Plenty of adults do it too. I'm reminded of this every time I go shopping with someone who objects that I did not find a closer parking space. And I have to point out that it would take more time and fuel to go to the closer space than it would be to walk from where I parked to that space.
These are just people who don't walk enough outside to know how long it takes to walk places. They're trying to maximize efficiency in a rather horrible way.
