walking to school age 6 (with parent)..would you walk this far?

[Magella]

So we live about 1/2 mile from dd's school-it's about a 15 minute walk (one way) at her typically chosen pace. A fair amount of it is slightly uphill, but I think it's a reasonable walk for kids-we walk a lot going to the park and errands and whatnot. I have walked this route with her a few times, and she handles it well (so does my 4 year old) but we haven't done it on a school day yet (she doesn't start school for a couple of days). I think she might be tired for the first few days, but I think she'd be tired even if we didn't walk because she hasn't gone to school for the whole day before (full day kindergarten here, no half day option). I was feeling just fine about choosing to walk this far until all the neighbors around us started looking at me like I had four heads and saying that they're driving their kids because the walk is too much. So they're drivng the 1/2 mile and waiting in the huge line of cars (it can be along wait-the line can be up to half a mile long) to pick up and drop off their kids every day. I hate the thought of wasting that kind of gas when the school is so close, but maybe I'm crazy.

I'm still planning on walking, but I'd like to know...would you walk that far with your 6 year old? (weather permitting, of course)

[LovemyBoo]

I would and have. I am fortunate to live in a "walking town". We can walk to school, the library, restaurants, book store, toy store, dh's office, the dentist, deli, it's awesome. Mostly sidewalks, too. Anyway, 1/2 mile is not a big deal. We probably walk about 1/4 to 1/3 of a mile to school and I would do a longer one.

[kewb]

I see nothing wrong with it. We are probably a 15 minute walk from school and if I did not have to drop off early to go to work we would walk (unless the weather was bad or cold-I do not like walking in the cold).

[Magella]

Thanks! I was starting to feel like a freak...which isn't unusual, really I'm glad to know other people would walk too. It seems like no one around here walks anywhere.

[UlrikeDG]

Uphill? I'd walk.

Level ground? I'd bike.

Nasty weather? I'd drive.

[SilverWillow]

.

[morninglark]

Yes, I would walk it. I would walk it with my 2 year old. We are a family of walkers. We also take out-door time seriously and wear proper clothes for the weather, so we go out in most weather condidions. We live in an hilly place and live on a very steep hill, but IMO 1/2 mi isn't worth the drive. Especially with gas prices and all.

When I was a child my school (K-8) was 1/4 mi from our house and I walked that every day. Except for when it was poiring rain. One thing I remember most from the walk was being in tune with the changing seasons. How the air felt and smelled at different times of year. What the trees looked like, what flowers bloomed, etc. To this day certain such things will trigger very vivid memories of that walk.

I also have a 15 min walk to work every morning from my bus stop. I feel like it prepares me for the day. And I feel more energized.

[fromscatteredtribe]

when i lived in chicago we would walk 5-20 miles a day (2-4yo's did too)

now we homeschool but several times a week we pick up or drop off my neighbor's four children at the school about 1/2 mile away....so when I walk I have 7 kids at once (her oldest goes later but broke his foot last week and I HAVE to drive him). I walk with 10,9,7,6,5,3,and 7months and we walk slowly sometimes to stay together. I feel extra cruel because it is 112 degrees lately and we are out of doors for about an hour. We bring TONS and TONS of water and I try to always give myself enough time that I don't feel frustrated and beg them to walk faster FASTER FASTER all the time. THAT is what truly makes it stressful to walk...otherwise great for everyone. We walk through the park (lucky us) and can run through the sprinklers if the heat is too much or when it cools down, stop to play a while.

PLEASE keep the habit of walking if you can . my personal experience of moving here where peopel fight for the closets space and last year in charter school wouldn't even get out of the car to walk ten feet and pick up their first grader is that EVERYONE"S health starts to suffer. i gained 20 pounds leaving chicago and public transit...so sad

one hour until my walk...better start filling those water bottles.

[philomom]

My 9 year old walks himself to school. Other years we did use the bus, but this year it comes too early for us. I offered to walk with him, but he's fine. We know most of the neighbors and I have street-proofed him fairly well. It's four very long blocks and a crossing guard helps him get across the major street.

I do not understand the wasting of fossil fuels in such a way. So far, I've only driven him once.

[LindaCl]

I think it's great

Walking is perfect, and I don't think this sounds far at all. Unless there's so much traffic that it's somewhat dangerous, I wouldn't give a second thought to those who think there's something off about you.

