I Want My Kids To Walk To School

When we moved to Austin, our realtor looked at us sideways when we told her that a “must have requirement” for our home was “the ability to walk our kids on sidewalks to an elementary school that was about a mile or less from home.” But, we found it, and therefore we walk as often as my work schedule and promptness in getting three kids ready allows. I wish that I could do it everyday and here is why.

As a pediatric physical therapist I have been made well aware of the physical and emotional benefits of exercise for children: preventing obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, while improving strength, bone density and general well-being.

What I have investigated more now as a parent is the effect of exercise on mood, academic performance and the ability to concentrate in school. As my children do sometimes moan about walking at 7:15am, I have to remind myself of the research that encourages me to occasionally bring some armor to this morning battle.

AEROBIC FITNESS AND CONCENTRATION IN SCHOOL

Research indicates, hands down, that exercise leads to better concentration and school results, especially if performed in the morning. Here are just two of the many studies supporting exercise before, during and after the school day.

A 20-minute walk can lead to 4 hours of improved concentration. A survey of around 20,000 Danish kids age 5-19 found that kids who walk (or bike) to school scored better on tasks that involve concentration than those who were driven or bused to school, or took public transportation. This positive effect on focus had even more of an impact than eating breakfast or lunch. And, the influence of that before school exercise lasted up to four hours!

Aerobic fitness is a better predictor of academic performance on standardized tests than BMI or free/reduced lunch status. In a study with fourth through eighth graders, students had greater odds of passing the standardized math and reading tests compared with aerobically unfit students regardless of whether the students received free/reduced lunch (although the effect of being aerobically fit on test scores was significantly greater for students who did not receive a free/reduced lunch).

SAFETY

One day soon, my kids are likely going to want to go to ACL on their own. I need to know that they know how to cross a street safely to get away from cray cray. Now, in the elementary years, is my time to train them up and empower them for future freedoms. Here is a link to developmentally appropriate tips on teaching kids to walk safely from four years old onwards.

CREATING LIFELONG HABITS

I feel that I have about 18 years (maybe less) to influence the way my kids eat, exercise, respect the environment and show up in life. Yes, yes, I will always be their parent, but I appreciate that I will be less and less of an influential part of their lifestyle the older they get. I feel like walking to school gives us the opportunity to be physically and emotionally healthy while being kind to and grateful for the environment.

As I walk with my kids, I love talking about the trees in bloom, the beauty of the Texas sunrise, the strength of our bodies and how we need to teach our dog not to pull on the leash. (Okay, I could do without the last one, but it is a discussion point anyhow.) Sometimes we tell funny stories. Sometimes we walk in silence. Sometimes we do times tables. We let the kids tell us when it is safe to cross the road. And, sometimes we break up sibling wars of words. But, they are all stolen moments and I cherish each walk – even the moan-filled walks. That’s life, too. Thanks to endorphins, fresh air and space, their mood is typically sunnier at the end of the walk even if we had a hard start to the day.

Are you also interested in starting your day with a good walk, but maybe you foresee a few barriers to making this transition? Maybe you are thinking. . .

“My kid will never get up early enough.”

Not sure about your school, but the car line is quite a bear at our school if our kids get that 10 minutes of extra sleep. We figure that the slightly earlier rise is worth the benefits stated above. And, if it is just one of those days that we do not hit the 7:15am start gun, we do just drive and aim to walk the next day. Giving grace comes in many forms.

“My child can never walk that long.”

Many school districts across the nation only provide school transportation for students that live outside of a two-mile radius from the school. Inferred from that is that a school age child is developmentally ready to walk two miles (or at least one). Before school started, our family went for a leisure stroll to the school on the weekend to see how long it took us and to empower our children that they could do it. If you find that it is a bit of a struggle, you could find the distance that your child can walk, park there and walk the rest of the way. Or, maybe you let your child (or their younger sibling) ride a scooter or you can all bike together.

“My house is REALLY far from school.”

You can park at a distance where your child can still get a little stretch of the legs and fresh air versus the drop at the school door. A 5-10 minute walk may just get the juices flowing enough for a better, more alert day.

“Nobody walks to our school.”

This might be common in private schools or possibly very rural and urban schools. In Austin, there are also a lot of neighborhoods without sidewalks or with large zoning areas so I can see the issue. As a solution, you could see if your school would organize a run/walk club in the morning. Our elementary school does just this, and I see lots of kids on the track every morning.

“I don’t have time to walk with my schedule most days.”

See if your neighbors are interested in creating a “walking bus” where a different parent leads the group each day. You get to know your neighbors better, and it is a guaranteed easier walk when your child has a strolling buddy. And, if there is no way it will work for you to be a walk leader, maybe ask if your child can join others who walk to school.

So, neighbors, if you see me walking my kids to school, you are invited to pull over and let your child finish the walk with us. Don’t let our pace deter you. We are probably walking fairly quickly as getting my crew out the door in the morning can cause a delayed exit and our male dog is compelled to mark A LOT. But, won’t they be ready to learn when they get there?!

And, by walking my kids to school I feel so much more alert and happy when I get home, I burn about an extra 175 calories, and I spend nothing on gas! WOO HOO! WIN! WIN!