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Good luck with the plan :) Under the age of about 1 to 1.5 then you get to call the shots of what happens when. Walk as mu h as you like. After that age, the

Good luck with the plan :) Under the age of about 1 to 1.5 then you get to call the shots of what happens when. Walk as mu h as you like. After that age, the kids start to get their own opinions and won't always just do what you want them to do. You may want to go for a long walk, but the kid wants to do something else. They'll spend 95% of the time trying to escape the buggy/stroller or trying to run off or just sit on the floor if they're walking. At that age we've found that it is best to not have any plans for things you need to do - e.g. don't plan to "walk to the store", because it might take you 25 minutes to go about 200 meters because you need to stop to look at a traffic light or a store front or a car that is red or whatever - i.e. you'll never get to the store without a fight. That said, they usually love the playground though so swings and slides and stuff can replace being a docile lump that you cart around.

simonh 4y ago
It very much depends on the relationship you have with your kids. Respect and trust are really important. However beyond that IMHO frankly it's critical safety imperative that children do what their parents tell them when it matters. If you're in the street near traffic a child disregarding parental instructions is a life and death issue. There are other safety critical situations too. This is why I feel it's vital that children and parents have a relationship of trust and respect, in both directions, that allows for that. It's not easy, I know.
- ayewo 4y ago
  With respect to building respect and trust with young kids, this video might be useful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHvm1J9HVLo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHvm1J9HVLo
  - TedDoesntTalk 4y ago
    Dr. Paul Jenkins is great!
- mattlondon 4y ago
  Your kids can trust and respect you, but they still get curious and still get bored. They won't always want to do what you want them to do, especially when they are toddlers. You need to let kids be kids (while being safe which I obviously agree with)
watwut 4y ago
It is not necessary that bad. I had some fights with kids at that age, but it definitely was not every single time we walked. You are exaggerating how bad it is. What you do is normal at that age. If you walk to store frequently it is normal routine and lead to fights only occasionally. And while kid stops to look at boring things, it is not like they would stop for hours, most of time you nudge them after few seconds and they go. It is slower then adult speed, but not that impossibly slow.
- paulryanrogers 4y ago
  > I had some fights with kids at that age, but it definitely was not every single time we walked. You are exaggerating how bad it is. Every child is unique. Some are more stubborn than others. This is a challenge with any parenting advice because there is so much variance. My experience is my kids do fight or linger every time despite the routine and nudges.
  - watwut 4y ago
    Sure. But the whole "heh your plan to have daily walks with kids is impossible" is just not true. Families with kids walk to places. Plus, there are millions of single parents around the world who don't have cars and walk+public transport their kids to daycare daily.
    - paulryanrogers 4y ago
      I'm not saying a daily walk is impossible. Rather some will find it easier than others. Still, with two working parents and car focused city planning it can be very challenging to do seemingly trivial things.
PebblesRox 4y ago
Yes, when my oldest was 1 1/2, I took him on a lot of short walks where I had no particular destination in mind. It was great for teaching him sidewalk safety and for giving him freedom to practice whatever gross motor skills he was working on, like climbing up and down steps without holding on to stuff. Unfortunately I didn't do nearly as much of this kind of walk with his little brother, because it's not safe if your attention is divided between multiple kids. https://bancosparenting.wordpress.com/2018/05/24/freedom-within-limits-teaching-my-toddler-sidewalk-safety/ https://bancosparenting.wordpress.com/2018/05/24/freedom-wit...
couchand 4y ago
Kids are crazy. One second they'll be yelling in your face about how completely different from you they are, then the next minute they're repeating you verbatim to a friend. You can absolutely get a kid excited about a long walk. It sounds like in your case your kid was enjoying it more than you were ;)

simonh 4y ago

It very much depends on the relationship you have with your kids. Respect and trust are really important. However beyond that IMHO frankly it's critical safety imperative that children do what their parents tell them when it matters. If you're in the street near traffic a child disregarding parental instructions is a life and death issue. There are other safety critical situations too. This is why I feel it's vital that children and parents have a relationship of trust and respect, in both directions, that allows for that. It's not easy, I know.

ayewo 4y ago
With respect to building respect and trust with young kids, this video might be useful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHvm1J9HVLo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHvm1J9HVLo
- TedDoesntTalk 4y ago
  Dr. Paul Jenkins is great!
mattlondon 4y ago
Your kids can trust and respect you, but they still get curious and still get bored. They won't always want to do what you want them to do, especially when they are toddlers. You need to let kids be kids (while being safe which I obviously agree with)

watwut 4y ago

It is not necessary that bad. I had some fights with kids at that age, but it definitely was not every single time we walked. You are exaggerating how bad it is. What you do is normal at that age. If you walk to store frequently it is normal routine and lead to fights only occasionally. And while kid stops to look at boring things, it is not like they would stop for hours, most of time you nudge them after few seconds and they go. It is slower then adult speed, but not that impossibly slow.

paulryanrogers 4y ago
> I had some fights with kids at that age, but it definitely was not every single time we walked. You are exaggerating how bad it is. Every child is unique. Some are more stubborn than others. This is a challenge with any parenting advice because there is so much variance. My experience is my kids do fight or linger every time despite the routine and nudges.
- watwut 4y ago
  Sure. But the whole "heh your plan to have daily walks with kids is impossible" is just not true. Families with kids walk to places. Plus, there are millions of single parents around the world who don't have cars and walk+public transport their kids to daycare daily.
  - paulryanrogers 4y ago
    I'm not saying a daily walk is impossible. Rather some will find it easier than others. Still, with two working parents and car focused city planning it can be very challenging to do seemingly trivial things.

PebblesRox 4y ago

Yes, when my oldest was 1 1/2, I took him on a lot of short walks where I had no particular destination in mind. It was great for teaching him sidewalk safety and for giving him freedom to practice whatever gross motor skills he was working on, like climbing up and down steps without holding on to stuff. Unfortunately I didn't do nearly as much of this kind of walk with his little brother, because it's not safe if your attention is divided between multiple kids. https://bancosparenting.wordpress.com/2018/05/24/freedom-within-limits-teaching-my-toddler-sidewalk-safety/ https://bancosparenting.wordpress.com/2018/05/24/freedom-wit...

couchand 4y ago

Kids are crazy. One second they'll be yelling in your face about how completely different from you they are, then the next minute they're repeating you verbatim to a friend. You can absolutely get a kid excited about a long walk. It sounds like in your case your kid was enjoying it more than you were ;)