Students who are physically active in the morning arrive at school alert and ready to learn - studies have shown that physically active students receive better grades. After a 20-minute walk student concentration is improved for up to four hours!
Active Transportation
Students who reside within walk distance of their school gain many benefits from a daily walk (or bike, or skateboard, or scooter ride) to school.
Up to 25% of morning traffic can be attributed to the school commute. Reducing the number of cars at schools locations improves air quality and creates a healthier environment.
Students who walk and cycle to school enjoy a deeper connection to thier community and nature; which leads to less stress and depression.
The walk to school provides students with an opportunity to become familiar with their community and to take on incrementally greater responsibility for themselves and younger children.
The ParticipACTION report card contains a comprehensive assessment of child and youth physical activity in Canada. For more information visit: https://www.participaction.com/
Pedestrian Training Resources
Assess Risks and Choose Routes Game
This 10-minute game educates young children from ages 7 to 12 on road safety. Each game player is given different road safety scenarios of which they must make the correct decisions to win the game.
RoadSMARTS4Kids Library
The Ottawa Safety Council's RoadSMARTS4Kids library of resources offers activities, challenges, downloadable lesson plans, presentations, videos and their RoadSMARTS E-cademy virtual courses, that makes learning important road safety concepts fun and engaging for elementary age children.
Active Transportation Videos
Safe Walking Fundamentals
Concepts covered include: walking on/off sidewalks, driveways, choosing a safe route, clothing choices
Drive to Five/Ten Maps
Parking just a five or ten minute walk away from the school can help ease congestion around the school, provides families an opportunity to get a few minutes of extra exercise, and will make it easier for everyone to stay physically distant. You can use the maps below to help plan a parking spot that is within a five or ten minute walk from your school:
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