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 Hoodie’s 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 Girls’ Skinny Jeans, Adidas FortaRun EL K Runners On Emi (right): Diadora Hug Me Full Zip Hoodie, Under Armour heatgear Tee, Gravity Girl’s Jeggings, Nike Girls’ 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 it’s 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. Aren’t they the cutest?! Shown here: Adidas FortaRun EL K Runners at left; Nike Girls’ 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, they’ll need bigger packs. Choose a lightweight backpack with padded shoulder straps for comfort. The Under Armour Girls’ 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. |
- Don’t have friends that walk to school? Invite friends/neighbors to join you, or make new friends “on the trail”!
- 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 kids’ school schedule? Implement a “walking school bus” 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 you’re 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.
- It’s also important to listen as speeding cars can seemingly appear out of nowhere.
- Young children should hold an adult’s hand.
#WalkToSchool2day Challenge and Giveaway
Sport Chek and Play Outside Guide would love to see more kids walking to school! Here’s 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.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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73 comments
I like the exercise and the fresh air.
We live only 2 blocks from school. It is quick and easy. I love that we see all our friends walking to school too!
I always walk, have walked for years back and forth (to work but its right next door to the hs and elementary) I walk 22km a day according to my fitbit zip…I go thru a lot of batteries lol
Hi Binabug how far away is your school¿
I like getting fresh air.
I like the exercise and you may meet friends along the way.
I like that it gets my kids to exercise and be energize as they start to learn in school.
I love everything about walking my oldest to school! She loves it (because she loves school..in SK) and my youngest grabs her little back pack and walks to school with us. its a great feeling to see my girls all excited to go to school and see her friends and teachers
I love walking to school because we are starting off the day with some fresh air and physical activity. It also gives us time to chat … and for me to nag about safety and other reminders!
I never lived close enough to school to walk. But if I did, I would enjoy the fresh air and exercise.
I love the chatting along the way to school, good time to catchup on things
My kids love walking to school because they get to walk with their friends and it's loads of fun
Love getting time to get some fresh air and to get some exercise (Judy Cowan)
I love the time spent with my kids walking to school.
I love talking to my boys while walking them to school. I also love the exercise and the fact that I don't have to fight the line of cars dropping off their kids.
I like that we get exercise and learn to brave the elements!
It is great exercise and a chance to chat with friends. I grew up walking to school except for the one year I had to take the bus.
I like seeing our neighbours/friends and familiar faces on our way to school.
I like that walking to school because it wakes us both up. No one in our family enjoys mornings. Nothing like the crisp cool air of the morning to wake us up.
I like getting fresh air and exercise, and we normally run into some neighbours so a chance to connect as well.
I like getting some fresh air and the exercise
Walking to school is great for getting fresh air and a bit of exercise in.
It seems like when my daughter gets walking with me her brain and mouth go into over time. We can go for a 2hr. walk and she will talk almost the whole time. It is wonderful.
As a grandma I only do the pick up but I love that time with the Grandkids as they tell me all about their day and we stop and look at different things along the trail
I love walking to school to get some fresh air
To far for me to walk with the kids to school, but would like the together time.
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