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Parenting

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Original poster

Is a 30min walk to school too much for 5yr old?

33 replies

Oodle · 31/01/2011 14:06

We are moving house soon and my DS who's almost 5 will have to walk 30 minutes to school each day - and back again of course. It's too tricky to drive, for various reasons. He has a scooter but I'm worried this is too far - he does tend to moan a fair bit that he's tired whenever we have to walk any distance. Does anyone else have any experience of this kind of walk with a child this age? thanks

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munstersmum · 31/01/2011 14:14

It's not actually that far but added on to the school day is a different kettle of fish. Scooter is useful. Why not also explore if the school has a 'walking bus' you could join? Then he would be chatting to others. The more he is distracted from the fact he is having to walk so far the easier it will be. Tend to think by the end of the week he may be shattered. Our school had a walking Wednesday policy & that one day was enough in the first 2 years of school.

PaisleyLeaf · 31/01/2011 14:17

Warm, summer days will be quite a bit different to gloomy, cold, rain.
Are there others doing the same walk?

Bertina · 31/01/2011 14:18

No buses?

On the whole, it depends on the five year old.

I would be ready with a good snack on the way out of school that he can eat on the way home. Maybe an apple or something to eat on the way there. Scooter useful if he can stand on it and you can pull it by the handle.

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ragged · 31/01/2011 14:20

It would be way too long for my 5yos.
But my friend does it daily with her son, starting when he was about 4.5yo.
Her kids are lovely, though.

homebirthmummy · 31/01/2011 14:21

What about if he rides a bike? Or you could ride a bike with child seat/trailer on the back?

TotorosOcarina · 31/01/2011 14:21

We live a 30 min walk from school and hav ds's 6 and 4.

we do't drive so walk wind, rain or shine.

The 4 year old does moan sometimes, especially when its freezing/raining, but theres nothing we can do - he has to just get on with it!

McHobbes · 31/01/2011 14:22

No - I think it's fine.

fluffles · 31/01/2011 14:22

i'd use a bike for that distance, with a tag-along so he doesn't have to do all his own peddling (and for safety on the road).

mamasmissionimpossible · 31/01/2011 14:22

My ds used to walk/scooter a similar distance at about 3.5. It seems to have kept him fit. My sanity was in tatters after he went too close to the road!

cazzybabs · 31/01/2011 14:23

my dd walks 2 and bit miles to and from school. She is in year 1,

fluffles · 31/01/2011 14:23

if you're not familiar:

www.whycycle.co.uk/cycling_with_children/tag_a_longs_and_trailer_bikes/

SunshineOnARainyDay · 31/01/2011 14:24

We did this when we had all the snow in December. Didn't want to drive in the car with all the ice so we walked. The DC surprised me - they enjoyed it and we had some lovely chats on the way.

I did take a snack for them on the way home but all in all it was fine. Am contemplating doing it again this week as there are road works cropping up everywhere and it will be quicker for us to walk!

SunshineOnARainyDay · 31/01/2011 14:24

DC are 6 and 4 btw

systemsaddict · 31/01/2011 14:25

My 4 year old walks 20 mins back from school each day and it's lovely bonding time for him and his dad (when it's not pissing down that is). He would be fine with a 20 min walk there too, but I have to drive on to work after that! Does this mean you will be walking 2 hours a day? You will be very fit!!

McHobbes · 31/01/2011 14:30

Our 3 year old ds2 has just started nursery, and it is 20 mins each way. We always walk and he copes fine.

BadBagel · 31/01/2011 14:34

DD is 5 and she walks 30 mins (if not more)to and from school.
He'll get used to it :)

silentcatastrophe · 31/01/2011 14:57

I think it's fine too. Dd used to cycle 4 miles to school and then 4 miles home again when she was 5. The new school is only 1.5 miles away, through fields, so really there's no reason not to walk apart from laziness on our part and a lot of mud!

Original poster

Oodle · 31/01/2011 15:18

OOh, so many replies so quickly, thank you! Should have mentioned that we will also have older son age 8 (who gets dropped at junior school en route) and a 3 year old in a buggy, so cycling with a trailer isn't an option. No bus for this route. And for 5 year old to cycle is too tricky - busy roads, and very narrow pavements - we live in London suburbs. Nobody else that near us unfortunately.

I am worried but not much we can do really - only other option in the morning is to drive him to breakfast club earlier before I go to work but think that is even less appealing for him. I'll be doing the trip two days a week (and could possibly drive though nightmare parking and two drop offs) and nanny three days (she can't drive).

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TotorosOcarina · 31/01/2011 15:41

oodle in your situation i would get a good 3 wheeler buggy for the baby 2nd hand and put a buggyboard on it for when he gets tired.

This is what i would do if i walked to school with baby DD, but DH takes them without her so theres no buggy for DS to ride a board with!

TotorosOcarina · 31/01/2011 15:42

sorry the 3 yr old. if you can afford a 2nd hand mountain buggy (maybe 150) then it will glide with a 3 year old and a 5yr old on a lascal buggyboard.

TrailMix · 31/01/2011 15:47

He may well moan a bit at first, but he will quickly become strong enough for the walk. It will be good for him.

BadBagel · 31/01/2011 15:50

Oodle that sounds very much like our school run, 20mins walk to DS junior school then 15 mins further for DD to infants. No buggy though so no luxury of rides :)

I usually take a snack for the way home and have invested in waterproof trousers and wellies for wet days.

Original poster

Oodle · 31/01/2011 15:57

Yes, that's like us BadBagel - 15 mins to DS junior school then another 15 to the infants. Glad to hear others in same position and coping! So wish they had one primary school round here. Such a pain. Could we put a buggy board on a McLaren buggy? We did have a three wheeler double buggy but got rid of it recently - totally knackered. Waterproof trousers good idea - he hates getting wet.

OP posts:

TotorosOcarina · 31/01/2011 17:09

you could put one on maclaren but it would be harder to push bya mile.

I'd rather get a cheap 3 wheelr, you can get a mothercare urban detour in fab condition used for under fifty quid

dinkystinky · 31/01/2011 17:12

use the scooter and he can grab a tow on the buggy when tired - makes it harder work for whoever is pushing the buggy but stops the whinging

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