Walking to school

One of the characteristics of state-funded schooling is the allocation of school places according to postcode.  This generally means that the students for any particular school may live quite close to their school.  It also depends on the density of schools at a location, e.g. children in living in rural areas may live further from their nearest schools in comparison to children living in built up areas.  We are fortunate that the school Baby goes to is relatively near home and it is possible to walk to school.  There are benefits in engaging with physical activities and the advice is for children, where possible, to walk to school to increase their active minutes.  That is important but the biggest attraction of walking to school with Baby is spending time with Baby.  On any typical work day, I don't get home till fairly late in the evening, when we rush through dinner, shower, homework and then bedtime.  Thus, the time that we spend having breakfast and walking to school together, is really the only time we spend together on a week day.  So we choose different routes every morning and try to leave as early as possible so we can enjoy our stroll rather than rush to school.  Some mornings we go to feed the ducks, others we just walk through the park and look at whatever catches or eyes.  We have funny conversations about nonsense, or he tells me about what had happened at school, or asks me about something that he wanted to know more about.  It is quality time together and we do it rain or shine, as long as Baby wakes up early enough for us to walk to school.  Precious mornings together, getting exercise, getting to know the neighbourhood, getting to know each other... so many good things come out of it; what's not to like?

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