How Far Can a 4-Year-Old Walk?

Distance

• The distance you can travel with your child depends on her experience, mood and energy level. If you are planning a family-friendly nature walk or hike, try a one-mile hike and see how it goes. The average preschool-aged child can walk a half-mile to a mile on a normal day. You can always build up to longer distances with more practice, just like any other exercise that requires stamina and endurance. Be ready to walk at your 4-year-old̵7;s pace, not your normal walking stride. Making your child run to keep up with you will tire her out faster and may make her frustrated. Make frequent stops, every 10 to 20 minutes, to allow everyone to rest and regroup.

Time

• According to Kids Health, your 4-year-old should be active for at least one hour each day. If your child is out and about, she should be able to go at a slow to medium walking pace for at least 10 to 30 minutes of that time, if not longer. However, her attention span may not last and she may tend to wander from side to side or get distracted by random items along your walking path.The distance you travel in that time frame will depend on her walking speed and how focused she is on the task.

Considerations

• As the Women̵7;s and Children̵7;s Health Network points out, there are several factors that may affect how far your child can walk. Certain diseases and problems affecting bones, muscles, joints or tendons can interfere with a child̵7;s walking and gate. Bow legs, knock knees, in-toeing and flat feet are potential problems that may afflict a 4-year-old. If your child has an issue such as these, her walking distance and length will be considerably shorter.

What to Bring

• The supplies you pack can help determine how comfortable, interested and engaged your child is on your walk, thus determining the distance of your travels. Bring plenty of nourishing snacks for your preschooler, like string cheese, trail mix, dried fruit or granola bars, to keep her energy level up and her body moving. A bottle of water for each walker is a must. Asking a little friend to tag along will make your walk more exciting for your little one and you will most likely get farther when she is engaged in the walking activity. Know where you̵7;re going or bring a map. Dress your child in walking shoes and layers of weather-appropriate clothing to keep her comfortable on your journey. Apply sunscreen to your child and pack some bug spray if your walk is in nature. A small first aid kit comes in handy. Throw all of your supplies in a backpack.

What to Expect

• When traveling in any form with a child, including on foot, you should come prepared. Expect to hear ̶0;I have to go potty̶1; more than once and hit the bathroom before you venture out. Every potty stop on your path may shorten the overall distance you get to walk. Ensure that there are other bathrooms along your route, too. ̶0;I̵7;m bored̶1; may join the party, so keep her engaged with I-Spy games or scavenger hunting along your path. Point out interesting objects as you see them, like colorful birds, butterflies or squirrels, to keep her walking. You may end up carrying a wary child part of the way, so wear some comfortable walking shoes.