Active kids are healthy kids and there's no better way to prove it then to take part in tomorrow's National Walk Safely to School Day.
Now in its 14th year, the aim of the day is to encourage parents, carers and children in primary school to make walking to and from school part of the daily routine.
Organisers say that if you can't walk all the way, try using public transport instead of the car. Or, if you must use the car, leave it a distance from school and walk the rest of the way.
"This allows parents and carers to get their daily dose of exercise as well," says Chairman, Harold Scruby.
"Unfortunately, for so many reasons, children are just not walking to school as much as they once used to and many kids are missing out on a beneficial and incidental physical activity which is good for them.
"National Walk Safely to School Day is also a good opportunity to teach children how to cross roads, and be aware of traffic, with safety."
Motherpedia contributor and teacher, Kylie Johnston, recently wrote that her school in Queensland has started a walk to school day every week for this semester which she hopes continues. She wrote that: "Many parents insist on dropping and picking up their children right outside the school gate but I think it’s important to balance risk with factors such as giving children responsibility, freedom and the opportunity to get some exercise. If you really don’t want them to go by themselves, or they’re too young, then get a group of friends together or walk, skateboard, cycle or scooter with them."
Of course, no activity for kids would be complete in 2013 without an App. The National Walk Safely to School Day Council has developed an interactive App which helps encourage families to build more walking into their everyday life.
"The App has some great features such as tracking how many kilometres walked, time spent walking and average walking speed. We hope it makes it more enjoyable for everyone," said Mr Scruby.
The App can be downloaded for free for Apple and Android at Walk.com.au.
To help you plan for tomorrow's venture, here are the weather forecasts for Australia's major centres with minimum and maximum temperatures.
Adelaide: possible shower, 9-17
Albury/Wodonga: sunny, 2-17
Alice Springs: mostly sunny, 4-17
Brisbane: fine, partly cloudy, 11-22
Canberra: partly cloudy, 4-16
Darwin: mostlyl sunny, windy, 24-31
Hobart: possible morning shower, 5-15
Melbourne: possible afternoon shower, 7-17
Newcastle: rain easing, 15-19
Perth: sunny, 8-23
Sydney: rain, possibly heavy at times, 13-19
Townsville: morning shower, 21-27
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