[ABand3]

You're not crazy but maybe I am! Our neighborhood school is .99 miles away and the district provides a bus for a mile or more away, so we must walk or drive. We did a practice walk/bike this summer (DS age 5 on his bike, me pushing a stroller with DS age two and DD age 2 mos) and it took us 45 minutes! There is a shortcut through the woods that would cut off about .4 of a mile, but I can't get the stroller through, and couldn't carry a 2y.o and 2 mo old. Anyway, I decided we would walk/bike weather permitting - but for unrelated reasons we've chosen a different school for now, so haven't had to put it to the test.

IMO, our society relies way too much on cars. It would be nice if more places were ped/bike friendly, especially with gas near $3/gal!

[CarrieMF]

I'd walk. when my oldest was in playschool I'd walk her to playschool and it was 30minutes away. I usually pulled 2 kids in the wagon and she walked. On the way home she'd often get in the wagon because she was tired. If the playschool hadn't moved I'd walk my younger to there too.

My oldest does walk to school, but we live 4houses from the school yard. The school is at the other end of where she goes through the gate. My neighbor across the street drives her dd there and she's closer than we are.

[Queen Gwen]

That's about exactly how far I used to walk to school. This was waaaaay back when we went home for lunch at noon, so I walked that distance to school in the a.m., home for lunch, back to school after lunch, then home in the afternoon. I did it kindy through grade 4, after which we moved.

Honestly, I think the rhythmic activity of walking throughout the day helped my ability to learn. I think there's a book sort of on this subject -- the title is something like "Smart Moves".

[Bekka]

We're trying to get into the habit of driving TO school and walking home. We live over 0.9 miles from the school, and school starts at 7:50 am, and dd is a dawdler. So it would take forever. But there's this humidity this week that's just killing me--eventually we'll walk every afternoon. I have a bike trailer/stroller that the younger 2 ride in (my 5 year old gets tired and whiny and wimpy). The KG (5 yo) gets a bus home.

[Momma Aimee]

I'd walk at least most of the time; though i am a wimp for weather.

I do think she'll be tired; but 1. she's be treid anyway and 2. is that sucha bad thing?

Maybe if you start some of the other mom's will start with you.

I'm a wimp and tell you i'd be a fall and spring walker, not an all year walker.

Walking home, at your own pace, would be a nice thing -- relax, paly along the way, talk.

I know you'll be reaslistic and drive when there is stuff to carry, she has a cold, it a big event day and she is dressed up, or whatever.

I don't think it is too far to walk -- as long as it is a safe walk (for both of you).

AImee

[m&m]

Yes I did that all last year - but we did put the 3 yr old in a stroller most days or I'd have to carry her for half of it. The biggest problem was getting soaked in the rain, walking back home and then having to trun around a hour later to pick up dd again.

i would invest in some good running shoes.

[lauren]

It sounds like fun!!

[Sisyphus]

Man, your neighbors would have me committed if they are freaking out over a .5 mile walk LOL!!! DS (5) and I walk home from school almost every day now (it's almost exactly 2 miles), unless it's horrendously hot (or in the winter, if it's raining and too cold). I drive him TO school because it's on my way to the gym, so I bring him there, then head on to the gym as usual, so, no extra trip!

ITA with the pp who said walking is a wonderful way to get in your exercise. I've found it's also a wonderful way to reconnect with ds after his day at school... we have LOTS of time to chat (it takes us about 45 mins to an hour). DS 2 usually naps in the stroller one direction or the other.

Lo

[sunset]

My two elementary age kids walk a mile each way everyday.
We live up a mountain so its quite a hike home, sometimes they love it,
sometimes they whinge a bit but I think its great exercise for them.
In icy weather we have been known to stay home but that rarely happens.
Also they are assigned groups by the school, younger kids are matched up with 6th graders and they all go together, parents don`t go.

[UUMom]

I walk my schooler all the time. The crossing guard knew us *and* our dog. Walking s healthy, environmentally friendly, and a great way to get to know everyone and everything in your neighborhood!

Go for it!!

if it helps any, my dh walks 8 miles every single day. He loves it! People are too afraid of the sidewalk, imo.