Am I being unspeakably cruel to make DD walk 1.6 miles to school?

[OrangeSpacedust]

MIL and a few others think I am. DD starts in September and we've done a trial run on the walk, which takes 30 minutes each way. MIL was horrified, saying "she'll be exhausted by the time she's there and fall asleep in class! And walking all that way will be so boring!" ... or words to that effect.

Personally, I want to get her in the habit NOW of walking every day, not getting driven, and I feel, well, what would we rather be doing than getting exercise and just being together, talking about all the things we see along the way etc etc ... sitting in front of the TV?! DH works pretty flexible hours so in the depths of winter we would be able to drive rather than battle through a horizontal snowstorm.

DD did say herself that the walk was "very long", but I just assumed she'd get quickly get used to it, but am having a wobble though, that it might be too much for a 5-year-old ... AIBU??

Got to tell you something funny at school

Mum I knew still had her reception child in the buggy, I knew she lived nearer than me and thought it was a bid strange.

I then found out she'd moved - oh fine makes sense, but no she drove to school and the child wouldn't walk between the school and the car What used to annoy me even more is that said child would race around the playground before and after school but then insist on sitting in the pushchair between school and car

No special needs btw before you ask, probably at most 300 metres walk often less!

The only thing is - if your town is anything like mine - forget about a nice chat/fresh air... We can't hear ourselves think as the articulated lorries go thundering past. To hear each other we have to stop, face each other and shout...

Yep, NonnoMum, this is definitely a drawback. We've got a couple of routes to walk and the shortest one is unfortunately also the one which goes along the busiest road. However, not a reason in itself to get in the car and drive!

We'll try out different routes and hopefully find a compromise!

We live about 3/4 of a mile from school. We walk it and DS2 has been walking to school and back every morning to drop DS1 off since he was 2.6. He is not quite 3 yet. I don't have any complaints from him. And that is about the same distance for your DD. I say go for it.

There are studies that say children who walk to school are much more alert and awake t obegin the day.

We live about 0.6 mile from school and have always walked - when DD2 was in nursery she had to do the trip x4 a day as we had to walk back and get DD1 in the afternoon.

We have a leisurely stroll and it takes about 15 mins - it would be quicker but we have a few roads to cross, and if they are tired on the way home it can take longer.

It's fine! I ABSOLUTELY agree that this should be the norm and getting a lift in a car should be the occasional treat. When it's raining or snowing we wear coats and hats and wellies FGS, and have hot chocolate and toast when we get home.

We play alphabet games, ('My name is Alphonse the Anteater, I live in Austria and eat Apples' - and ENDLESS variations!) ISpy, Animal/Vegetable/Mineral, etc etc.

Sometimes we take scooters, sometimes we come home via the park or the library.

The worst thing about it is we have a couple of busy roads to cross and the sodding car drivers ignore the lights and seem to be quite happy to risk mowing down school children to save 10 seconds on their journey.

Also, even when I was doing the journey x6 a day, I never lost any weight.

Your MIL has got it all wrong, IMO. 'Unspeakably cruel' would be stuffing your DD full of lard and then driving her everywhere. I suggest you put that to her

Oh, and my tip would be, always ask her if she needs to go to the loo just before you leave either home or school...

we have the traffic thing too, and lots of sides road to cross with blind bends where mostly mums doing the school run race around........that is the complete downside the other motorists rat racing through the side streets! In the last couple of months the lollipop lady has nearly been hit 3 times

Exercise promotes energy, children should learn this from an early age. And 1.6 miles is hardly a trek, i used to walk 3 miles each way to my school.

I'd tell MIL to bog off if i were you.

You are not being cruel. They need to walk to grow properly and getting tired is actually good for them too.
take a snack with you though and a drink for the way back. It is a nice time for a chat, but expect it t take longer as every flowers butterfly, trucks or road works must be inspected and commented upon. I didn't find that my DD was more tired after school.
UK children are wrapped in cotton wool and always tired. In japan, they have to walk to school even 2 or 3 miles.

Hi OP. Am contemplating the same with my 2 DCs starting in Sept. We have never had a car so have always walked everywhere. We have now moved and have a car but don't want to use it for green reasons. We used to walk 10 mins to school but now it'll be more like 35.

DS is unstoppable and could probably run there and back and play a game of football in between. DD is a bit more of a dawdler and rushing somewhere always involves rather a lot of chivvying which can get us all a bit cross. However she too can walk miles - she walked up an 800m high mountain when she was 5.

I have got a trailer bike so we can bike it sometimes but am not sure this will work on dark winter evenings so am prepared to compromise by driving/ bus some days. Have also had to work out what to do on evenings when there are after school activties. The other thing that worries me a bit is playdates - judging by some people's views (not here) will have to erect oxygen tent and full ressuss facility at home if make some kids walk home with us .

I think the main thing is to leave plenty of time, try to keep it entertaining, have good shoes that fit and are waterproof (wellies awful for blisters) and plenty of warm clothes for winter. Treat it as your hour of quality time with DD per day - then you can go on MN & she can veg in front of TV when you get home!