International Walk to School Month

International Walk to School Month (IWALK) takes place every October and over 40 countries will be encouraging children and their parents to ditch the school run!

It’s also an opportunity for parents and schools to join in with others to call on their local councils to introduce 20 mph speed limits across their areas; helping to create safe, enjoyable and attractive streets where children and their parents want to walk to school.

Also taking place during the month is International Walk to School Day the day is celebrated annually every 4 October.  So there’s lots of opportunity for you to get involved!  Why not really make it really fun and get the children to work out all the different routes you could take for the walk to school and back.  You could have shorter routes for the bad weather days.  Along with longer routes when you have more time to spare.  To make it fun try to think of games to play along the way – for example how many buildings along the route have red doors.  Or how many dogs and cats have you spotted during the walk!

With organised walks spread throughout the month you can take part whenever it suits you and find out all about why it’s great to walk to school.  Did you know, for instance, that driving the average school run for a year costs over £400?

The organisers of the event want to promote increased physical activity along with social interaction and a reduction in traffic congestion near our schools.

Walking is healthy, green, fun and free.  Yet today, less than half of all primary school children walk to school, and our obesity, pollution and congestion levels are rising.

The official International Walk to School Month website has loads of facts and ideas to get you involved, and you can register your child’s school to take part.

2018 looks set to be the biggest and busiest yet, so get your walking shoes on!