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, each day they attend their early years setting. This week‑long 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.
The challenge
Walk with Wheels Week takes place in May each year and is open to all Hampshire nurseries, pre-schools, playgroups and childminders. Registration is free and participating settings receive resources to promote the challenge and take part in the competitions.
There are two competitions – one for early years settings and one for children – with fantastic prizes to be won.
If you're not sure whether your setting or child will be able to take part, visit our Walk with Wheels Week supporting information page for ideas how to adapt the challenge to help everyone get involved.
Walk with Wheels Week competition
Walk with Wheels Week 2026 competitions are now closed - winners will be announced by the end of June 2026.
Competition terms and conditions
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.
