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Parenting

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Original poster

What would you think if you saw

46 replies

Bumblingbovine · 15/12/2009 16:48

A - A 4 year old boy (nearly 5) on a seat on the back of his dad's bike being taken to school.
B - The same 4 (nearly 5 year old) boy being pushed to school in a pushchair

And if your reactions to A and B are different can you tell me why?

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DisElfchanted3 · 15/12/2009 16:49

bike or motorbike?

sunburntats · 15/12/2009 16:50

A no problem, or would feel sorry for them in this weather.
B there must be a very good reason for the boy bieng pushed in a pushchair, special needs or some thing.

am i right? do i win something???

hurts2much · 15/12/2009 16:51

if he s on the bike an pushchair. maybr they live out the catchment area it may be far for his little legs. im just guessing tho

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Original poster

Bumblingbovine · 15/12/2009 16:54

Bike - not motorbike

I was just wondering why B is thought of as so much worse than A.

Dh often takes Ds to school on the back of his bike as he then cycles on to work. It means the trip is mcuh quicker and they can leave later then when I take DS (Ds is used to the weather !)

When I take ds we walk as I can't ride a bike but sometimes I long for the pushchair as Ds is SOOO slow some mornings and I almost have to drag him along.

I don't take the pushchair mostly because I know I would be judged and yet there isn't really much difference.

A - Adult gets exercise and child doesn't
B- Adult gets exercise and child doesn't

OP posts:

DisElfchanted3 · 15/12/2009 16:55

Because a buggy is a mode of transport for a baby. A bike isn't.

jeffily · 15/12/2009 16:56

On the back of a bike I would think lucky boy! Obviously his parents put emphasis on physical activity and not using the car unless necessary.
In a buggy I would think far too old for that! He really needs to be walking by nearly 5.

I think the difference is that a bike makes the journey quicker/more convienient for everyone, and provides fresh air and exercise, whereas the buggy is still at walking pace and seems a bit lazy for the child.
Says more about my predjudices than anything else, dorsn't it
Must also confess a particular leaning a anyway, as I love carrying DD on the back of my bike & getting some v. needed exercise.

cat64 · 15/12/2009 16:58

This reply has been deleted

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Original poster

Bumblingbovine · 15/12/2009 16:59

Yes but the outcome is the same.

It is just something I was musing on the other day.

In fact dh has said he might walk with ds some days as well (when he hasn't got early meetings) as he thinks the exercise is better for ds (which it is). I am just interested that no-one thinks that a child on a bike will make them 'lazy"

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sunburntats · 15/12/2009 17:00

we count lamp posts, ds likes this, "how many left to go now?" he counts them down to school.

Mine HAS to be walked twice a day like a puppy so he almost races all the way tos chool!

TheChewyToffeeMum · 15/12/2009 17:00

Interesting.
I push my 2 kids in Phil and Teds to drop DD at nursery - she is 3. The distance from home to nursery is nearly 2 miles and fairly exposed weather-wise so there is no way she could walk that far. When she gets bigger I am sure I will get funny looks having an older child in a buggy but the alternative is to take the car every day.
I don't really see why a buggy is any different to a bike seat and it is certainly better than a car in that child can walk part of the way and not polluting.

Original poster

Bumblingbovine · 15/12/2009 17:01

But what about the parent who can't ride a bike safely with a child on the back but would use the walk (while pushing pushchair) to jog/run and get some exercise on the way to school?

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awastingamanger · 15/12/2009 17:01

He won't get any faster if you don't let him exercise.

AMumInScotland · 15/12/2009 17:03

I would probably react differently because, not knowing the distance involved I'd be thinking "A 5yo can walk as far as most typical adults, so shouldn't (unless disabled of course) need a buggy", but "A 5yo couldn't cycle as far/fast as a typical adult, so of course he'd need a pillion seat"

If the adult with him is walking, I'd expect him to walk too. If the adult with him is cycling, I wouldn't expect him to be able to cycle independently.

harimosmummy · 15/12/2009 17:05

I'd agree with Jeffily.

And, in my particular situation... I would see B bring more fun than A because of the speed.

my DS (18mo) is as happy as a skylark on the front of DH's bike, because he's going fast, but would prefer to walk over being in a buggy because it's slow and boring.

But, I intend to use a double buggy (also have a 4MO) until the little one is 3 (so DS will be 4) and he'll be allowed to jump in any time he wants.

I wouldn't judge anyone else. I probabbly wouldn't even notice!!

Original poster

Bumblingbovine · 15/12/2009 17:05

awastingamanger

Ds only lags on the school run. I have a great deal of trouble keeping up with him at other times.

He is a very energetic boy - he just won't walk quickly to school.

I do use the scooter sometimes but he won't always use that on the school run either

Anyway as I say it was just a thought.

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sunburntats · 15/12/2009 17:05

plus think about his peers in school, maybe not now, but eventually they will twig, if they see him bieng pushed in a push chair, would hate for them to upset him with funny comments.

I agree that you have to pick your battles, but on this i really would persevere, stick it out, make him walk.
is it really far to school?

claraquack · 15/12/2009 17:06

My dd1 started using a balance bike to get around when she was three - we would get to her pre-school in no time, she enjoyed it and was exercising at the same time (as was I).

She was turfed out of her buggy quite early on as her sister came along when she was 2.3, so we had to find a creative solution. I am glad I did as I used to look at some of her contemporarys still being pushed around in their buggies when they were over three and just think it looked somehow wrong.

However, I do accept it is a good alternative to driving.

wishingchair · 15/12/2009 17:07

I used to be very judgy about old children in pushchairs but it's really not black and white. They could have a long school run and there are some little 4 year olds that are struggling to cope with the school day and a long walk first thing would floor them for the rest of the day. I think you know your own child and what they're capable of and bugger what anyone else thinks.

GrimmaTheNome · 15/12/2009 17:08

Riding on the back of a bike isn't as passive as sitting in a buggy, the child still needs to actively balance doesn't he?

PoppityMerryGentlemen · 15/12/2009 17:09

Could he have a little scooter to go on when you walk with him?

awastingamanger · 15/12/2009 17:10

But he needs to learn to walk to school.

Otherwise, where do you draw the line. Dawdling 6 year old? 7?

OtterInaSkoda · 15/12/2009 17:11

TBH it was probably just as well that pre-school/reception marked the end of the pushchair, otherwise I'd still be using it now (to carry all my crap around, not ds). Twas me that needed the shove, not him

Original poster

Bumblingbovine · 15/12/2009 17:11

sunburntats

Oh I will continue to walk, I don't think it is too much for ds at all as I know how far he walks/runs when he wants to. I just said that some mornings I long for it.

The walk isn't that far at all (about 20-25mins or so - not sure of the miles). I can do it in 15 on my own amd probably quicker if I really rush.

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awastingamanger · 15/12/2009 17:14

Less than a mile then. I'm interested in this as the nearest school is just over a mile away.

Original poster

Bumblingbovine · 15/12/2009 17:14

OtterinaSkoda

Ah you have found out my secret. As ds is an only I never get to use the pushchair nowadays and on day trips out with picnics etc I really miss it as I could use it to put all that stuff on.

I also miss it a bit shopping (to hold all the bags) but not as much as I hated the on/off the bus palavar

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