According to a study conducted by Deakin University, parents take their children to school by car, thinking that it is the way their children want to go to school.

But on May 20, thousands of children shall walk to their school. The reason is The Walk Safely to School Day initiative, which promotes the habit of being fit in school children so that they don’t develop physical problems like obesity at a young age.

This event, which started 12 years ago, promotes walking from home to school. Members of the initiative say that walking also results in favour of environment as cars emit harmful gases.

Boyd Swinburn, a professor in Deakin University says, “If we’re bringing up the next generation of children to be sedentary, then they become sedentary adults and that flows on to developing these chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes”.

Scott Davidson, Principal of Camden Public School, says that the school shall also promote road safety on this day. He added that walking is a good exercise and by walking regularly, the students also become fit for the Premier's Sporting Challenge which the school participates in.

The message promoted by the initiative is ‘Active kids are Healthy kids’.