Health gem

If you do one thing this week . . . keep moving on the way back to school

THE SUMMER holidays are over and around the country families with school-aged children are preparing to get back into the school routine.

But in the midst of the mayhem, perhaps it’s worth thinking about how the kids get to and from school. Is it always in a car?

In some cases that may be the only practical or safe option, but if there’s scope for them to get to or from school safely on foot or by bicycle, it’s a way of bumping up their physical activity.

Going with them can mean getting some fresh air and exercise for you too, and sometimes the walk to or from school can be a good time for conversation.

Another option to think about, for younger children in particular, is getting to the schoolyard a little before the bell rings, so they can move around for a while there before they need to be at their desks.