Monday, October 3, 2022 - Shape Your Future, a program of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET), and the TSET Healthy Living Program serving Sequoyah County are promoting healthy habits and encouraging physical activity by inviting students, families and communities to walk and roll to school on Wednesday, October 5.
Students at Eastside Elementary and Liberty Elementary schools will have an opportunity to participate in a Walk to School Day event on October 5. Students who wish to participate and their parents/guardians will meet at The RINK, located at 128 Sioux St. at 7:30 am. Together, students, parents/guardians, and staff will walk the safest route to the elementary school cafeteria where they’ll be greeted by local community partners with encouraging smiles, high-fives, refreshing water and healthy snacks.
“Starting healthy habits early can help children grow into healthy adults, continuing those habits as they get older,” said Julie Bisbee, executive director of TSET. “Active transportation such as walking, biking or even riding a scooter to school is a simple and easy way for children to add physical activity into their daily lives.”
National Walk and Roll to School Day provides kids (and the adults accompanying them) the opportunity to improve brain health, strengthen bones and muscles and have fun with friends. The occasion is also a great way to work toward achieving the 60 minutes a day of physical activity for children recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
“Adding a bit of adventure to a child’s daily routine, like walking or rolling to school, can help children connect positive feelings with physical activity,” said Jayna Tillman, TSET Healthy Living Program coordinator serving Sequoyah County. “Walking to school can be fun and teach kids that healthy living doesn’t have to be boring or hard. Research shows that when children aged 6 to 13 are physically active, it can immediately improve brain function and, over time, help with learning, judgment and better sleep.”
Not only does Walk and Roll to School Day benefit students, but it also positively impacts the community. Since the event began in 1997, the program has kicked off improvements like long-term walking and rolling programs, new sidewalks and policy changes at schools and in communities. That is because the event offers public officials the opportunity to see and address challenges to active transportation in the community. Not to mention, it lowers the amount of traffic in the morning.
Shape Your Future’s tips for a safe Walk and Roll Day:
· Walk with your child
· Plan a route
· Teach children to stay away from vehicles
· Look left-right-left when crossing the street
· Tell kids to never talk to strangers
· Wear bright-colored clothing to increase visibility
For more kid-friendly physical activity tips and ideas on living healthy for all Oklahomans, visit ShapeYourFutureOK.com.
Lindsie Dyer, Staff Writer
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