Students stride out

In this technological age it can be difficult to pull children away from video games or the computer and get them outside and exercising — but one Eaton school is embracing the challenge.

As part of Walk Over October and in the lead-up to Walk to School Day on Wednesday, Eaton Primary School students have been getting out of the classroom and participating in mass walks around their school grounds.

Teacher Rod Harrison created five walk trails around the school and most students participated every day last week.

‘‘We have a bushland walk, a building walk around the school buildings, a sports walk, a playground walk and a perimeter walk, which is about 1km and our longest walk,’’ Mr Harrison said.

‘‘It’s a whole school thing —it doesn’t matter whether you’re a five-year-old or a 12-year-old, everybody can do it.’’

Mr Harrison said walking was a good form of exercise to promote with children because it didn’t require special equipment and was easy to organise.

‘‘Some of the children, especially the younger ones, have realised that walking is a good form of exercise and it can be tiring,’’ he said.

Walk Over October and Walk to School Day are initiatives of the Department of Transport and aim to raise awareness of the benefits of walking and encourage children to increase their daily activity by walking to school.

The Department of Transport,in conjunction with the Heart Foundation, encourages children to get a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day.