These Kids are Made for Walking

My daughter is attending a parent participation preschool this year and as part of that we are obligated to attend a prescribed number of parent educational seminars.  Our speaker last night was talking about the importance of our kids walking to school.  She maintains that our kids spend too much of their lives sitting: they get up in the morning, only to sit at the breakfast table (in theory!), sit in the car, sit at their desks…. and it often isn’t until after recess, when they’ve had an opportunity to run off some steam that they are they finally ready to learn.  This was good food for thought for me.  Although we’re still a year away from the daily grind of elementary school I have long realized the benefits of walking places with the kids.  I am fortunate enough to have most things within walking distance from my house.  Whenever possible I walk with the kids to the grocery store, to the mall, to the post office, the library, you name it.  I love it for the fresh air and the environmental benefits, the kids prefer it to the alternative of car seats and driving.  It’s a great way to get to know your neighborhood and the people who live around you and face it, if you’re a stay-at-home parent, as I’m sure some of you also are, how else are you going to fill the time?  This is a great way to set a healthy example for our kids and even though I usually end up pushing both of my kids up the grueling hill in the Chariot I know that one day, because of what’s been modeled for them, they will be willing and able to do it on their own.  I hope that Fall and Winter in Vancouver will be hospitable enough for me to continue this.  Time to don the Gortex!