Common Challenges & Potential Solutions for Walking or Wheeling to School
We don’t want to drive our kids to unhealthy habits, or add to traffic congestion and air pollution around schools. So let’s look at some potential solutions to common family challenges when it comes to walking or wheeling (e.g. bicycle, scooter, skateboard, roller blade etc.) to/from school:

I don't have a lot of time

• The time before and after school is usually busy and can be a challenging part of the day for families. Participating in active school travel may not be possible every day, and that’s okay. Think about how you can plan your morning routine and re-organize your weekly schedule so that walking or wheeling to/from school can be a priority. 
• Consider walking or wheeling for part of the journey to/from school by parking a few blocks away. Walking part of the way still has benefits. And parking a few blocks away helps to improve air quality and reduce safety concerns due to traffic congestion around schools.

• Consider that at times it may take longer to drive and find safe and suitable parking near the school than it would to walk or wheel there.
  
  My child is too young to walk or wheel
• Join your child on the walk to/from school and enjoy the benefits of physical activity, and time to talk about the day with your child or learn about the neighbourhood.
• Talk with other parents about organizing a walking school bus group and take turns watching over a small group of children on the walk to school.
• Ask an older student or sibling to accompany the younger child to/from school.
  
  
  My child has not done this before and I’m worried it may not be safe
• It’s normal to feel uneasy about allowing our children to walk or wheel to/from school. Let’s look at this as an opportunity to help them gradually develop skills, confidence, responsibility and independence.
• It’s important to consider the child’s age, abilities and experience when making decisions about walking or wheeling to/from school without supervision.
• Practise walking or wheeling to/from school with your child; teach them pedestrian and cycling skills.
  
  We live too far away from the school and my child takes the school bus

• If your child is eligible for a school bus, it’s important that they take the bus as much as possible instead of being driven to school by car. Fewer cars in school zones helps to improve air quality and reduce safety concerns due to traffic congestion around schools.

• Make walking or wheeling to/ from the bus stop part of the routine.
• If there are times that you need to drive your child to school, consider walking part of the way by parking a few blocks away from the school.