How far do you walk to school?

[Beba11]

Just interested to know what's the furthest you walk to school? Wondering whether 15 minutes is a lot for four year old? Or am I worrying too much?

It's about a mile but slightly hilly so 15 minutes for me more like 20-25 with dawdling kids. Some of it is over a field so bikes or scooters not an option. It's never been a problem and one of my DCs is the least athletic in the world.

25 minutes walk. It's always been fine as regards being able to cope with the actual distance, but you may find you need to invest in a good waterproof coat - "showerproof" coats can get thoroughly soaked in 25 minutes (as can school book bags). Wellies for wet walks to school too, after a couple of incidents of damp and mud-spattered socks - school shoes don't tend to be waterproof enough for prolonged spells either, especially ones aimed at girls.

I found I needed to come up with different things to keep the 4 year old "on track" and not trying to investigate every passing garden . Race to the next lamp post etc.

A combination of losing pre-schooler curiosity in everyday things and boredom from doing the same walk twice a day, five times a week will soon mean that they stop looking at every single thing.

When dc2 and 3 started school they had to take dc1 (or dc2) to juniors first. This meant they had to walk 45 minutes to the junior school, then come back quickly, uphill about 25 minutes to get to their infant school on time.
Lots of people do it. A few choose to take the younger one in a buggy for the first few weeks, but almost all are walking it happily (and even skipping and running) by half term and all by after Christmas.

We don’t, the school is 3.5 miles away. The car broke down and no taxi so we walked it once in reception year. It took us 85 minutes.

Those who are saying it is worrying that you might wonder about this, some children are very averse to walking! I do expect my almost 4yo to do walks that would be 15 mins for an adult, but it is always fairly hard work and sometimes downright painful. This is not because it is rare, we do it several times a week, but he just hates walking. It makes me sad because I love going for long walks, but that is how it is.
Our walk to preschool would be 20-25 minutes at my speed so we drive. I'm hoping that over the next school year we might get to a point where walking seems feasible, but we aren't there yet.

Thanks bluechameleon. I have twin boys. One of them is a great walker and the other isn't at all! With twins you really see the nature vs nurture argument clearly as you raise them the same but they are still different. It's why I asked the question because although 15 mins is nothing for some it can be really tiring for some kids. He gets very stroppy!

I think you are best to make it not negotiable. If you sometimes walk and sometimes take the car the while ngungnis far worse than if they don’t think about the car at all.

It’s a totally do able distance, you might just need earplugs 😖🤣

I’m not sure what ‘while ngungnis’ is all about! I meant whinging!

My very non-athletic now-5yo does 0.8 of a mile in 20 mins. There was a LOT of whinging and dawdling at the start of last September but she loves it now.

I recommend 20 questions, “red car” (shout when you see one, first to 20 wins), after school snacks, I-spy, and any other cheerful distraction you can muster up.

AnnieAnoniMoose don't worry I kind of figured 🤣

Great advice! Thank you for all your feedback! Time to toughen up I guess 😂. My mum used to walk one hour to school in the 60s. She lived in a tiny village...I am being a bit pathetic I know.

get scooters and scooter locks (to leave them at school). makes it a LOT easier. maybe also scooter leashes to pull when tired (they soon don't want to be seen being pulled!)

We walked 45 mins Primary school age 5 got it down to 25 mins year 6. It was hard getting her past the corner shop though!