School run steps

See the steps and active minutes your child gets from walking to school.

Your details

Walking the school run

minutes on foot a day

Towards the 60 active minutes children need daily60%
In a school week3 hr
Your child's steps a day4,501

Walking, scooting or cycling to school is one of the easiest ways to build activity into a day. Even walking part of the way counts.

The working

Three quarters of a mile, there and back

1.5 miles a day at 2.5 mph is 36 minutes on foot, about 60% of the 60 active minutes a day the UK guidelines suggest for children. For a child of 4 ft 3 in, that is roughly 4,485 steps.

Ideas

Making it work

Park and stride: drive part way and walk the last 10 minutes
Scooting and cycling count as active travel too
Walking buses share the load between families
Leave five minutes earlier and it stops being a rush

The guideline

What children need

The UK Chief Medical Officers suggest children and young people average at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a day, across the week. Active travel is a big help.

Read with care

What this cannot tell you

SafetyOnly you can judge if a route is safe.
Little legsYoung children may need a buggy or rests.
Health needsAsk your GP or school nurse about any condition.

Questions

Common questions

How much activity do children need?

An average of at least 60 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous activity.

Does walking to school count?

Yes. Brisk walking, scooting and cycling all count.

How many steps should a child do?

There is no UK step target; active minutes are what count.

Sources

Last checked 21 October 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.

Before you push on

New to exercise, or got a heart, lung or joint condition? Have a word with your GP or practice nurse first. Stop and get help if you feel chest pain, faintness or unusual breathlessness, and call 999 if it is severe.