The key to prevent accidents is learning about pedestrian and road safety from a young age. Children caught in the traffic need assistance from parents to judge the speed and distance of oncoming vehicles and to cross the road safely so through experience and interaction with adults as they grow older they become safer road users. Your child develops good traffic awareness by setting a good example for them. It is important to teach your child about road safety.
Children generally are interested in learning about the traffic lights, the various kinds of roads and vehicles, keeping themselves safe on road, etc. A positive attitude towards road safety is as important as knowing the rules. Here are some ways to make the learning about road rules fun for your children–
Familiarise the names
The child should be familiar with names like highway, main road, side lane etc to understand the roads better because he or she should be aware of the difference between pavements, bridges, underpass and zebra crossing. To stay safe defining the speed of an approaching vehicle as slow, fast or very fast is helpful. Use toy cars and chart paper to create a model of the traffic.
Pavement training
If children learn to walk vigilantly on the roads a lot of accidents can be avoided. Creating pavement look-alike at home with old newspapers and make the practice using it. Stick the newspapers length-wise so that they are outlining the corners of the room. Make your child walk on the newspaper pavement without stepping out. As you play about the risks of accidents if they step off the real pavements talk to them.
The ‘Stop’ strategy
The basic rule of crossing a road is to stop at the kerb, look right, left and then right again, making sure that the road is clear before crossing. Children tend to get hurt when they do not stop before stepping down the kerb. This can be taught and practiced using dolls or teddy bears. Let the child instruct the doll to stop at the kerb before crossing the road by laying down a skipping rope on the floor as the ‘kerb’.
Sing about road safety
Make your child sing songs about road safety as it is an effective way to take ownership. Encourage them to make up their own songs in a tune familiar to them and watch them slowly adopt it into practical use. By geting involved in this activity your child will be spending quality time with you.
Digital games
Make use of the online interactive resources available to learn about road rules and safety. Focus on the importance of fastening seat belts and other traffic rules with games available. Use innovative opractices and teach your child about road safety.
Road safety education at school
Children hurt themselves on the roads because of the lack of awareness, inexperience and carelessness. At Winmore Academy, one of the best schools in Bangalore, students right from primary classes are made aware of basic road signals.We understand that children should be taught the importance of road safety. Road safety education is part of our curriculum. Interactive sessions are held for students because when it comes to road safety awareness, it is “Alert today, alive tomorrow”.