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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Do you think a mile too far to walk to school for a four year old?

58 replies

boxofshells · 02/09/2014 19:54

Got to apply for schools for dd. Favoured school is a mile away - do you think that is too far to expect a four (nearly five) year old to walk, not just am when full of breakfast but pm when tired. Not alone, obviously.

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BramwellBrown · 03/09/2014 13:47

DD is 5, we walk nearly 2 miles to school and its fine.

I'm not sure scooters are always the best plan though, our school run is quite hilly and along a busy road with lots of drives and carparks, taking a scooter makes the journey longer and approximately triples the amount of stress involved, then I have to carry it the other way as school don't have anywhere to keep them. It does make the journey more fun for DD so I bring the scooter to pick her up sometimes but it really isn't a time saving thing for me.

Snacks are a must for me, otherwise she spends the entire journey telling me how hungry she is.

Only1scoop · 03/09/2014 13:48

Generally no ....but dd is used to walking long distances.

ohmychrist · 03/09/2014 13:52

No. I'd be worried if a four year old couldn't walk a mile.

motherinferior · 03/09/2014 13:54

Not at all, but IME snack for return journey is fairly vital - your choice is between grumpy kid you're hauling along and cheery refuelled kid babbling about their day. A flapjack on arrival is your friend. I know whereof I speak. I tried the MN-approved 'no snacks till you're home' approach for a bit before realising just how miserable it made everyone. I'm not good when tired and hungry either.

steppemum · 03/09/2014 13:57

snack may depend on the child. Ds had a 15 minute walk through the woods home after school in reception. He couldn't make it out of the school gate without a banana.

dd would have been fine.

Michaelahpurple · 04/09/2014 15:01

Scooter?

ThatBloodyWoman · 04/09/2014 15:06

There will be days when it'll be hard going, especially at the end of the week after a busy day, or if the weather is bad.
But, generally,its ok.

ThatBloodyWoman · 04/09/2014 15:07

Anyway, when it comes to a school application you need to look to the future, not the beginning.

ThatBloodyWoman · 04/09/2014 15:09

Oh and do bear in mind that although it'll be good for you,4 miles a day for you is a big time drain, so factor that in!

minkah · 04/09/2014 15:11

No, it's good. We did a mile each way from age 4 - 11.

Good fun! Cats to see, songs to sing, trees to notice as the seasons change, hold hands, look at letters and numbers on doors and road signs, just a chance to talk to each other, twice a day. Special time, loved it.

minkah · 04/09/2014 15:12

I did that 4 miles a day for 10 school years, and it def helped keep me slim, and fit, especially the very very speedy mile which was me rushing for afternoon pick up !

Thumbwitch · 04/09/2014 15:14

It would have been too far for DS1 at that age, yes. His school is about a mile away from our house (after we've added in the extra to get to the pedestrian crossing on the busy main road) and he struggled when he was 5 - at 4, he almost certainly wouldn't have managed it. I also found that, if I walked him to school on a day that he had after-school activities, he would be very tired for those activities - whereas if we drove, he was fine.
But it's very hilly where we are as well - so the hills are probably more of a problem than the distance.

minkah · 04/09/2014 15:17

Good point thumbswitch. If it was hilly it'd become a strenuous walk.

... get an electric bike with add on child seat?!

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 04/09/2014 15:29

I think it's fine, especially with a scooter. I probably wouldn't go longer than that more for me having to do more than 4 miles a day [lazy emoticon].

icymaiden · 04/09/2014 16:29

'Can a 4 yo walk a mile?'

This has got to be a joke, right?

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 04/09/2014 16:51

I'm guessing is asking in anticipation of next year. Her 3 year old would probably struggle or be annoyingly slow. So she's asking whether our kids or their could have managed at 4. There's a big difference between stamina of a 3 year old and that of a 4 year old.

erin99 · 04/09/2014 18:48

Yes, the tricky bit for me was the year before DC2 started school and he had to do the double trip twice a day at age 3-4. Once he started school the trip was halved and it was so much easier.

I still find it a pain though, it's 2 big chunks out of the day, day in day out. DC2 has really cracked cycling this summer (YR) which breaks up the monotony, if nothing else.

ThatBloodyWoman · 04/09/2014 19:02

icy its already been discussed though that its not necessarily whether they can walk a mile, but how that can translate at the end of a long day and a long week, when there's maybe been an active club after school, its raining, and there's some shopping needs picking upon the way home....!

icymaiden · 05/09/2014 20:10

a mile is nothing, whether at the end of the week or the beginning.

chocomochi · 05/09/2014 22:08

Tbh, I don't think DD (4) could walk a mile after school easily. No doubt she could do it in the morning when she's fresh and awake, but not when she's tired after a long day.

WidowWadman · 05/09/2014 22:11

My daughter cycles a mile to school without complaints. Just make sure you've got a rainsuit for bad weather

usualsuspectagain · 05/09/2014 22:18

I think it's a long way back.

It's why mine all went to the local school.

usualsuspectagain · 05/09/2014 22:19

I know posters will tell you their kids walked 15 miles to school every day. But in reality it will be a PITA.

Frikadellen · 06/09/2014 19:34

We biked 2 1/2 miles when dd2 was age 6/7 ds 4/5 and dd3 2/3 (dd1 was in another more local school) ds and dd3 were usually in the back trailer of the bike but towards the end ds often biked it too.

It is great for you all and a good chatter time. I sometimes miss those days. DD3 is now in year 6 and we have a 2 1/2 mile journey to (another) school. Sadly due to the way the roads are it is simply to dangerous for us to bike so she gets driven every day. (older ones are now all in secondary schools over 9 miles away)

Frikadellen · 06/09/2014 19:35

PS I should have said I do not think 1 mile is to far and I think a lot of the time you will really enjoy it.

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