Our school board, HDSB, is on the wrong side of this issue. Every time they consider removing mandated programming (English track) from a walk-to neighbourhood school in favour of optional programming that buses most kids in - they are exacerbating the problem of childhood inactivity. Our kids NEED to walk to school. Parents are part of the problem too and need to stop driving kids, but school boards wield a lot of power and can do more. HDSB needs to get back to original boundaries that encourage walking (which means stop increasing them for FI and start valuing dual track schools) and stop putting optional program accommodation before kids' health.
Active Healthy Kids Canada is currently presenting the Global Summit on the Physical Activity of Children from May 19-22, 2014 in Toronto. This four day conference brings together those who are working to resolve the growing childhood physical inactivity crisis.
Wednesday, May 21st Symposium:
Let’s Talk the Walk: Interventions to Promote Active School Travel
From Participaction
"This year’s Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth tells us our kids need more opportunity to move. Let's be the active role models our kids need and deserve -- and let's encourage active transportation (remember how much fun we had biking to school as kids?!) and lots of active outdoor play.Here's how we can help our kids, and all kids, to get moving!
Let’s Talk the Walk: Interventions to Promote Active School Travel
From Participaction
"This year’s Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth tells us our kids need more opportunity to move. Let's be the active role models our kids need and deserve -- and let's encourage active transportation (remember how much fun we had biking to school as kids?!) and lots of active outdoor play.Here's how we can help our kids, and all kids, to get moving!
- Encourage school boards and municipalities to revisit play-based rules that may inhibit free play in the schoolyard or in the community, such as “no ball playing.”
- Join other parents to take turns walking children to school.
- Encourage school boards and municipalities to work together to develop plans that promote active school travel."
Canada also trails behind the bulk of the global pack in the category of active transportation, assigned a “D,” with the report revealing 62 per cent of parents said their five- to 17-year-olds were always driven to and from school. - Canadian kids near bottom of international physical activity survey