The advantages of walking to school are numerous according to health professionals, from different points of view.
Children can go to school alone from this age, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics
It is true that the level of development and maturity of the boy or girl must be assessed, but given the recurring doubt that most parents have about the age at which they can let their daughters and sons go alone, walking to school, the American Academy of Pediatrics has made it very clear.
According to Dr. Phyllis Agran, a member of the executive committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics, boys and girls are generally not ready to walk to school alone until they are 10 years old.
Below that age, according to this doctor, they tend to have more impulsive behavior are less cautious with traffic, and are also not aware of other real dangers that they may encounter during the round trip from school to home.
In any case and until they can go on their own, the benefits of going to school on foot according to Dr. Phyllis Agran are notable for the entire community: “Commuting on foot instead of in combustion vehicles also reduces air pollution and They favor the climate. This, in turn, can reduce respiratory problems and other health problems in children. Walking can also help make neighborhoods more pleasant places.”
Doctor Julio Álvarez-Pitti is the coordinator of the Health Promotion Committee of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP) and agrees with the positive assessment of making children walk to and from school because this “improves their orientation.” and their concentration and, therefore, school performance. It increases their self-esteem, develops their autonomy, strengthens relationships with their family and their community, and helps children to be aware of their environment, from discovering what the seasons of the year are like to know the characteristics of the streets in their neighborhood. ”
Benefits of walking to school
Walking to school with children benefits them from many points of view, some of them escape us as adults because we consider them obvious and we no longer pay attention to them.
- They learn to better distinguish traffic signs, street signs, and directions. They learn to know their neighborhood and their surroundings better.
- They learn to distinguish good behavior or not that adults have when, for example, crossing a street.
- Walking with your children to school is a good time to chat with them about any topic that interests them, it can be part of the so-called “ quality time” with your children.
In addition, it is true that a series of precautions must be taken and taught that the American Academy of Pediatrics considers essential, such as:
- Make sure the child takes a safe route to school and back home.
- If you have to cross a street on the way, you have to practice with it first to do it safely and in the places authorized for it.
- It is a priority to teach our son to say no if someone unknown offers to take him home or to school.
- It must be very clear to you that you cannot walk and look at the mobile screen, it is a distraction that can be very dangerous.
In some districts and cities, groups of fathers and mothers have been organized who take turns walking their children to school. It is an idea that has been implemented in our country through official organizations through the Walking Cities website, in which You can find good ideas to carry out in your city or in the educational center where your children attend.
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