Yes, it’s still summer, but back to school is just around the corner. Thinking now about how you get to and from school can make life easier when school starts in September.
Our Active School Travel team made this short and quick guide to help you in that process. This guide follows two simple stages. The goal is to help your family first build and then keep safe, active school travel routines.
Most families make 10 school trips each week. (To and from school equals two daily trips on each weekday.) It adds up to a lot of time and travel for each family. And there are hundreds of families in each school, and thousands of schools across Canada. You get the idea. Each of those trips is a chance to boost the health, independence, and learning readiness of children. Each of those trips is also a chance to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality around schools.
But mostly, all this can help make a better back-to-school experience for everyone involved.
If you are relatively new to considering the role and benefits of active school travel, you may be wondering why all this matters so much. There are significant impacts and benefits not only on families with school-age children but also on surrounding communities. Explore our blog on the benefits of active school travel and why it can make a difference for equity, inclusion, and health.
This summer, take some time to consider new travel routes, try different active travel modes, build confidence, and find what works best for your family. A little planning now can set the tone for a smoother, healthier school year ahead.
Stage 1: Before School Starts
Plan Your Route
Plan some family adventures during these summer weeks to try out different walking, biking, or rolling routes to school.
- Put safety and connectivity at the forefront when route planning — Choose routes that include sidewalks, shared pathways, bike lanes, school crossing guards, and quieter residential roads, if possible. The goal is to keep direct interactions with vehicle traffic to a minimum.
- Time the trip — See how long it takes to travel to school using a variety of modes, so you can build it into your school-day schedule.
- Build confidence in your child’s abilities — Make note of helpful signs, buildings, or safe places along the route. Doing so builds familiarity and feelings of comfort in the journey.
- Talk through challenges — Discuss what to do at tricky crossings and other places where your child may feel unsafe.
Action step:
Ask your school if they have a “Routes to School” map — many schools do! Examples of Routes to School maps are available from Green Communities Canada.
Make Practice Fun
Walking together before school starts builds confidence — and it can be fun too!
- Create a Scavenger Hunt or Bingo Card with your child — include things like: stop signs, bike racks, benches, crosswalks, and safe places to go for help.
- Invite a sibling or friend for a walk — buddies make it more fun and reinforce the concept of safety in numbers.
- Explore a few different route options so your child is prepared and confident.
Action Step:
Start exploring your school route this week.
Stage 2: Once School Starts
Build It into Your Mornings
Now that you’ve practiced and planned, keep the momentum going by:
- Leaving 5-10 minutes earlier to avoid rushing.
- Letting your child take more ownership of the route.
- Checking in with them regularly — what’s going well? Any new concerns?
Adjust as Needed
- If the weather changes, talk about clothing choices or alternate plans.
- If your child’s confidence dips, walk the route again together or pair them with a buddy.
Back-to-school season is a chance to build new routines that support healthy, safe, and confident student travel. Through planning and practice, your family can form habits that will last all year!
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