Bring the outside in with a new online resource for families across Devon
Families across Devon can now access fun and educational resources online via a new four week feature launched today. The feature is offered through Sustrans’ free parent-focused newsletter.
The four-week feature, compiled by the walking and cycling charity Sustrans, includes five activities themed for wellbeing, keeping active, being creative, investigating and ‘anything goes’. Each week also features a challenge and game to keep children active whilst at home.
Activities include tasks to design the ideal child-friendly street; a challenge for children to ‘rainbow bling’ their bicycle helmets, and a number of other challenges, games and activities to keep children active whilst at home.
The feature forms part of a parent-focused newsletter offered by Sustrans, which features links to cycling and walking tips, and other useful content to help families walk, cycle and scoot.
Following the UK-wide lockdown announced by the Government is March, families have been engaging in home learning.
Sarah Leeming, Head of Delivery for the south of England at Sustrans, said: “It’s been over a month since UK schools closed and parents started home-schooling. This pack offers additional activities to keep children entertained and active during these unusual times.
“Walking, cycling and scooting are great ways to contribute to keeping us active and healthy in body and mind. During this time where we are mostly required to stay at home, these activities become harder to do so. Sustrans Outside In therefore aims to provide ideas and inspiration to bring health and wellbeing activities into the home.
“The content has been developed by Sustrans’ skilled workforce of school officers who are experienced at developing fun and educational resources suitable for the school setting.”
Dame Sarah Storey, British Paralympian and Active Travel Commissioner for the Sheffield City Region said "With usual activities and family visits on hold, there has never been a more important time to have a range of activities you can do at home and especially for families who have limited access to outside space.
“This home learning pack from Sustrans is a fantastic way of introducing children to new activities and I love the idea of them investigating the changes they are experiencing as a result of social-distancing.
“Children are also more aware than ever of the benefits of reduced traffic and how much easier it is to go on a family bike ride with fewer vehicles on the road. I really hope families enjoy these activities and I am looking forward to seeing the streets that the children design!"
For parents wanting to sign up to the weekly newsletters, please visit: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/campaigns/outside-in/
Photo credit: Jon Bewley/PhotoJB
