Parents need to make this part of their daily routine

Admit it, we've become extremely attached to our cars. We love the convenience of stepping out of the house, getting into the driving seat and heading off to our destination in comfort and at a time of our choosing.

Over the years we’ve got used to this freedom and we’re not going to give it up easily.

That’s why persuading us to forsake our vehicles and ease congestion by using public transport instead is always going to be a hard sell.

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But let’s be honest, how many of us stop and think whether making a journey by car is really necessary?

For instance, parents can be guilty of automatically jumping in the car and taking the kids the relatively short distance to school each day when it would be quite possible to walk.

So we end up with the scenario of lines of cars pulling up near the school gates to let out children who have been wafted from door to door.

Those who have walked or cycled seem to be very much in the minority.

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This all reinforces the notion among our children that it’s perfectly normal to drive everywhere.

That’s why we support the national Walk To School initiative this week and are pleased to report on page three that around 60 children at Gomer Junior School in Gosport have taken part so far.

We hope this is being repeated at schools across the Portsmouth area – and not just because it cuts down on car journeys to reduce jams and pollution.

With obesity such a concern these days, isn’t it great to see children (and their parents) walking together and enjoying a healthy start to their day?

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As 10-year-old pupil Shannon Quinn says: ‘It is healthy to walk and it is good for you, so I have liked taking part.’

Such enthusiasm among children is great to see,

The key now is for parents to ensure that walking to school doesn’t only last for one week and that it becomes part of their family’s daily routine.