Safer way to school: Jarmen primary school relies on exercise instead of parent taxis

Safer way to school: Jarmen primary school relies on exercise instead of parent taxis

A lot has happened at the Jarmener elementary school in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the last few weeks. The school has joined the nationwide initiative “SpoSpiTo” connected, which not only promotes health, but also safety and environmental compatibility on the way to school. The name “SpoSpiTo” stands for “Sporting, Playing, Romping” and is one of the largest school projects in Germany, which aims to strengthen children's independence and defuse problematic traffic situations in front of schools. This initiative is particularly important at a time when many parents act as “helicopter parents” and bring their children to school by car.

The “We come to school without a car” campaign lasts six weeks, during which students are encouraged to walk, bike or scooter to school. Each child had the opportunity to collect an exercise pass in which the days on which they were active were recorded. But that's not all: Anyone who completed their passport completely received a certificate. Headmaster Dana Röthemeier distributed 85 of these certificates to hard-working students who successfully took part in the campaign. Loud Northern Courier Over half of the 149 primary school students took part in the campaign, which represents a pleasing increase compared to previous years. The bike stand is now better filled than before.

Rewards and achievements

The campaign not only brought with it certificates, but also prizes for the most committed participants. Fiene Zimmer, a second grader, won a Ravensburger game and Miley Borchardt, a fourth grader, received a Decathlon shopping voucher. “Bibo”, the city’s mascot, also accompanied the ceremony and created an additional festive atmosphere.

A central concern of the “SpoSpiTo” initiative is to reduce the traffic chaos caused by parent taxis. Teachers report dangerous traffic situations that endanger the safety of students. Many parents and grandparents did not adhere to the parking ban, which often resulted in school buses being blocked. A look into the past shows that many “parent taxis” were parked on Rosenstrasse, which made passage for school buses a problem.

Health and environment in focus

The benefits to be gained from such active school travel initiatives are numerous. In addition to improving traffic and travel safety, regular exercise in the fresh air contributes to children's concentration and balance. Studies show that promoting physical activity not only strengthens the immune system, but also conveys important values ​​in road traffic. Healthy coexistence in public spaces is becoming increasingly important in pedagogy, and this is also anchored in the educational plans for kindergartens and schools dguv.de highlights.

Parents, students and teachers are becoming increasingly enthusiastic about the campaign, and it is clear that this initiative has not only improved the traffic situation at the Jarmen primary school, but also increased the children's awareness of health and mobility. Preparations for the next round of the SpoSpiTo initiative in 2026 are already in full swing. Registrations are only possible through the school and require the approval of the school management.