January 21, 2022 – Walk, walk, walk to school. Sounds like a children’s song, doesn’t it? It is! And that is precisely what kids want to do, quite often, when it comes to how they get to school. Why is that such a big deal?
In winter, many parents offer their kids a ride in the car. Everyone dresses up in their winter gear, heads to the garage, gets in the pre-heated car, and arrives just in time to get shushed into the school.
Once kids are in class the mitts, hats, scarves, coats, and snow pants are removed, to hang on a hook until they are REALLY needed: at recess! That first exposure to their day was merely an exercise in overheating!
Compare that to a well-practised, planned, and prepared walk.
Once again, winter gear is donned, children and parent or older sibling step outside, knapsacks packed and comfortably worn by each child, and the five to 15 minute walk commences.
Morning sunshine on faces, crisp clean air breathed into warm lungs. Stepping carefully to navigate the snowy, slippery sidewalk. Joining a friend en route; happily chatting about the plans for the day ahead or noticing whatever is seen. Walking onto the school grounds and, with a quick hug, a wave, or a word that says “Have fun!”, the kids are off to join more friends in the school yard.
You just know it’s going to be a great day!
Which is your preferred morning routine?
The “convenience” of driving gets in the way of our capacity to appreciate our own self-propelled mobility. Let’s take back the walk!
One way to get your school switched over to an active travel culture is to involve the community. School councils are great places to start the conversation on what stops families from engaging in regular daily walks or bike rides to and from school.
In talking to one another, parents may find that they have similar hang-ups. They may also see how they can help out one another, and how they can put better practices in place by working together.
One useful way to get beyond the hurdles is to organize a neighbourhood mapping walk. This gathering of community stakeholders involves a walk to examine the neighbourhood’s various routes to school.
Questions to consider include:
- The presence or lack of sidewalks
- The quality of the sidewalks (including features such as sloping corners that allow for better accessibility for strollers, bikes, wheelchairs, and skateboards)
- The presence or lack of crossing-guards at busier intersections
- The behaviour of traffic around the neighbourhood (seeing whether traffic calming measures have been put in place, such as speed limits and road crossing signage, and whether enforcement is adequate)
Where deficits are found, it is important to inform municipal staff or councilors to have these addressed in a timely manner.
At the school, connect with the administration to determine their willingness to promote an active travel culture. Connect with the school’s Eco Team to find out if they can organize events that promote walking and other forms of active travel to school.
Remind them, if necessary, that EcoSchools Canada supports healthy active travel to school by providing points within the certification process.
Once the school is in full support, reach out to other parents. Walking school buses are a great way to create friendships and support networks within the school community. Neighbours and friends pooling their energy and availability to get kids walking safely to and from school really sets the tone for prioritizing health and community engagement.
Consider using the community approach to push for the installation of wayfinding signs.
Images courtesy of Green Communities Canada.
A school wayfinding sign is one specifically designed to provide information about the walk or bike ride to school. Professionally-made wayfinding signs use colour coding and images to indicate the distance to the school. (For example, a blue sign could indicate between 10 to 15 minutes of walking, or three to five minutes of riding).
Professionally painted designs on sidewalks offering road-safe games and activities can also be installed along appropriate sections of the path. Encourage the creation of child-made wayfinding signs. These would look very different, be much more creative, and would still get the message out on the benefits and joy of walking to school.
Child-made signs could include laminated posters, sidewalk chalk drawings, or three-dimensional art pieces made with stones or other found artifacts.
Letting children express what makes their daily walk enjoyable through art, and then setting up these pieces in public locations can be a meaningful way to strengthen the children’s sense of place and membership in the community.
There are many ways to get your school switched over from a car culture to one where safety, health, and community involvement are prioritized, but the best way to get started is by talking to the stakeholders involved.
And, of course, lead off with a walk!
Happy and safe journeys to all!
Guest Blogger: Betty de Groot, Education Interpreter at Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), former teacher and Eco-Lead, St John the Baptist Elementary School, DPCDSB