Walking school bus

Sometimes, as I walk by Queen Elizabeth School in Picton on a weekday morning, I see a long line of vans and cars. Maybe you’ve seen the same in front of other “urbanish” schools in the County. Adults are dropping their kids off for a day of learning. I’m sure many of these children live within walking distance of the school, but we now live in a small, small world filled with the fear of, “What would happen if we let our children walk to school and something headline- worthy happened to one of them?” Needless to say, sensationalized news reporting sells advertising space. It’s just the way the world is, these days. We’re all a digital image and a “send” away from a grossly distorted version of what really might have happened.

In more than two-thirds of the reports of missing children, it’s the other parent who’s responsible and often it’s as a result of a custody battle or a misunderstanding of who was supposed to meet the child after school. Most of those “missing” children are returned, unharmed, to their home and family. But we’ve all seen the headlines at the supermarket checkout and nobody wants to take a chance. If it isn’t the fear of kidnapping, it’s the fear of being late for work and sometimes the fear of a child being late for class.

In any case, children aren’t doing very much walking much these days and childhood obesity isn’t going anywhere fast. Statistics Canada reports a dramatic one-third of Canada’s children between the ages of five and 17 are overweight or obese. These children aren’t pleasingly plump, bonnie, chubby or padded with baby fat—they are overweight or obese. These overweight/obese children aren’t alone. More than 50 per cent of Canadian adults are overweight and obese. We’re a roly-poly society and we’re surrounded by contradictions. The Olympic Games are sponsored by a soft drink mega corporation and a world famous fast food company. Don’t get me wrong, neither business pretends to be the answer to our healthy “three squares,” nor are they given a mention on the Food Guide, at least by name. Kids know who and how to manipulate when a meal or snack is involved. They’ve watched the television—when they could have been outside playing. In a fast-paced world, chances are they’re going to get a meal that includes a fried “something” and “naturally” sweetened something else. This doesn’t really pose a problem as a treat, but it’s deadly as an everyday occurrence. And I know people who put the bottle of soda on the table every day and who take their child to a fast-food drive-through for a meal on a regular basis. Life is just easier that way. But, let me get back to my point, and I do have one.

Years ago I noticed the flotilla of family vehicles in front of the local elementary school every morning. I remembered how my mother managed to get me to the local elementary school when I was too young to be walking there on my own. A girl from the grade eight class, who lived two blocks away, dropped by our house in the morning and walked to school with me. By the time Margaret Monk got to our house, she had already “picked up” three other children from the area. Our route covered about five blocks, mostly without sidewalks. Margaret walked behind us and we walked single file ahead of her. Sometimes we sang as we walked along and sometimes we just talked. Little did I know, Margaret was our neighbourhood “walking school bus.” I’m not sure whose idea it was to have a “walking school bus” and we didn’t use that term, as far as I can remember, but it worked. We got to school, on time and safely, every day. A walking school bus could work for some children in this community. Changing the sedentary behaviours of children needs to be creative, safe and fun. A walking school bus is simply a group of children with one or two adults as the “drivers.” Parents and caregivers make the arrangements and a route is established. A couple of practice walks take place to make sure the timing is right and families are invited to hop on board. Along the way, the “drivers” can talk about road safety and other concerns or talk about the changing seasons or play “I spy” or sing a song. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Children get to walk to school. They don’t have to know it’s good for them and parents get to start the day with a breath of fresh air. A day will start on a positive for everyone on the walking school bus.

Think about it, parents and caregivers. It could be a step in the right direction for your children.

theresa@wellingtontimes.ca