Primary school aged children across Australia will make those important steps towards a healthier future by participating in National Walk Safely to School Day on Friday, May 19, 2017.
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National Walk Safely to School Day is a community initiative that aims to raise awareness of the health, road safety, transport and environmental benefits that regular walking (especially to and from school) can provide for the long term well-being of our children.
Apart from the physical benefits, regular walking also has a favourable impact on their cognitive and academic performance.
The annual event, now in its 18th year, encourages primary school aged children to build walking into their daily routine, by walking to and from school, not just on Friday, May 19, but every day.
Harold Scruby, Chairman and CEO of the Pedestrian Council of Australia said: "The extremely disturbing childhood obesity epidemic continues to affect one in four children at critical levels across Australia.
“Unless teachers, parents, carers and the community generally get behind this event and its objectives, it is expected that numbers will reach one in three by 2020.
“The best exercise for all of us is regular walking. Children require at least 60 minutes per day of physical activity. We should encourage them to include walking at the beginning, during and end of each day,” he said.
The national initiative also promotes improved diets (by asking schools and P and Cs to Host a Healthy Breakfast), positive environmental action, better use of public transport with reduced car-dependency and the vitally important road safety message: "Until they are 10, children must always hold the hand of an adult when crossing the road".
It also encourages parents and carers to walk more, reducing dangerous traffic congestion around schools, while minimising the risk of Australian children developing heart disease and diabetes.