Shoes were made for walking, and that’s just what the Robertson family intends to do.
October is VicHealth’s Walk to School month, and primary school children are encouraged to walk, ride or scoot to and from school to help them clock up 60 minutes of physical exercise each day.
Whittlesea mum Naomi Robertson plans to walk daughters Maddie, 8, and Lily, 6, to Whittlesea Primary School as much as possible this month as part of the health initiative.
“Every little bit of exercise helps,” she said.
“Walking to school is a great to get the kids outside and get active. We try and get them playing outside as much as we can, whether they’re playing on the trampoline or running around.”
Health statistics show only one in five Victorian kids walk to school regularly, and the walk to school initiative, now in its seventh year, aims to kick this unhealthy trend.
Prizes will be awarded to schools with the highest participation rates, and randomly selected schools participating for the first time.
Four schools will be selected as regional winners, and each will receive 250 tickets to the Melbourne Stars’ first home match against Sydney Thunder at the MCG on December 20.
Pupils can sign up through their school, by downloading the free Walk to School app, or by signing up online.
Details: www.walktoschool.vic.gov.au