Kids step out for National Walk Safely to School Day

Primary school children across Australia laced up their walking shoes and got stepping for National Walk Safely to School Day on Friday 16th May.

Now in its 26th year, the annual event encourages children to lead a healthier, more active lifestyle by including walking into their day.

Coinciding with National Walk Safely to School Day, the NSW Government on Friday announced a $10 million boost in walking and cycling infrastructure near schools.

Some 24 locations will receive improvements including new and upgraded shared paths, footpaths and raised pedestrian crossings that make it safer for children and parents to walk to school.

Data shows less than one in four NSW school children currently walk or ride to and from school, however 70 per cent of parents and carers said they would like to walk to school with their children most days. Children are only spending 18 minutes per day walking or riding a bike, less than a third of the daily recommendation.

Harold Scruby, Pedestrian Council of Australia CEO, said regular walking was not only great for children’s physical health, but also had positive impacts on cognitive and academic performance.

"Being active every day, including walking to school, provides social, emotional, physical and mental health benefits, including improving self-esteem and confidence and helping concentration. And the best way to do this is to build walking into your daily routine," he said.

"We also encourage parents and carers to take their children on a walk to school each day to teach them life-long road safety habits."

National Walk Safely to School Day is a Pedestrian Council of Australia initiative that falls in National Road Safety Week, an annual initiative of Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH) Group to encourage safer behaviour on our roads.

Click the link for more information on National Walk Safely to School Day