Putting their best foot forward......

walktoschoollogo

Walk to School is a campaign asking parents, pupils and teachers to incorporate regular physical activity into their daily lives by walking to and from school whenever possible.

Each year, there are two national Walk to School weeks in the UK. In 2006 they are:
Monday 22nd - Friday 26th May
Monday 2nd - Friday 6th October

October is also International Walk to School Month - giving children, parents, school teachers and community leaders an opportunity to be part of a global event as they celebrate the many benefits of walking. Last year, more than 3 million walkers from around the world walked to school together for various reasons – all hoping to create communities that are safe places to walk.

These events encourage schools come together to promote the importance of walking.

For more details on this campaign see http://www.walktoschool.org.uk/

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Although I think this is a great campaign, it does seem a sad sign of the times that it is needed at all.

Surely most children live within walking distance of their school? and the benefits of walking to both children and parents are seemingly obvious.

However, you only need look the traffic congestion around any local school, both in the morning and at pick-up time, to realise that the car is definitely king. We are all forced to rush everywhere and driving is seen as the solution - despite the fact that with traffic jams it is often actually quicker to walk.

Due to the fact that we don't own a car, I always walk my little boy to school (a journey which takes about 20 minutes).

I can't say that it is always pleasant or peaceful - especially not in the terrential rain we have had this week!

Wee are usually running late and have to negotiate a couple of major road junctions along the way.

However, I do think that he is learning much more awareness of his surroundings and it is a great time for us to be together and discuss what he is doing / has done that day.

Infact I completely agree with the walk to school campaign when they say that:

"By encouraging parents to walk to school with their children from a young age it helps the children to develop the necessary skills to make their own journeys in the future and lets them learn many skills from experience:
* Road safety and personal safety skills
* Meeting and greeting people
* Time and distance relationship - management skills
* The feeling of the weather
* Exploration - what's around the corner? "

So all you car addicts out there - Why not join in and walk tomorrow or Friday? You never know you might even enjoy it - but don't forget your raincoat and wellies!