All children learn and develop differently. After your child reaches their tenth birthday, it’s up to you to decide if they’re ready to do this on their own. If not, it’s all right to continue to teach them. Teach young children to hold onto your hand while you’re walking on the street. Don’t let them run out ahead of you.
No one should wear headphones when they’re around cars. You wouldn’t wear them while you’re driving, and walking is no different.
Take the time to plan out your walks. Residential streets or crossings with lots of pedestrians can be good learning spots for children.
Following proper street safety rules, such as obeying traffic signals and utilizing crosswalks, is even more essential at night. Have your children wear clothing and/or backpacks that have light-reflective strips, which will make them more visible. You can find reflective safety strips sold separately so that you can apply them to your children’s clothes and personal items.
Be sure to point out every sign you see so that the child learns the difference between the different signs. For example, you may see stop signs, cross walk signs, street signs, neighborhood watch signs, etc. At first kids will repeat back the explanations you give them. When they can give you answers in their own words, you’ll know they’ve memorized the lesson.
An easy way to do this is by walking with them through a crosswalk that has both traffic lights and crosswalk lights nearby. Once they know enough, you can have them decide when it’s safe to walk. Choose a time when traffic is light. It’s a good idea to use flashcards to help teach younger children what traffic signals mean. This way they can learn in a safe setting. As you drive or walk with your child, point out new signals that you come across so that they child will become familiar with them.
Even if you catch them making a mistake, be gentle. Do your best to stay calm and explain the danger.
Teach children to “keep their eyes on cars. ” They can’t do this when they’re not facing traffic.
Even when you’re on a sidewalk, placing your child to the left of you can protect them from an unexpected accident.
Teach them how to respond in these situations, such as by jumping back or freezing in place.
Model good behavior by always using crosswalks yourself. If you witness someone else crossing improperly, remind your child that this is incorrect and dangerous. If you have younger children, hold their hand while you cross. Instruct older children to cross when you do. Crosswalk lights can be tricky for younger children. When they see the the blinking hand pop up, they may freeze in the middle of the street. That’s why you’re there to guide them. Play games with them such as “I Spy” or “Guess the meaning of the sign. ” For example, you can ask, “What does this sign mean? Should we stop or walk?” Praise them for getting it right.
Try asking the child what they should do during different situations. At a crosswalk, expect them to answer with something like “I stop and look both ways. ” Eventually, they’ll be able to say this back in their own words, proving that they understand. Listening while crossing is almost as important as looking. Newer cars and hybrids can be very quiet.
Some vehicles, such as those with tinted windows, make eye contact impossible, but it’s always worth trying.
This is a golden opportunity to let them decide when it’s safe to cross. Ask them “is it safe?” and don’t move until they say yes. This can also be helpful for developmentally disabled children.
Never try to scare children with street dangers. Instead, calmly explain them so they learn the lessons rather than get distracted by your tone.
Instead of explaining, spend more time asking the child what to do next or quizzing them on street signs.
While indoors, you could print out traffic signs and let kids interpret them. You might also dress up as traffic signs or colors for a sight no kid would forget! You could also use toy signs and signals and have your kids play out different traffic scenarios. Ask them what the safest decision in each scenario would be. Inventing safety songs or painting scenarios such as a “safe crossing at the street corner” might also be fun.
If they don’t know all the safety procedures yet, you can also have them recite the steps. For example, sing, “Stop, look, listen, stay safe!”
Sometimes giggling can be a distraction. Do your best to get everyone to focus. Be persistent before you continue walking or teaching.
