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International Walk to School Day

Wednesday, 7 October 2015 05:46

Only 1/4 of kids are walking or wheeling to school. Oxford County hopes to encourage a little more physical activity in the morning.

Kids are being encouraged to put their best foot forward and walk to school as part of International Walk to School Day.

Oxford County Public Health Nurse Kelly Vanderhoeven says even that small bit of physical activity can make a big difference. "Well unfortunately kids are becoming more inactive as time goes on and a great way for kids to be more active is for them to travel to and from school using active transportation."

For many parents in Canada, the car has become the main mode of transportation to get the kids off to school according to Vanderhoeven. "The ParticipACTION report card on physical activity for children and youth in 2015 states that only 25% of Canadian parents say that their kids aged 5 to 17 walk or wheel or use an active form of participation to and from school. That's only 1/4 of kids actively travelling to school."

Parents could be playing a big role in why kids are no longer walking to school as often as in past years. "That could be for reasons of parents feel like their kids aren't safe walking to school - like a helicopter parent," says Vanderhoeven. "It could be that they're too rushed in the morning so they're racing to get the kids to school on time so they can get to work on time."

International Walk to School Day is Wednesday October 7th, but the occasion is marked all week long. Kids are encouraged to find a friend and enjoy some of that brisk fall weather on the way to class.

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