Saskatoon Public Schools is celebrating Move to Grow Week, May 13-16, and families are being invited to help us celebrate by planning an active start to the school day.
More to Grow encourages students and families to use active transportation options such as walking or cycling for their commute to and from school. The opportunity to incorporate more physical activity into their day can benefit students in many ways.
Schools will be hosting a variety of activities throughout the week and many will be taking part in Bike to Work/Bike to School Day on Wednesday, May 15.
Each day our students learn how to make positive choices that will support their health and well-being. As educators, we know a daily opportunity to exercise benefits for our students in the classroom, but additional opportunities to be active every day also bring improved wellness for families and community.
The benefits of the Move To Grow campaign are more than just physical health. We Move To Grow not only our bodies but also our brains, our independence, our mindset, our mental health, our mood, our family, our friendships, a safer community, a sustainable future, and so much more.
This spring, many schools and classrooms are also taking part in Move To Grow In The Classroom, which encourages students, teachers and staff members to pursue Brain Activating Movement (BAM) twice a day. This helps our students understand how they can move their bodies to activate their heart, muscles and brain, all while enhancing learning. The goal is for students, parents/caregivers, teachers, and staff members to view exercise as an embedded piece of the learning that takes place each day.
Family life is busy, and this won't work for everyone every day, but with so much to gain, we hope families will make the investment of time to develop a new active and healthy habit.
How can families join in on Move to Grow Week?
- Walk to school with your child;
- Park a few blocks away and share a stroll to and from school;
- Work out a safe route for your child to bike to school (your school and school website has neighbourhood maps to help with planning);
- Encourage your child to connect with friends who live nearby with whom they can walk or roll;
- Connect with other school families or your child's friends to develop a walking school bus with each parent/guardian taking turns;
- Review safety tips for walking and biking (the school can provide this information)