This May, children right across Conwy County Borough Council will be striding out as they take part in this year’s National Walk to School Week 2010 (17th to 21st May).
The theme is ‘Walk your Way’ which aims to encourage parents and children to get to know their local neighbourhood better by exploring it on foot. In addition to learning more about their local environment, children will be able to learn to orientate themselves on the journey to and from school, as well as learning vital road safety skills and keeping active!
In Conwy County Borough, 1300 children helped by parents will be completing diaries of their walking week. Another 1400 will be gaining stickers toward their monthly walking badge as part of “Cerdded Wythnosol / Walking Weekly”.
Ysgol Sant Elfod, Abergele are planning a poster competition and special lessons, the Mochdre schools are walking to school together and Ysgol Capelulo, Dwygyfylchi will be experimenting with a fun class activity as they make ‘Dragon Steps around Wales’ to see which class can walk the furthest all week.
“It is an opportunity to encourage pupils and their parents to give it a go and to ‘Walk Your Way’ to school, whether the whole way, or part of the way. It’s already established that walking is key in fighting childhood obesity, but it can also be beneficial to children in other ways, helping them learn vital road safety skills, to interact with their local environment and to become ‘streetwise’ and develop towards more independent travel.”
“Walking is the simplest way of cutting down on the amount of traffic on the roads and easing congestion outside the school.”
Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets recognises that “Young children are often bundled from front door to car door without the opportunity to get out on foot…Parents often say they don’t have time to walk, but many people underestimate the time it takes to travel by car or public transport and overestimate how long it takes to walk. By walking, children can be taught important road safety messages, feel part of their community and gain the confidence they deserve.’’
