Expectations for Walking Speeds: Standards for Students in Elementary Schools

In Brief Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine children's walking speeds in elementary school hallways. A second aim was to determine the slowest but “good enough” walking speed if a teacher had to slow down her class's line to accommodate a student with a mobility limitation. Methods: The walking speeds of 370 children serving as class-line leaders were determined after measuring using a stopwatch the time that it took to walk along 50-ft paths in school hallways. Teachers were asked to demonstrate a “good enough” speed for a child with mobility limitations after instruction and demonstration of slow walking by a physical therapist (PT). The teachers “good enough” speed was determined after measuring with a stopwatch the time that it took for the teacher to walk a distance of 50 ft imitating a “good enough” speed. Results: Significant speed differences were found between children in kindergarten through sixth grade. The mean speed to walk 50 ft used by kindergarten line leaders was 13.5 seconds, and the speed increased to 50 ft in 10.6 seconds for sixth grade lines. Teacher “good enough” times were significantly different from the children's times at every grade level. Conclusions: These peer-based school standards can be used by PTs, parents, teachers, and other Individualized Education Program team members to make realistic decisions about future goals for preschool and elementary school children with mobility limitations so that they can participate with their peers. Data collected on children in kindergarten through 6th grade and teacher’s demonstrations of “good enough” walking speeds for children with disabilities provide reference values for walking speeds in schools hallways. These data should assist in determining appropriate mobility goals for children with disabilities.