Walk with Wheels Week
Walk with Wheels Week encourages pre-school children, parents and carers to walk, wheel, scoot and cycle all or part of their journey to their early years setting. Taking place each May, the initiative helps families build healthy active travel habits that can last a lifetime.
Being active on the journey doesn't just help children reach their recommended daily level of physical activity - it also supports physical and mental wellbeing. With extra time to talk, connect and enjoy quality moments together, it is a lovely way to begin and end the day.
Open to all Hampshire nurseries, pre-schools, playgroups and childminders, registration is free and participating settings receive resources to support the challenge. Two competitions - one for settings and one for children - are fully funded by the UK Government and offer fantastic prizes to be won.
If you're unsure whether your setting or child will be able to take part, visit our Walk with Wheels Week supporting information page for ideas on how to adapt the challenge to help everyone get involved.
Walk with Wheels Week 2026
Children's competition
Children at participating settings were invited to take part in our 'My Journey Photo Frame' competition by entering a fun, themed photo of their active journey during Walk with Wheels Week.
We are delighted to announce the winners.
😊 Happy journey – Isaac, walked to preschool from home, and it was a happy walk. Isaac loves animals, and on the walk he saw a dog. They signed “dog” is British Sign Language, and then he gently petted the dog. He loved the walk because he was going to see his teachers and all his friends, but most of all he enjoyed being free outside and able to explore the world around him.
🌦️ Weather-related journey – Ralph, usually travels to preschool by car, but for Walk with Wheels Week he went by scooter instead. Even when it rained Ralph wore his wellies to splash through the puddles to preschool. Some of Ralph's friends also joined him along the way on their scooters. Ralph really enjoyed the independence of travelling by scooter rather than by car. He was proud to show his scooter to the preschool staff and tell them all about his ride to preschool.
🌟 Be bright journey – Freya, learnt to ride her wonderful pink bike a few months ago and loves to show everyone that she can! Riding her bike really boosts Freya’s mood and has encouraged her to try riding without her stabilisers soon.
Early years settings' competition
Fifty early years settings took part in Walk with Wheels Week 2026. They were asked to deliver an active travel initiative that would encourage families and staff to walk, wheel, scoot and cycle during the week. We received some fantastic entries, showcasing inspiring and creative ways to promote active travel and the benefits it brings.
Our winning setting is Crestwood Pre-school where they fully embraced Walk with Wheels Week by engaging both children and families throughout the event. Families were encouraged to walk, scoot or cycle to preschool and learned about the benefits of active travel, including the amount of daily physical activity young children need.
The setting involved children each day by asking how they had travelled to preschool and recording their responses through a simple show-of-hands poll. Balance bikes, scooters and tricycles were made available daily, helping children develop their skills while also providing opportunities to discuss staying safe and wearing helmets.
To celebrate the week, families shared photos of their active journeys, which were brought together in a montage for children and parents to enjoy. The children loved seeing themselves travelling to preschool in different ways, making Walk with Wheels Week a fun experience for everyone involved.
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Our runner-up setting is Jack & Jill Pre-School, here they made Walk with Wheels Week an exciting and engaging experience for children and families. Children were encouraged to take part using challenge passports, which families completed together and returned to the setting. Throughout the week, staff saw children arriving in a variety of ways, including on balance bikes, scooters and in prams.
The setting linked the event to a road safety theme, using road signs and bikes in the outdoor area to help children learn how to travel safely. Children enjoyed putting their knowledge into practice, taking turns to be the lollipop person and demonstrating their understanding of different road signs.
The week also provided opportunities for wider learning and skill development. Some children achieved the milestone of riding two-wheeled bicycles without stabilisers. Overall, the children had great fun while developing important road safety awareness, confidence and active travel skills.
Walk with Wheels fun activities and ideas
Why not explore some of these ideas and resources to help children and families learn more about active, safe and sustainable travel?
- Activity sheets for active journeys
Families can make their active journeys even more fun by downloading our activity sheets. Settings could also use them while out on a local walk:
- Walk, Talk and Listen in the Early Years
Our Walk, Talk and Listen in the Early Years resource explores the value of making time to walk, talk and listen. It includes practical ideas, hints and tips to help you get the most out of everyday walks.
- Create a journey trail
Set up a simple trail along walking, wheeling and cycle routes to your setting, or within your outdoor space, for families and children to explore. You could use Basil Bird as part of the trail and as a colouring resource to promote it.
- Active travel and road safety focus week
Plan an active travel and road safety focus week at your setting. The My Journey early years curriculum resources include suggested activities across each learning goal. Parents can also visit the active travel and wellbeing pages for ideas and inspiration. The THINK! website offers lessons and resources to help children learn about the Green Cross Code and other important road safety messages.
- Create a ‘Walk of Fame’
Use chalk, mud or other materials in your outdoor area to create footprints and wheel tracks representing all the children and adults who walk, wheel, scoot or cycle. Talk about how most people travel and ask how they would like to travel.
- Scooting and balance bike practice
If space allows, set up a simple track or route to practise using scooters and balance bikes. Some of the information in our scooting guidelines may be helpful.
- Sustainable travel flash cards
Make or download flash cards to help identify different types of sustainable travel and local features that help us travel this way, such as crossing points, bus stops and road signs.
- Road safety play activities
Use tuff tray activities, role play and small world play with a road safety theme. Mrs Mactivity and Twinkl both offer resources you may wish to use (an account is required).
Story time
Read the online air quality story A Wild Walk to School at your setting or at home.
There are lots of fantastic travel themed books for early years, see our Active and Sustainable Booklist for ideas.
To keep up to date and find out about My Journey events and challenges, subscribe to our My Journey education newsletter and follow us on social media.
