Families gearing up for the first day back to school Tuesday will be wondering if there are enough hours in the day to check everything off their to-do lists.
Will practising walking to school be one of the tasks?
A child injury experts recommends children be allowed to walk to school on their own or with other kids because it builds confidence, resiliency and street smarts. That walk could also make them fitter and their brain better prepared for thinking in class.
For parents who think it’s too dangerous to let their children walk and play alone, there’s a whole raft of research that suggests children can safely navigate the real world if allowed and given some ground rules.
So the idea of doing a dry run so a youngster knows the route, safe places and what to do in an emergency is not a bad one, and may well be added to the back-to-school list.
