Did you know that thirty years ago, 60 percent of children living within a two-mile radius of school either walked or bicycled to and from school? Today, less than 15 percent of children do so. As children get less physical activity, their chances of obesity increase while cognitive skills, attitude, and academic performance decrease.
Conversely, children who walk to school are more alert and ready to learn, strengthen their social networks, and develop lifetime fitness habits. Essentially, when students move more, they learn more!
According to a study by Columbia University, physical activity also has benefits beyond improved grades. Physical activity can also reduce absenteeism and drop-out rates, and increase social connectedness.
So let’s get walking again! Consider walking to school with your child on a regular basis, or organizing a group of parents to walk on a rotating basis. Or better yet, get your student moving naturally with a Walking School Bus. A Walking School Bus is a fun, safe, and active way for children to travel to school. It’s a group of school-aged children who walk to school along a safe route accompanied by two or more adults. Walking School Buses operate much like a regular school bus with “stops” along the way, where children are “picked up” and walk together.
In 2014, the Fort Worth ISD passed a resolution supporting efforts to create the healthiest student population possible. One of those actions is a Walking School Bus. Blue Zones Project is collaborating with a number of partners to help schools implement their own Walking School Bus programs and promote active lifestyles.