The 23rd National Walk Safely to School Day is set to take place on Friday, 20 May 2022. Coinciding this year with National Road Safety Week, the event will be teaching school children about road safety while promoting the health and environmental benefits of regular walking.
In preparation for this year’s event, Harold Scruby, CEO and chairman of the Pedestrian Council of Australia, shared several insights on why kids should be encouraged to walk regularly to school.
“The extremely disturbing childhood obesity epidemic continues to affect 1 in 4 children at critical levels across Australia,” said Scruby. “The best exercise for all Australians is walking regularly. Children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. We should encourage them to take a walk before school, during and at end of their day.”
Regular walking also allows children and their parents to engage in positive environmental action, encouraging the use of public transportation and reducing car dependency.
Parents can help kids develop the healthy habit of regular walking by easing them into it, allowing them to walk part of the way to school at first. Kids could get off the bus or tram a few stops before their destination or be dropped off at least 1km away from school.
Scruby also reminded parents that children below 10 years old should be accompanied in their walks and hold the hand of an adult when crossing the road.
Walk Safely to School Day is supported by the Australian government and all state, territory, and local governments. More information about the event and how to participate is available at walk.com.au.