CHILDREN are being encouraged to put their best foot forward for National Walk Safely to School Day, on Friday.

The annual event, which sees students make a proactive decision to walk to school instead of being driven, has been rescheduled from earlier in the year following the easing of COVID-19 related restrictions.

Trinity College Gawler River campus supports the initiative each year, with students taking part in receiving a piece of fruit and sticker at the school gate.

Head of Junior School Natalie Bent said while student involvement is optional, the initiative is usually well supported.

“We aren’t a traditional primary school where people live around or nearby the school, so it’s great that our families do get involved,” she said.

“Most of the parents who do get involved park their car at the local supermarket and walk their kids to school… or a lot tend to just park their car further down the street.”

Ms Bent said the initiative ties in with the students’ term three learning around road safety.

Pedestrian Council of Australia chair and chief executive Harold Scruby said there has never been a better time to build walking into kids’ daily routine, with regular walking the best type of exercise.

“Children require at least 60 minutes per day of physical activity,” he said.

“We should encourage them to reinstate these healthy habits off the back of COVID-19 and include walking at the beginning, during and end of each day.”