Teaching Traffic Safety To Children (continued)

Walking to School

If your child’s school is close enough and you – and your child – feel ready, walking to and from school gives a child a nice sense of independence. Walking is also good exercise for youngsters and, last but not least, it benefits the environment by cutting back on car use. That said, it is important to walk with your child for the first week or two, taking the same route each time. Working parents can practice this on weekends before school begins. Choose the safest route, even if it means walking farther to avoid a busy intersection. Discuss potential hazards on your way to school – blind driveways, etc. (Now is also a good time to remind children never to accept a ride from a stranger.) Stress the importance of walking the same route every day.

If there is a crossing guard on your child’s way to school, introduce them to each other and tell your child that the crossing guard is “in charge.” Once your child knows the route well enough, let your child “take” you to school one last day (or two) – pointing out any hazards to you. Being late to school makes some children frantic. If it’s so late that the crossing guard will be gone, it may be a good day to accompany your child to school. If that’s not possible, stress that walking slowly and safely is still important and that a few extra minutes won’t make any difference. To reassure a nervous child, it may help to send a note to the teacher.

Strength in Numbers

If possible, have your child walk to school with friends or older siblings. It’s safer and more fun. But make sure that all children, even older ones, know the safe way to school and that they cross streets together. Finally, consider monitoring your child/ren from a distance to ensure that they are following your guidelines.

Hazards Calling for Extra Caution

Obviously, children should walk on the sidewalk. But if there is no sidewalk, teach children to walk single file on the left side of the street, facing oncoming traffic, so they can step farther out of the way if need be. Children also need to be especially careful when visibility is poor due to bad weather or darkness. Show your child/ren how hard it can be to spot pedestrians or bicyclists while driving a car or riding a bus in the rain or dark. Discuss how wearing bright, light clothing, such as a yellow rain coat, can improve the chances of being seen. Another way to increase visibility is to attach a flashing clip-on lamp (sold at bike shops) to one’s clothing.

Bicycle Safety

As children trade in strollers for trikes and later twowheelers, they also need to learn safe bicycle practices. For starters, children need to wear helmets. California law requires youth under 18 to wear helmets while on wheels – be it bicycles, skateboards, skates, scooters or unicycles. Helmet don’t prevent falls or crashes, but they reduce the risk of head injury and death in case of an accident. Be firm in laying down the “no-helmet-no-bike” rule.