Can your children walk 1 1/2 miles?

suki1001

koalamummy wrote: »

My four year old walks 2.5 miles to our local pool, attends a 40 min swimming lesson and then walks the same distance back home twice per week and thinks nothing of it. My 20 month old however only manages to walk to the pool and then sleeps the whole way through the lessons and part of the way home, but I would think she walks at least 1.5 miles on the way back.

We live in a densely populated area surrounded by busy roads but my four year old already has a firm grasp of road safety and the little one will probably be the same as this is their normality.

Having walked with someone elses child who at the age of 8 decided he was just going to run across a main road, I have to say, I was shocked someone that age had absolutely no road safety - I dread it when his mum asks me to look after him. I feel sorry for him, but it's incredibly hard work because I have to resort to really setting boundaries or him where I don't have to with my own, because like most children that age - they know. If I had to walk back with him for 1.5 miles I'd have to go and lie down in a darkened room afterwards!

Makes you wonder what these other children would do if they have a school trip. I mean sometimes these can involve - shock, horror - walking!

onlyroz

My son is picked up from school three times a week by a childminder who lives just over a mile away, and if the weather is good they walk. He moaned a bit at first but soon got used to it - and he's been going there since he was 5.

Dunroamin

No wonder we have a childhood obesity epidemic!

stiltwalker

I famously (within the family at least) walked all the way up Gunnerside Gill at 2 1/2 which is a good 2 or 3 miles although I did sleep all the way down being carried by my Dad. I did a sponsored walk of 15 miles at 8 and the Dales Way with guides (84 miles in 7 days) when I was only 10. I wish I was that fit now but hardly ever get out 'proper' walking anymore - both our kids have disabilities and cannot yet walk independently, let alone that far!

OrkneyStar

Yes I think most kids could walk that distance.
My only thought is you will have quite a few kids in tow, at road crossing times and so on, hopefully even if the kids are normally driven about they will have some road sense.

supermum4

oh dear my nephew is 3 and he can walk that far with me and he does often mind he has a good nap in the afternoon lol if the children have no walking problems then I think they all could walk that far very easily:)

Kayalana99

Just thought I'd add my little story although its not that interesting :-)

I have a DS who was about 3months and my sister asked me to pick my niece up from school for first time since having DS. OH has the car so I told her I would have to walk (Its about 45-50min walk back when they have little legs lol)

At first my sister was like oh no she can't do that and started going on about me taking her scooter to keep her entertained which I refused as transporting a scooter that doesnt fold down (its broke ) & DS in his pram would be difficult.

We walked home no problem, no complaining, no moaning although she did run to someone elses car thinking it was her Nannys and start pulling the door handle glad no one was around. :rotfl:

Even for kids who don't walk daily, 30-60min is doable.

Desperado99

we live 1 1/2 miles from my dd's primary school, we walked every day right from when she started.

marisco_2

kjmtidea wrote: »

after speaking to the parents it turns out that 2/4 of the children 'can't possibly walk that far, can't you get the bus?' These children are 7 and 9.

:rotfl:

Sounds as if these children have fat, lardy @rse parents who are bungalow dwellers. Its probably as much as they can do to walk out the door and get into their 4x4s.

If kids of 7 and 9 cant walk 1 1/2 miles there is something wrong with them. Mollycoddled much!

shirlgirl2004

My 8 yr old would complain wildly at walking 1 1/2 miles but we live in an area with no footpaths, narrow lanes and hills. Walking isn't a safe or palatable option. They aren't lardy because they do gymnastics, dance, swimming, horse riding, trampolining and lots of running and playing outside. Walking down streets is boring in comparison.