School children on the Central Coast will be putting on their walking shoes on Friday 19th
May to participate in National Walk Safely to School Day.
The annual event encourages parents and carers to walk to school with primary school-age
children to promote the health and environmental benefits of walking and help develop
healthy habits from an early age.
Taking place during National Road Safety Week (14–21 May), the day also aims to help
children learn vital road-crossing skills.
Students from Brooke Avenue Public School will be taking part, and the school’s principal,
Owen Dalkeith, said the message is one that a number of local families support.
“Our school is all about supporting the development of healthy, happy kids, and Walk Safely
to School Day is a great way to encourage that.
“We will be discussing the importance of being active for good health in the classroom and
handing out stickers promoting the day to children walking to school.
“A number of our families walk their children to school already, so it’s an initiative that both
we and the community can get behind.”
Nina Kingon, health promotion officer at Central Coast Local Health District, said the day is
an important reminder of the benefits of active travel.
“Starting healthy habits like walking to school supports a child’s physical and cognitive
development, as well as providing an opportunity for children to make social connections too.
“There are also a number of environmental benefits, with reduced congestion on our roads
and the pollution that stems from that.
“It’s great to see schools like Brooke Avenue getting fully behind Walk Safely to School Day,
and we would encourage other schools and families to get involved too.
“Even if you don’t get the opportunity to walk on the day itself, walking to school safely with
children whenever you can – even if only for part of the journey – will help support good
physical and mental wellbeing.
“For those that need to take the car, one of the keys to a safer walking environment for
school children and other vulnerable road users is slower vehicle speed, so when driving,
slow down and look out for pedestrians.”
For more information on National Walk Safely to School Day, visit www.walk.com.au