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These boots were made for walkin'... Whether your child is wearing boots, sneakers or pretty little Mary Janes, walking to school is a must on Oct. 7, as it's the 10th annual International Walk to School Day.
Walk to School Day has its roots in the U.K., where walk to school week was introduced in Hertfordshire in 1994. By 2000, the concept had made its way around the world and the first International Walk to School Day included participants in Canada, Great Britain, the U.S., Ireland, Cyprus, Gibraltar, and the Isle of Man. (Australia and New Zealand ran walks throughout their school year.)
From a handful of participating nations, participation swelled to 21 countries in 2001, and by 2007, millions of students and parents in 47 countries made the trek to school.
Safety First
The focus has always been on promoting safety, but the purpose of Walk to School Day has grown to include other goals as well:
- safer walking and biking routes for kids
- better health, created by getting kids active
- improved air quality through the reduced reliance on motor vehicles
Part of the focus in some areas is on increasing foot traffic as a deterrent to crime, while other areas work to reduce speeds and vehicle congestion around schools. And even if events aren't planned in your community, walking will improve your health and reduce your carbon footprint.
Walking to School Makes for Smarter Kids?
It may seem like an effort to walk your kids to school as the days get shorter and temperatures get colder, but it's worth it. Substituting the short drive with a brisk 10- or 20-minute walk will get your child's body and mind working, which will help them concentrate better in classes. Don't buy it?
At Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Ill., a program called Learning Readiness PE, which requires students to spend time on cardiovascular exercise equipment, has resulted in better fitness levels, fewer disciplinary incidents, and improved academics.
A pilot program at a high school in Saskatchewan, Canada, that modeled itself on Naperville's program put kids in a remedial class on treadmills for part of their class time. Most of the participating kids saw marked improvements in their concentration levels, and many saw sweeping improvements in their math and reading comprehension skills, some improving by a full grade level in a matter of months.
If you're child has trouble sitting still and concentrating, maybe an invigorating walk to school is all he/she really needs. And if you can walk through a wooded area, go for it, as one study suggests nature walks make you smarter.
International Walk to School Day offers an opportunity to get your child excited about walking to school, and it can be the start of a daily activity that can have real and lasting benefits throughout your child's life. So leave the car at home on Oct. 7, and walk or bike instead.
Cara Smusiak writes on behalf of NaturallySavvy.com about how to live a more natural, organic and green lifestyle.
More on walking:
Go Green and Fight Child Obesity with a Walking School Bus
Green Glossary: Walk Score
8 Walking Tips
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