If you need some motivation to walk to school, check out my #WalkToSchool2day Challenge / Giveaway below. You could win a $100 gift card from Sport Chek!
This post is sponsored by Sport Chek.
Tips for Walking to School
- School clothes: Comfortable clothes that move with you are best. Choose tees in technical fabrics which wick moisture and prevent overheating. For bottoms, we like leggings/jeggings or loose fitting pants that allow our kids to play outside at recess and sit cross legged on the floor at reading time.
- Outerwear: Carry a windproof/waterproof layer year round. In cooler weather, a fleece midlayer adds warmth without too much bulk. We love the Diadora Hug Me Hoodieโs super soft, thick fleece for every day wear. In winter, wear base layers under clothes, snow pants & jacket, mittens, and a hat. See my story on Keeping Kids Warm in Winter for more information.
- Safety tip: Brightly colored outer wear ensures kids are more visible to drivers. Reflectors on backpacks and jackets are helpful as the days get shorter.
On Miya (left): Firefly Bedard Flannel Shirt, Adidas Tee (Climalite cotton/poly blend), Gravity Girlsโ Skinny Jeans, Adidas FortaRun EL K Runners On Emi (right): Diadora Hug Me Full Zip Hoodie, Under Armour heatgear Tee, Gravity Girlโs Jeggings, Nike Girlsโ Star Runner Preschool Shoes All items from Sport Chek. |
2. Wear appropriate footwear. Look for lightweight, trim fitting shoes/boots with good traction. Footwear that is clunky or too big poses a tripping hazard. Technical socks wick moisture and prevent blisters.
- Fair weather: Lightweight running shoes are best. Runners offer superior traction and support compared to sneakers. We learned the hard way when my daughter, in smooth soled sneakers, slipped and concussed herself at the playground last year. Get velcro / quick lace shoes until your child can tie laces on her own.
- Rainy days: While some days will call for rubber boots, it is hard to walk fast in them (and itโs easy to trip and fall), so allow extra time, or have your child wear waterproof hiking boots instead.
- Cold weather: Look for winter boots with aggressive lugs and adjustable straps/laces. Bulky boots without straps (e.g. Bogs) will slow them down or fall off in deep snow.
Cool school shoes from Sport Chek. Arenโt they the cutest?! Shown here: Adidas FortaRun EL K Runners at left; Nike Girlsโ Star Runner Preschool Shoes at right. |
- Little kids should have little backpacks. The North Face Mini Berkeley 19L pack from Sport Chek is a good option for preschool and kindergarten.
- As kids start bringing home more stuff from school, theyโll need bigger packs. Choose a lightweight backpack with padded shoulder straps for comfort. The Under Armour Girlsโ Favorite Backpack from Sport Chek is a great waterproof pack that is 29L. We also like the Adidas Pace and Dakine Prom packs shown below.
- Fill a small water bottle half full; it can be refilled at school.
- Choose lightweight, reuseable food containers for lunch and snacks.
We had to get bigger packs this year (to hold rain gear / snow pants) and are loving the 27 L adidas Pace Backpack (left) & 25 L Dakine Prom Backpack (right) from Sport Chek. |
- Donโt have friends that walk to school? Invite friends/neighbors to join you, or make new friends โon the trailโ!
- I Spy, impromptu scavenger hunts (e.g. Can you find a nest, pine cone, and squirrel on our walk to school?), and word games are always fun!
- For more fun ideas, check out my story: The Path to Happy Hikers.
- Does your work schedule conflict with the kidsโ school schedule? Implement a โwalking school busโ where you and another parent, or roster of parents, take turns walking the kids to school. This way, your kids can walk to school at least twice a week. See www.walkingschoolbus.org/ for more information.
- A few rules: You can only cross at corners or designated crosswalks. The route must be on sidewalks or pathways. No shortcuts through alleys. Avoid abandoned lots and buildings.
- Drawing a map will reinforce the route so kids remember where to go when youโre not there.
- Be aware of your surroundings; do not look at your phone, iPod or gaming device.
- Encourage kids to cross at 4-way stops or designated crosswalks.
- Get them to look left, right, then left again before crossing.
- Check to ensure all vehicles have come to a complete stop before crossing the road.
- Itโs also important to listen as speeding cars can seemingly appear out of nowhere.
- Young children should hold an adultโs hand.
#WalkToSchool2day Challenge and Giveaway
Sport Chek and Play Outside Guide would love to see more kids walking to school! Hereโs your chance to enter to win a $100 Sport Chek Gift Card! Complete the Rafflecopter form below (Canadian residents only). For FIVE extra entries, post a photo of your kids walking (or biking) to school on Twitter or Instagram. Be sure to use the hashtag #WalkToSchool2day so I can see your entry!
Rules: Must be 18 or older and a resident of Canada. Contest closes Sept 29, 2017 11:59 pm MST. You must have a public Twitter or Instagram account so I can see your photo entries. Winner will be chosen at random via the Rafflecopter app.
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73 comments
Hi, our schools are 1.3km (with a steep hill) or 2km (flattish). Do you think either are achievable for children to walkยฟ I was thinking of using a stroller or driving some of the way.
We walk 1.5 km to school with a hill. It took about half an hour when the kids were in Grade 1 but now it only takes 15-20 minutes. If they're preschoolers, you could push them in a stroller or pull them in a bike trailer! It's a good workout!
I like that it wakes us up, which I feel like helps the kids be more alert in class!
Same here. ๐ Especially on a nice, sunny morning! But the kids enjoy the rainy/snowy days too.
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