Youngsters in Caulfield and around Glen Eira are being encouraged to walk to school later this month, as part of a national initiative to raise children’s activity levels.
The annual Walk Safely to School Day is organised by the Pedestrian Council of Australia, and aims to get more children walking to and from school as part of their daily exercise.
On the day, children who live close enough are challenged to walk the whole journey, while those who live further away are encouraged to drive with their parents for some of the journey and then walk the rest of the way.
As well as raising activity levels, walking can also help children learn about road safety and reduce pollution caused by traffic on the school run.
Educational establishments can promote the event by using poster printing, and can reward students for taking part using other publicity material such as stickers and certificates, or hosting a shared breakfast.
Glen Eira City Council is also supporting the event as part of its strategy to get more children walking. The council’s manager of transport planning, Terry Alexandrou, said the new walking strategy aimed to increase the number of children getting to school on foot by at least 10 percent.
Walk Safely to School Day takes place on Friday May 23rd. For more information, visit the event’s official website at www.walk.com.au
