Do you remember when walking and biking to school was the norm and how much fun it was? Do you remember meeting up with your friends, talking to neighbours along the way, and how the physical activity made you feel energized for the day?
Most Canadian children are not getting enough daily physical activity which means they’re not active enough to achieve optimal growth and development and maintain a healthy weight. Walking or cycling to school is an excellent way to get the 60 minutes of recommended daily physical activity, but few children now regularly walk and cycle to school.
By walking regularly to and from school, children can spend important time with their siblings or friends while also benefiting from the physical activity. Children can also learn other valuable skills such as safety, responsibility, independence and an increased connection to the community.
The entire school community benefits from an environment that supports children and families to walk and cycle to school. Decreased car traffic in and around the school also means increased safety and improved air quality.
