McCook school children, kindergarten through eighth grade, are encouraged to participate Wednesday in McCook's "Walk to School Day," to promote healthy lifestyles and kick off the school district's "Walk to School Month" activities in April.

The "Walk to School" activities are supported by a "Safe Routes to School" grant awarded to the McCook school district by the Nebraska Department of Roads, according to McCook Elementary Principal Lynda Baumbach.

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The program focuses on exercise, nutrition and healthy lifestyles to last a lifetime.

Third through eighth graders have been given pedometers and log sheets, and prizes await those who record the most steps through the end of April.

Baumbach said the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) will get involved in the creation of "walking school buses," in which a neighborhood parent walks a group of students to school. "We encourage parents, especially those at the lower elementary, to identify the school children in their neighborhoods, and walk with them to school," Baumbach said, possibly creating a schedule and taking turns with parents within the neighborhood.

Maps of good routes to school have been sent home to parents with students, Baumbach said. Tips for selecting appropriate routes to school include:

* Choose sidewalks or established paths wherever possible, even if it means the trip may be longer.

* Minimize the number of street crossings.

* Avoid busy, high-speed or multi-lane intersections and streets whenever possible.

* Be aware of drivers and notice if they yield to walkers and drive at safe speeds. Some streets are more conducive to producing safer driver behavior.

* Use a route that avoids potential problems, such as loose dogs, traffic congestion, criminal and/or gang behavior, vacant buildings and streets with poor lighting.

Good nutrition and healthy eating habits are covered within the grant, Baumbach said. Julie Neighbors of Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department, and McCook teacher/coaches Tim Garcia, Carrie Goltl and Matt Wiemers have been teaching nutrition mini-classes to third through fourth graders.