Healthy + Happy #16: Let’s Walk n’ Roll
Next Wednesday (October 12) is National Walk & Roll to School Day, an annual event where communities from across the globe walk and roll to school. In the 1960s, about half of all students biked or walked to school — today, that number’s dropped to 11 percent. While many factors have influenced this decline, “active commuting” (i.e. biking, walking, skateboarding, etc.) remains a great way to keep kids active and establish long-term fitness habits, among other benefits:
Time outside helps combat nature deficit disorder.
Independence builds confidence and fuels healthy development.
One mile of walking accounts for two-thirds of kids’ daily exercise recommendation.
Biking and walking can also encourage participation in other sports, mitigate climate change and inspire mindfulness, all of which help boost kids’ mental health.
While the concerns and barriers to active commuting are plentiful, so are the solutions — like integrating cycling into everyday life, increasing access to bikes and creating safe routes to school:
Programs like Outride and All Kids Bike offer in-school bike programs (see it in action in New York).
Free Bikes 4 Kidz has given away 1 million bikes to kids in need.
“Bike trains” and “walking school buses” give kids the opportunity to actively commute to school while engaging with their classmates.
School-created traffic gardens (youth-scaled bike riding environments) teach kids how to commute safely.
Safe Passage routes have successfully helped kids travel safely to/from school.
Want to Walk & Roll on October 12? Here’s how to get started.
Plan. Help your student plan a route and prepare for the unexpected. You can learn about your local bike network here.
Gear. The right bike is one that fits your child and your budget. And remember to wear a helmet!
Community. Active commuting provides great ways to foster community — like this bike bus (which has since doubled in size!).
Remember: trying new things helps kids develop confidence. Maybe mountain biking or gravel riding is next? Let’s get more kids on bikes and see what happens.
In the News
School food round-up.
The Biden administration addressed school food issues at the White House Conference on Nutrition, Food Insecurity and Health on September 28, voicing their support for scratch cooking and universal free meals.
In California, universal meals are here to stay — and teachers say, “kids are just happier.”
The USDA announced a $100 million healthy school meals initiative for small and rural districts.
Student-centered sports.
Negative early experiences in sports and physical education can create a distaste for exercise in kids. One possible solution? A student-centered sports model.
According to a Project Play survey, high school students want more options for sports and physical activity (think: strength training, biking, yoga, skateboarding and dance).
Good news for those kids: girls flag football is becoming an official high school sport in California, joining seven other U.S. states.
Redefining “healthy.”
The FDA is redefining “healthy” on food labels (and cracking down on sugar).
Demand for “toddler formula” is growing, but experts say it’s unnecessary — and should not be used as a substitute for infant formula.
Events, Happenings and Opportunities
The Million Coaches Challenge is training coaches to provide young people with skills and attitudes to be confident, resilient, empathetic, reflective and all-around good teammates. Register for their free event on October 6 here.
Get involved in a study conducted by Utah State, Project Play and Team Snap to assess the state of youth sports in the United States and Canada.
Marathon Kids provides free physical activity programs in schools, after-school programs and running events nationwide to get kids of all ages active. Check out their upcoming events.
A follow-up discussion from last week’s White House Conference on Nutrition, Food Insecurity and Health will be hosted by the Department of Health Studies at American University on October 7. Register here.
Need resources to support National Farm to School Month? Visit the National Farm to School Network for information and resources about the NFSN Members Movement Webinar on October 27. All are welcome.
Have other national events or grant opportunities you'd like us to highlight? Let us know.