Walking to school

[Amy68]

I was curious how many children actually walk to school these days. My DD is 10 and usually does walk to and from school, and has since about 8, as do most at her school from about this age. In bad weather she might get a lift but this is an exception. She doesn't have far to walk, and only one main road to cross which has a crossing officer.

I do however know more parents don't let their children walk themselves than in my days at school, presumably for their own safety. Is this rather a shame? I think starting the day with a little exercise is actually good for the mind, and of course gives the children some independence and lear to look after themselves. Of course as the bad weather approaches it may get different.

What does everyone else notice. Do your children walk or get taxied every day? What about other children at the school?

We walk to school every day what ever the whether. But to be fair it is less then 5min walk.

We walk to school in all weathers and have done since the boys started (age 4). It's about 0.6 mile with a couple of roads to cross. From the age of about 7 the boys have done it on their own mostly.

I work at a different school now and also walk every day. It's about a mile.

We live 2 mins from the school. 4 mornings a week, DP drops them off at breakfast club on his way to work (I've long since gone), and walks them on his day off.

5 days a week, I collect from the school and we walk home (hence the very early start for me, I get the chance to look after them after school).

School has a Star Walker programme, to encourage walking, and it does work.