Table 3.

Walk to School programme/community programmes run by parents

Walk to School programme “I’ve actually thought that I would like to find a way to promote and develop community programs similar to the way they develop the Block Parent program but have a Walk to School program for parents like myself. I could devote a morning or two a week to walk with a group of kids who normally would be driven to school, to walk with them, get them there safe, drop them off at school and get the exercise myself and promote the walking to school. But I can’t do it five days a week with my kids … It’s good for me and it’s good for them and it’s good for my dog, like it’s good for everybody” “If you’re going to the convenience store, walk to the store … instead of taking the elevator, taking the stairs. So with my kids I try to do that in the mall, go up the stairs even though it takes a lot longer and walking to the store instead of taking the car”

Community programme run by parents “A group of parents willing to involve themselves let’s say once a week or once every two weeks for two hours and go to the gym and oversee the children just playing. I think parents would be interested, those who are motivated to keep their children active” “You know, where five days a week there is a spot where children can go to play at that gymnasium, have a parent that goes around, or have a parent who goes around to pick up the children each night. Other parents alternate. I could do something like that once or twice a week but I can’t do it five days a week.” Another mother agreed, “there is no trouble volunteering two hours of my time for a night a week and if you could have several other parents and have them committed to it” “That’s another big thing is commitment. Everyone likes the idea but then something comes up and they have to call and they have to cancel or whatever. I see it all the time when you are trying to organize things in the community as it is. You get all these people who are interested in a good idea but then really can’t commit to a time. So I mean time commitment is a big thing but if you had it well organized …”