Sneakers Ready? Oct. 8 is International Walk to School Day

 

Getting children to try something new can be challenging, as many of us know (Just take one bite, how do you know you won’t like it? ) Getting parents to try something new can be an even bigger challenge, after all, they are in charge and they know what they are doing (or so they say). Getting parents and children to try something new – just try – can be the start of a wonderful new habit for the whole family.

On Wednesday, Oct. 8, thousands of students, parents and communities representing more than 4,300 schools across the United States will walk and bicycle to school to celebrate International Walk to School Day. El Marino, Linwood Howe, La Ballona, Farragut and Culver City Middle Schools are all planning Walk to School Day Activities – check with your school to find out what will be happening.

“Walk to School Day is a chance for families and schools to come together to promote safe walking and bicycling in their communities,” said Lauren Marchetti, director of the National Center for Safe Routes to School, which serves as the coordinating agency for the event. “This event helps reinforce the importance of physical activity, safe transportation environments for walking and bicycling, and provides an opportunity for families to connect with their neighborhood and community.”

This one-day event in the U.S. is a part of an international effort in more than 40 countries to celebrate the many benefits of safely walking and bicycling to school and to encourage more families to consider getting out of the car and onto their feet on the way to school in October.

Walk to School Day began in 1997 with a single school. Since then, participation has grown every year, with 4,392 events registered through www.walkbiketoschool.org in 2013, setting another record.

Can’t walk the whole way? How about stopping a few blocks away and just walking for a bit? This can still help reduce trafific in crunch-zones, and even a little exercise is better than none.

So Tuesday night, set your alarm a little bit earlier, and make sure those socks and shoes are ready and waiting. Get out of the traffic, save gas, burn calories, make friends and join the rest of the world. The sidewalk is yours for the talking.