Walk to School Day May 10th
What is Walk Safely to School Day 2024 all about?
Walk Safely to School Day will be celebrated on Friday the 10th of May 2024. It aims to improve the environment and our daily exercise routines.
Walking to school is the perfect way to start the day by getting some exercise and fresh air, ready to start school with a clear mind. Here are some of the benefits you can enjoy when you choose to walk to school:
- Walking offers a great opportunity to remind children about safe pedestrian behaviour and recap the rules of the road.
- Being outside in the fresh air creates a space in your day for mindful exercise. Walking and taking in the scenery around you creates a sense of calm that will set you up for the rest of your day.
- Walking to school will help reduce the air pollution in your area or near your school.
- By using your feet instead of a car, you can also help reduce traffic congestion.
The History of Walk Safely to School Day
The first Walk Safely to School Day took place in 1999 in New South Wales. This event continues each year to promote the teaching of road safety to children. However, the event soon snowballed and gained traction. The importance of teaching road safety to children was highlighted, and only five years later, in 2004, the day became a national event.
Now, in 2024, Walk Safely to School Day celebrates its 25th anniversary!
Some Fun Facts About Walking:
The average walking speed of a human is around 3.1 miles per hour.
Walking helps boost your mood as it increases blood flow to the brain! It’s also good for thinking and generating ideas.
The average person walks an estimated 65,000 miles in their lifetime.
Choosing to walk over travelling by vehicle helps the environment. Simply walking around 10 miles a week would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 500 pounds per year!
Why is Walk Safely to School Day Important?
It teaches children the fundamentals of road safety. The world we live in is becoming more and more dominated by vehicles, whether that be cars, bikes, buses, or trams. Teaching children how to navigate their way through their neighbourhood is essential for ensuring their safety and wellbeing.
It encourages an active lifestyle. By teaching children about the importance of walking, both for the body and the environment, you can encourage them to participate in more physical activities.
It teaches children about the environment. Walking Safely to School Day highlights the impacts vehicles have on the environment and how children can make changes in their everyday lives to help protect it.
How Can I Make Walking to School Safely Fun for My Children?
Walking to school offers many benefits. There are also lots of ways you can incorporate some fun and encourage your children to...
- Walk with friends and have a chat before school.
- Play games along the way, such as ‘I Spy', 'Spot the red car’ or ‘Find a word beginning with…’
- Don’t make it a chore. If a student lives far away from school, maybe encourage them to be driven part of the way and walk the last ten minutes.
- Switch things up and try different routes.
- Walk like an animal or robot. Why not take turns and see if you can guess what animal is walking? Feel free to add sound effects and other actions as hints, too!