Hop on the walking school bus!

So a couple of days ago I was on Twitter for HaltonParents, y’know, minding my own business, when I stumbled upon this CTV News report, that asks “Are we DRIVING our kids to unhealthy habits?” The report says, “Fewer kids commuting by bike, foot, report finds.” This video sums the report up nicely:

So I tweeted about it.  And then I thought, let’s have a conversation about this. What are the barriers Halton parents face when deciding whether to have their child walk or bike to school? I heard lots of reasons – my child is “too young,” fear for children’s safety, mornings are a rush, school is too far away, it’s on my way to work. There are plenty of reasons why we choose to drive our kids to school.

You know that feeling you get when you are so absolutely motivated and excited and 100% believe you can change the world?? That’s me right now! Come and hop on my bandwagon and let’s do something super easy that will help to make our kids healthier by being more active, make our neighbourhoods safer, make some friends and increase that “my community rocks” feeling.

Imagine a neighbourhood where you and your kids know the other kids and parents; where your children have other adults they can trust; and where your kids have solid friendships with other kids in the neighbourhood! (Need another incentive? All of these things happen to be pretty important in increasing your child’s resilience in the face of life’s struggles).

Here’s what I’m proposing – a “walking school bus.”  It doesn’t have to be complicated. Start by picking one morning a week (say Wednesdays) where you walk your children to school. Let some other parents on your street and at your school know what you have started, and offer to have their children join you. Suggest they pick one morning a week to commit to walking the kids to school. Just like that you have a walking school bus! Spread the word, chat about it, encourage other families to do the same, and get your child’s school in on the action. Get teens to lead walking school buses for their volunteer hours. Middle school children can likely walk without adults, using a buddy system. If school is a bit far away, consider a “bike train.” Whatever form it takes, it doesn’t need to be complicated. It just needs to happen.

If school really is too far away, (I’m lookin’ at you, rural Haltonians) are there any places you can walk to? A local store, park or friend’s house perhaps? I challenge you too to skip the car and make the trek! Smile and chat with the people you meet along the way, introduce your kids to their neighbourhood, and take the time to bond with your child.

Have you started a walking school bus?  We want to hear from you! There are many ways you can talk to one of us directly:

• Leave us a comment below – we’d love your feedback
• Talk to us on Twitter: @haltonparents
• Email us at haltonparents@halton.ca
• Call the HaltonParents line for parenting information or to speak directly to a Public Health Nurse (every Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) Simply dial 311 or 905-825-6000.

Read Andrea’s Bio

The TV actually turns off?? COOL!

I am not a perfect person.  It follows then, that I am not a perfect mother.  My children watch TV.  Not as often or as much as some other kids I know (for some shallow reason I felt the need to say that) and, as per household rules, never at supper time.  But on occasion, it has happened; more often than I care to admit.  In fact, it happened yesterday…my kids watched TV!  The horror!!

OK, so I know all the names of the characters on Good Luck Charlie and have been known to hum the theme song to iCarly on occasion – you got me!  My 6 and almost 9 year-old definitely watch some TV (but it is after homework is done, does not replace active play and did I mention it’s never at mealtime?  Guilty conscience anyone?)  But I will say this…from the heart: I absolutely believe that screen time (i.e., time spent with my kids’ little eyes glued to an electronic screen of any kind) is bad for my kids’ health, growth and development and must do all I can to limit it.

I don’t step up on my soap box very often, but for this I will.  Until now, there were lots of studies warning about the dangers of screen time, but for some reason, the most recent one I read about in the National Post struck a chord with me.  Having been a nurse for the better part of 2 decades and having seen things ranging from amazing to downright horrifying, lemme tell ya – given the countless  things, beyond our control,  that can go haywire in our bodies, we would be NUTS not to at least try to curb some activities that degrade the health of our kids.

I am not a paranoid parent (as the legend goes, children of nurses only get medical attention when they are to point of being unable to ask for it!  LOL!) and don’t endorse living life on eggshells awaiting some future diagnosis that may never come.  But I do think that reducing the time our kids spend watching TV is an easy lifestyle change (as opposed to when I gave up chocolate – now that was awful!) and is one that most families could handle at least giving a try.

Highly technical steps to decrease time spent watching TV:

1. Turn it off.
2. Go outside and play.

Questions?

How much time do your kids spend watching TV or other screens?  Let’s talk about it!

There are many ways you can talk to one of us directly:

• Leave us a comment below – we’d love your feedback
• Talk to us on Twitter: @haltonparents
• Email us at haltonparents@halton.ca
• Call the HaltonParents line for parenting information or to speak directly to a Public Health Nurse (every Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) Simply dial 311 or 905-825-6000.

About this blogger:

Paula D’Orazio, RN is a public health nurse with the Early Years Health Program.  Wanna know more about her?  Read her blogs!  She’ll tell ya!  (She kinda likes to talk.)

Reflections on innocence

My heart sank deep in my chest and my eyes immediately filled with tears just now as I learned from a radio report that the remains of Tim Bosma had been found in a rural area in southwestern Ontario.

Details will emerge.  Questions will likely be at least partially answered in time, but the fact remains…a family has been shattered.  A little girl just lost her dad.  A young mother lost her partner.  A family, a community – in shock and mourning.

My daughter caught some of the details of this sad case the other night by accident while the news was on TV at home. 

My son stresses over getting A’s at school…Should I be worried?

As I read last week’s blog Education week and Mental Health week: I see the connection, I feel Paula’s struggles with her young daughter and the stress she has about school.

This reminds me of a documentary I recently watched with a group of about 25 other parents. It was called Race to Nowhere. Here’s the trailer:

Mother’s Day reflections

I think Mother’s Day means something different for every single one of us. What does it mean for you?

Education Week and Mental Health Week: I see the connection

“We have to do this homework tonight – we are getting ready for EQAO testing!  Dad!  DAD!  This is SERIOUS!!”, bellowed my 8-year old daughter, who I will admit has a bit of a nervous and timid temperament; not exactly quick to embrace new challenges, as she charged into the kitchen tearing her backpack open.

As she sat and worked away with Daddy, I heard things like, “I hate math”, “I’m never gonna be good at this” and “I’m not smart at math”.  Funny – never heard such things during usual homework sessions.  I thought EQAO was supposed to measure what kids actually know.  More concerning to me was the anxiety she was showing in anticipation of the test – noticeably agitated about it.

Sleep is Everything: Making my own sleep a priority

To me, sleep is everything. If I’m caught up on my sleep, I’m a better mommy: I’m more patient; I’m happier; and I can better handle the days my daughter is extra fussy.