What Can you do in your community to get kids active?

I don't know if you get Newsweek or not, but it highlights Michelle Obama's initiative to tackle childhood obesity, and there were some very jaw dropping statistics...

• In 1955 a "medium" soft drink at McDonald's was 7 oz. Today it is 21 oz
• 8-18 year olds spend an average of seven and a half hours a day multi-tasking in front of TV's videogames, or computers.
• obesity contributes to a higher risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer and orthopedic problems
• obesity also contributes to social and emotional problems
• If current trends continue, nearly one in three kids born in 2000 will develop diabetes

Enough of the doom and gloom. After reading the article, I felt compelled to act on an idea that I have been sitting on for quite a while that would allow each of us as parents to do one small FREE thing that would not only help our kids get more activity, but would not make our lives any busier than they already are; a walking school bus!

The concept is basic and one that we all probably did when we were younger without any organization of fancy names... Walk to School! Many parents have safety concerns about children walking to and from school. By organizing a walking school bus our kids will be with a grown up and have a chance to wind down after school. I would love to hear your take on this simple concept.