IC School Promotes Healthy Habits With Their Walk On Wednesdays Initiative

Released on: January 29, 2010, 12:23 pm
Author: Macarena Palacios/ IC School
Industry: Education

The International Community School is one of the best known international school London has to offer. The institution has recently stepped out of the classroom with their new Walk on Wednesday program that involves all of their Primary Year students. The initiative seeks to promote healthy habits and to teach the important habits of keeping a regular exercise routine to avoid the health problems related to obesity.

Childhood obesity has grown to be a major problem in several western countries. Kids these days walk far less than the ones from the past generation and the statistics regarding obesity are shocking. Walking is one of the most accessible forms of exercise since almost anyone can do it. Thus taking daily walks can become the foundation from which children can learn a host of other healthy habits and learn to incorporate a proper diet and exercise in their lives.

Walk on Wednesday

The ICS has become a rather well-known independent school London because of its many projects that involve more than just regular classes. The institution has a host of activities that involves kids from all ages and that take the learning experience to new levels, both inside and outside of the classroom. The Walk on Wednesday project is a perfect example of these type of teaching methodology. The goal: to have kids exercise at least once a week and teach them the value of keeping a regular exercise regime. The implementation is simple - the school buses that usually take the children directly to the institution drop them off at the top of Regents Park instead. There the students are joined by a group of ICS teachers who then walk with them towards the school. Each student shares the activity with his or her friends and the journey is seen as an achievement that they make as a group.

Benefits of walking for children

1. Helps to build muscles and maintain a healthy bone structure
2. Helps children control their weight and prevents obesity problems
3. Reduces levels of stress, sadness and anxiety (as all exercise does)
4. Increases both flexibility and stamina
5. Improves mental feats of concentration and memory retention
6. Helps children sleep much better (as well as adults to a different degree)

Contact Details: 4 York Terrace East
Regents Park
London NW1 4PT
Tel: +44 20 7935 1206
Fax: +44 20 7935 7915
makypalacios@gmail.com
http://www.icschool.co.uk/index.html