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Levels of childhood obesity in the UK are soaring, and with a lack of exercise largely to blame, making a difference might only involve taking a few steps. That’s just what thousands of children did during Walk to School Week, an initiative that sees school kids in travelling to school on foot rather than in their parents’ cars. There are plenty of good reasons to make the change, not least of all the difference that walking can make to your health.

Healthy habits

It’s important to get children into the habit of exercising from a young age, and driving them a short distance to school isn’t the way to do it. Set a good example by walking short distances to work or the shops yourself, and encourage kids to get outside and play. Just taking up walking or jogging a few times a week promotes healthy habits.

More focused

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Children who walk to school don’t just reap long-term benefits: on a day-to-day basis, they’re calmer and more focused in the classroom, meaning that their stress levels are lowered and they’ll able to concentrate more effectively on their schoolwork.

Need more convincing?

If the health benefits of a good walk aren’t enough to get you or your child off of the couch or out of the car, then consider the other reasons why driving isn’t the best way of getting to your destination. There’s the fact that every car on the road produces harmful emissions that pollute the environment. Then, there’s the fact that driving to work or school over a short distance can actually take longer than walking there, thanks to traffic congestion – which, of course, would ease up if fewer people left their cars at home. Sounds like walking is the only way to go.

Tags: exercise, healthy, healthy kids, school