School has started, students and teachers are getting to know one another, and your family is into the schoolday routine. Now’s a great time to start planning your trip to school for International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 7.
A great first step is to check out the Texas page and see if your school has registered for an event yet. If not, take action! Contact your school and ask them to organize a Walk to School Day event. We have plenty of resources to help you out on our Educational Resources page, including the Safe Routes to School Event Handbook. Print out the Team Leader Checklist (PDF download) and take it with you so your school has a step-by-step list of things to do to get ready for lots of walking.
Now’s the time to order your educational materials to hand out at Walk to School Day! Definitely check out Let’s Walk to School and the Be Safe Be Bright Lights. Order by September 29 in Texas or September 23 elsewhere in the U.S. for your materials to arrive before Walk to School Day. Questions? Call us: 512-476-7433.
Get your neighborhood organized! Talk to other parents to set up a Walking School Bus for your children to walk together. Remember: walking to school gives your child (and you!) tremendous health and mental benefits. Childhood obesity is on the rise across the US, and regular physical activity can help protect your child: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend 60 minutes of physical activity every day for children and adolescents. In addition to health benefits, studies have shown a link between children being active on their way to school and their ability to concentrate once they arrive.
Walking to school just not the right fit for your family? You can still get in on the action! Consider an excellent suggestion shared on Streetsblog LA: if you can’t walk the whole way, park five blocks from the school and walk the rest of the way in. Not only will you and your children still get the benefits of walking, but you’ll also get those extra few mintues together without having to fight the crush of traffic in the drop-off line.
Don’t delay! Make Walk to School Day 2015 a great day for students in Texas.
