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Active to school: The recipe for success for healthy children!
Scientists at the University of Paderborn promote active routes to school with “Walking Bus” and “Biking Bus” for more exercise and safety.
Active to school: The recipe for success for healthy children!
Scientists of the University of Paderborn have been actively committed to making school routes safer and more environmentally friendly for two decades. A successful project in this area is the “Walking Bus”, which is offered at many primary schools in Germany. This program not only promotes exercise in the fresh air, but also strengthens children's social skills and promotes their independence.
The “Walking Bus” principle stipulates that primary school students walk to school accompanied by adults. The aim is to relieve traffic in front of schools and at the same time promote physical activity. The advantages of an active route to school are many, as Dr. Nicole Satzinger explains: Children who participate regularly show increased attentiveness in the first lessons. In addition, their daily exercise time is increased and the opportunity for social interaction is promoted.
Project extensions and new initiatives
In order to meet the needs of children, the concept of the “Biking Bus” was introduced this year. Here, children cycle to school in groups, accompanied by trained “biking scouts”. This program also aims to promote safety and community. The routes and stops are developed in collaboration with the Friedrich Spee Comprehensive School, the city of Paderborn and the police.
In addition, the importance of active mobility in school is recognized. The “Pedestrian and Bicycle Friendly School” project is being carried out by Federal Environment Agency and the Federal Environment Ministry. On-site checks on walking and cycling friendliness are being carried out at 30 schools in Germany in order to strengthen active mobility and encourage children and young people to adopt a climate-friendly lifestyle.
Benefits for children and parents
The perceived safety while traveling to school is one of the core concerns of projects such as the “Walking Bus”. An overview of the benefits clearly shows why the initiatives are important. Children who participate in these programs benefit from:
- Erhöhter Aufmerksamkeit in der Schule
- Verbesserter körperlicher Fitness
- Förderung sozialer Interaktionen
- Weniger Zeitaufwand für die Eltern während des Schulwegs
The importance of safe and active routes to school cannot be overstated. Several initiatives based on the idea of the “Walking School Bus” show that interest in active mobility solutions is growing. Not only is the children's physical health supported, but also their social development. Based on scientific findings, it can be proven that participation in these programs improves children's ability to concentrate and their learning abilities.
The ongoing adaptation and development of such programs, such as those of Walking School Bus, aims to make children's mobility safer and more entertaining. The need for creative and safe solutions for more and more children cycling or walking to school is evident and therefore of great importance for the entire community.