Kids urged to walk to school

There is a renewed push for parents to encourage their children to walk to school, amid growing traffic congestion and concerns about childhood obesity.

Almost 40,000 students from 200 WA schools will take part in Walk to School Day today, which the Heart Foundation and Department of Transport hope will encourage long-term change.

Heart Foundation director of cardiovascular health Trevor Shilton said just 34 per cent of boys and girls in WA actively commute to school, despite 56 per cent living within a 20-minute walk from home.

He said with only 41 per cent of boys and 27 per cent of girls achieving the minimum daily guidelines for exercise, walking to school was an easy way to boost activity levels.

"There is no more convenient, effective or beneficial way to get kids active," he said.

"There are enormous benefits in relation to heart health and weight and active kids are better learners."

South Perth Primary School has integrated walking into its curriculum through its Awesome Walk-Some program, which rewards those children who walk to school and involves parent volunteers who pick up kids on a "walking bus".

School principal Daryl Mansfield said it had made a "massive" difference in easing traffic congestion around the school.

“In 2007 we had 30 per cent (actively) commuting and now it’s at 60 per cent,” Mr Mansfield said.

“It’s getting better and better, and a lot of parents are enjoying bringing them to school on tandem bikes or enjoying going for a walk too.”