy to push. We could also drive to the park, but then I think we would miss out on the exercise.

Should I make him walk - I don't want to end up having to carry him for two miles back!

does he scooter? mine scooted about 5miles the other day without a whinge.

No scooter, but has a bike, which he doesn't ride to well especially up hill - and I end up having to pull him along!

Gosh 5 miles - you're so lucky.

can you walk there and get a bus back if he seems too tired?

I think that is a bit far, actually. My DD is 3.5 and is generally a good walker - hasn't used her buggy for ages, will walk into town happily, has a nanny who thinks going in the car is for softies etc - but she would find that a bit far. She would definitely be overwhelmed and tearful on the way back.

Do you have a scooter? DD will go for miles on one of those - much further than she can walk and we find it a good compromise between walking and the buggy.

It would be too far for my ds but then he likes to be pushed or carried. I guess you could park a little way from the park so he gets some exercise that way and then theyll be all the running around anyway

This is all IMO only.

The walk there would be lengthy but fine, but I think the walk back again would take a looooooong time and would involve a lot of 'I CAN'T WALK' 'I HAVE FOOTACHE' 'I HAVE FOOD ACHE' from my ds.

If I had to do this I would plan mid-walk breaks I have to say - maybe a convenient bench and surprise picnic involving plenty of sugar!

In ds's case I would get his bike out as he will happily cycle for a lot further than he can walk. Can you borrow a bike for this afternoon?

let the poor little sod ride in the pushchair

they had a lot of breaks on that 5miles, as we had to stop at shops, SALT clinic, and other stuff. they also got a bus for the last mile or so.

they were shattered and slept late the next day lol.

(for those with scotters could anyone post a link for me as we are thinking of getting one but I haven't got a clue which to get)

No buses go to the park unfortunately - though that would be a good idea ... I am pondering on the bike idea - because the act of peddling and stopping and starting might be a good distraction for him rather than a long continuous walk.

lucyjones, dd2 who is 4 and extremely clumsey had a the basic microscooter from argos.

she copes fine with it. some might suggest 3 wheel ones though.

5 miles?

Wow.

I've got a three-year-old, but she's dyspraxic and so she tires easily, so I'm not sure how far a normal three-year-old can manage.

But I find 5 miles a lot even more me!

I'd say take him with no pushchair or bike etc, but just leave a LOT of time to get there and back, so if he gets tired you can just sit and have a quick snack. My dd is nearly 4 and regularly walks at least a mile or two, and barely breaks stride (while I'm sometimes huffing and puffing at the end!).

Would say deffo go if its going to be relaxed and no hurrying but don't try and do it if you need to be somewhere quick.

5 miles is a lot plus you have to include walking around the fun fair too. But it will be a stoppy-starty walk. He can probably do it but I know he will protest when he sees the car outside and realises we are leaving it behind.

WHat are we doing to our kids - in the "olden" days, I used to walk for miles in all weather shopping with my mum - we never had big giant superstores that sold everything, AND we had to carry bags too!

I find 3-4 miles far enough for my DS1 who is 3.5. I do think 5 miles is pushing it a bit.

trike?

tbh, i've walked that far with dd and she's only 2.

it's slow going but worth it for how much energy they burn off

I have just shouted down to him "Do you want to go the park on your bike with Mummy" and he said "Oh yes" very excitedly so we shall see.

5 miles?! There's no way we'd get ds2 (3) to walk this far. We've banished the pushchair and he would walk probably a couple of miles without too much stropping, but I think 5 is too far. Ds1 (5) could probably do 5 miles - but I couldn't..!

OK do you think that distance is OK on the bike then? Remember it will be stop and start all the way? I don't want to make him do too much - but I think he is too old to still be pushed in the pushchair now.

If it was me, I'd drive to the park but then make sure he had a good run around once we were there - or take the bike. They can run around/cycle for a couple of miles easily in the park, and then drive home because you'll probably all be knackered!

That's exactly what I had just decided to do and had just told him - because I noticed he is taking ages getting ready.

Put bike in car - ride around park - ride/walk back to car and drive home. The park is huge anyway. I think it's best to have the car as insurance against a major strop where bike, toddler, bags etc end up being carried by me