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

[boxofshells]

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.

No a mile is fine. DC's school is 1.5 miles away and DS who is 3 and just started nursery walks most of that but I take the buggy when he's being too slow struggling. We do take the bus when it rains heavily but only because I don't want them sitting in wet clothes all day and it's miserable walking in heavy rain.

I take a drink and snack when I pick DS up at 12 coz he's hungry by then and a drink for DD at the end of the day when its warm/hot out. anything to avoid tantrums for that half hour- I'm knackered by then and want to get home asap! 6 miles of walking for me on a good day, 9 miles when DP isn't able to pick DD up at 3.15.

No it's fine.

If it becomes a struggle, try scootering, treasure hunts for things (on way home esp) or "let's skip to the next lamppost" type games.

A healthy 4-5yo should be able to walk 2 miles a day tho.

its about a 20 minute walk each way even allowing for dawdling? I think that is pretty much recommended daily anyway.

I had a mile walk to school when I was that age and it felt like a pretty short walk. At age 4 my mum would have had me, my 8 and 6 year old cousins 3 year old sister and my brother in a pram to get there and back each day. I only remember it being fun, especially when it rained and there were puddles to jump in!

actually - I would have been 5 then not 4 (autumn birthday)

There is no way on God's earth I could get my DS (4.5) to walk a mile - except by stealth, which a journey to school isn't.

we're a mile from school
it takes 20 minutes in the morning - i think I allowed 25 in the first half-term of reception
but more like 30 on the way home when tired.

I have a 3yo as well. At the moment she rides in the buggy when we're going there, but walks back when we've no time pressure.

I wish I could persuade him to btw - any tips ye hardened walkers?

Our two did it every day right through primary school. And when d2 was in half day nursery and d1 in fulltime school, d2 had to do there and back twice a day. Good coats and shoes a must but we didn't have scooters.