A Walk on the Child's Side

'There will be rainy days with umbrellas and gumboots,
 and hot ones with sunscreen and hats,
but I'm looking forward to the early morning amble.'

After nearly a month of sleep-ins, school's just about to return. But very few students will be walking there. The mundane foot-slog has been in steadily decline since the 1970s. Why, given health concerns about childhood inactivity and obesity, is this the case? And what might concerned parents do about it?


I've an opinion piece on this issue in today's Age newspaper : 'Healthier, happier families take a walk on the child's side'. Here's a sample of what I say:

'Most parents will have earnestly asked their child about their day, only to meet with a mumbled ''good'', quickly followed by ''I'm hungry''. This is also my experience. But somewhere over the daily walk more about my son's day tumbles out, prompted by association from the things we see. I hear him making sense of friendship and its limits - his moral code being constructed just as solidly as his cardboard and sticky-tape box constructions. This is the unexpected and rare parental opportunity to hear more. As we walk, the space for emotional support and empathy opens up.'

And if you'd like to do more walking in your area in 2012, but it doesn't appear walk-friendly, take a look at these resources on assessing walkability from the Heart Foundation and Victoria Walks. They cover comfort, aesthetics and safety issues, and what you can do to improve any problem areas you find.