Walk to school

[ZebraKid71]

We've just transferred my son to a new primary school after some really helpful advice on this forum. We will be going from a ten minute walk to a 25 minute walk, just over a mile (I work flexibly from home so no time constraints). I just wondered what people thought was too much. We will likely walk there 3 days a week and I'll go for a run straight from drop off and walk home 3 days a week. I have no issues with this at all but a few people had said it's too far . I'm pretty sure my kids will be fine with it but I was just interested in other opinions. What's the longest walk you'd do regularly for the school run?

(My son is reception and I have two younger children, the middle one will be starting the nursery there in September. I have a double running buggy I can use if it's too much for my middle one)

Depends on your child I imagine.. & the walk itself. I live in Yorkshire & my daughters school is up two enormous hills. Like seriously steep & a decent length, even I find them hard going & I’m a pretty fit regular runner!

I could walk it in 25 minutes. My 4 year old can’t. And she genuinely finds doing both hills really tough to the point we get significant tears when we’ve had the occasional need to walk. So we don’t walk.. we drive half way, past the first hill & walk the 10/15 minutes after that. She manages that just fine.

If you live in a flatter area, I don’t think 25 minutes is unreasonable. I find the scooter helps, we often scoot. We get down the other side the first hill in no time!

I did this probably 20 minute walk all through primary. He made friends on the walks .. far better for sitting down ready to walk if they had a walk.

Just see how it goes. Although I'd expect a 2/3yo might a need a buggy even if they walk partway, as its double the distance for them compared to their older sibling whose staying at the school.

We have a half an hour walk, we walk it when DC is in the mood and good weather, I take the scooter to help them pick the pace up so we aren't taking too long

Have you actually tried walking it with your kids after a day at school or is 25mins the estimated time it will take? I could walk to my kids old primary in 20mins alone but after school it used to take about 45mins+ to get home and they were a bit older than reception age. They were very good at walking long distances if we went for a hike but after school they just seemed to dawdle along infuriatingly slowly.

It's not too far at all, you'll be fine. I do recommend a scooter though which will help. It will just become routine.
For some people any walk is too far. But there is no reason why a child without any additional needs would struggle with just over a mile.

I would def take the buggy for your younger child. Not because they can’t walk 25 minutes but because it’s almost guaranteed you’ll be faffing to get out the door on time & 2/3 year olds do notttt play ball & walk quickly or always in the direction you want them to go 😂

I would walk with your kids as a trial run to see genuinely how long it’ll take with all 3.. as above PP, the dawdling is so frustrating 😂

It’s not too long on a good day but I would have a bad weather back up plan.

I used to walk a mile with mine. Used to take about 20 minutes. Not a problem but would definitely take a buggy for the younger two. Can you/have you got a buggy board for the eldest just in case they’re tired on the return home?

Dds school is just under a mile away. We only have one car so she has walked since nursery. Dp works shifts so she usually ends up walking one way every day. Walking home is easier for her because it's downhill, walking to is uphill all the way. She moans every time but we don't have a choice so she had to do it.

DS is in P1, he walks to school and back every day in all weathers, 40 minutes each way. Toddler goes in a pushchair to save time.

We did a few trail runs before DS started school, just to get used to the route and get our timings right.

I don't drive though, for DC walking everywhere is normal, it's all they've known.

It will be fine. You jist get used to the routine. I used to use my double buggy right up till the middle one went to school. She didn't always go in it, but on a very wet day she would rather stay dry. Eldest was fine. I used to feed a snack as we left ,school. And make sure they have been for a wee before starting to walk home (when my daughter came out of school she would usually need the loo immediately!!)

It was just under a mile for us and I found walking easier than driving- car parking was a nightmare and getting toddlers and babies in and out of the car was a pain. However it was not always easy. We used scooters as well with a strap to pull along. Double buggy which the older two took turns riding in. Pushchair with buggy board which sometimes both older two stood on, we also cycled when middle one was older with youngest in bike seat. We made it work I trained mine to stop at every lamp post

It seems quite a long way but I guess my journey was similar as a child. For my own children we tend to use bikes if walking a long way, but our school walk is at its longest about 12 minutes ... and our youngest often likes biking anyway so that usually is the mode of transport

I'm guessing the people who say it is too far drive everywhere?

I live in an area with separate infants and junior schools a mile apart. It's incredibly common for people to walk to the junior school and then walk back to the infants which is about 1.5-2 miles in total depending on where they start from. And then do the same thing in reverse in the evening. All the infants children manage it just fine.

Walking to the school in a few distance is ok for your child. But it will takes more than 10 minutes then it will surely affects your child studies, because more than 10 minutes walking will gives tiredness and also feel hard to concentrated on studies. So better to use any vehicle to drop your child to the school.

@jeffersonsam

Walking to the school in a few distance is ok for your child. But it will takes more than 10 minutes then it will surely affects your child studies, because more than 10 minutes walking will gives tiredness and also feel hard to concentrated on studies. So better to use any vehicle to drop your child to the school.

I disagree I think it benefits their education. We walk 20min to school. I think the walk to school gives them an opportunity to get the fidgets out and they concentrate better when they start class.

@jeffersonsam

Walking to the school in a few distance is ok for your child. But it will takes more than 10 minutes then it will surely affects your child studies, because more than 10 minutes walking will gives tiredness and also feel hard to concentrated on studies. So better to use any vehicle to drop your child to the school.

If a child is too tired to concentrate after more than 10 minutes walk, then you should take them to the GP. That is not healthy.

@jeffersonsam

Walking to the school in a few distance is ok for your child. But it will takes more than 10 minutes then it will surely affects your child studies, because more than 10 minutes walking will gives tiredness and also feel hard to concentrated on studies. So better to use any vehicle to drop your child to the school.

Sitting passively in a vehicle as opposed to a bit of morning exercise can also affect their ability to concentrate. With that logic it's a wonder any child can manage PE at school and still manage to concentrate on school work afterwards. We have a 20 minute walk to school and it is a chance for talking, pointing out interesting things and aerobic exercise. At 4 my child did not struggle with this length walk because they were very used to walking a lot everywhere. Probably wise to build up to it a bit if your child doesn't walk much but the vast majority can do a 1 mile walk each way in reception.

Exactly! All my dc have walked 20 mins each way to school since they started in reception. But we always walk a lot so they were ready for it. I also like the time it gives us to chat together, and to experience the changing weather and seasons. It allows us to connect to our surroundings and each other. My ds1 will be taking the bus to secondary school from September and I will miss walking with him each day.

I m getting so many disagree reply for my comments. I agree all of your replies.

I want to say one thing, If a parent allow their children to walk 20 mins for school, then no problem. Please go through your wishes.

I m just express my viewpiont based on childrens mind health and their protection.