"WalkSafe" Teaches Kids About Health & Safety
MIAMI (CBS4) – A group of Miami elementary school students learned an important lesson Wednesday about the benefits of walking to school.
In the program called "WalkSafe", the students learn about both healthy living and pedestrian safety.
Students, staff and parents at Charles R. Drew Elementary School in Miami took part in an early morning pep rally to celebrate "International Walk to School Day."
At the pep rally, South Florida mascots such as Sebastian the Ibis, Billy the Marlin and Bernie from the Miami Heat, all took part to help teach kids about walking safely to school and staying healthy.
"We have the obesity problem in this country," said Dr. Gillian Hotz, WalkSafe Director. "If we start young, this program is based for kids that are elementary school age, starting in kindergarten. If we can get those basic understandings of how to walk safely to school and increase their daily activity, I think that's what it's all about."
The WalkSafe program, started by the University of Miami, has become a countywide initiative and is now mandated in every public school in Miami-Dade County.
"Students, especially of elementary age, need 60 minutes of physical activity every day," according to Dr. Jayne Greenberg, Miami-Dade County Public Schools Director of Physical Education and Health Literacy. "They get 30 minutes from physical education, but the 15 minutes they can spend walking to and from school increases their cardiovascular and maintains a healthy weight."
Click here for more information about the WalkSafe program.
