Walking to school and an active commute blog
I don’t know about you, but my morning routine can be somewhat hectic? With three children it involves making multiple breakfasts and packed lunches, helping my youngest look down the back of the sofa for yesterday’s discarded jumper and all whilst giving out time checks “Time to clean your teeth!” So the thought of walking to school and work used to seem like another HUGE mountain to climb, just to get where I needed to be.
However, when I march the first few steps away from my house all those stresses fall away …a deep breath of the crisp morning air and finally some mental space and time to spend with my children.
…I don’t have to worry about whether my car will start
…I don’t have to worry about getting stuck in traffic
…and I know exactly how long it is going to take me to get there.
It wasn’t always easy to ‘just walk’ though…I don’t miss grappling with a toddler to get them into a pushchair while helping another child to do up their shoes as I’m trying to leave the house - and I’m relieved that “I don’t want to walk” tantrums are a thing of the past! During the Covid lockdowns, (when a daily walk was about the most fun you were allowed) my family got used to walking more and they naturally aged to a point where we could easily build more walking into our lives. Now all three walk to school and college.
I am also in a great situation for an active commute - home is only about a mile from primary school and my work place. My flexible employer allows me to work from home a lot, which also makes walking to school easier.
The school run really boosts my mood, especially on days where I work from home. I catch up with friends who are walking the same way and a good chat helps put any morning mishaps and work stresses into perspective. It also means I build free, regular exercise into my day and keep my step count up.
It’s great for children too; they can chat and run off steam before and after school. As well as exercise, it gives them a great sense of their local community, raises their awareness of wildlife and signs of changing seasons, and gives an opportunity to learn about road safety. Walking to school is proven to help children concentrate better once they are in the classroom, and fewer cars approaching the school, means a reduction in air pollution and less congestion around the school gates, making school a safer place.
However, there was a time where we could not be where we all needed to be - school, then nursery, then work, without using a car. I think there are certain points in life where everything just comes together, so if walking every day isn’t doable for you right now then be kind to yourself. Try swapping a journey once a week – if everyone did this then there would be 20% fewer cars on the road Monday to Friday. Alternatively, park up and walk the last 10 minutes of your journey. It all has benefits for you and the environment.
Now though, I will enjoy the warm spring sunshine on my walk to school, chatting with friends and strolling past the traffic, remembering those days when one of the children would need a wee as soon as we entered the long queue of cars and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it!
Top tips for walking to school
- Walking with children can take longer than walking on your own so leave plenty of time
- Try a trial run with your children on a weekend to get an idea of timings
- Give yourself a 10 minute lee-way in case something happens or you forget something
- Find your umbrella and waterproof coats the night before if the weather forecast is bad
- Have fun and enjoy spending some time together