How to Create Safe Streets for Children

The world seems to daily become more dangerous. The mass media is littered with reports about terrorist schemes, crumbling bridges, and even toys with toxic levels of lead in them. This may cause parents to even contemplate whether or not to allow their children out of the house. However, by taking various preventative measures, such as posting children at play signs to slow down traffic, the streets can become a safer place for children. 

Schools have the invaluable task of educating a nation’s future scientists, doctors, and lawyers. However, even travelling to school can become a dangerous endeavour for children. One useful preventative measure is to have children at play signs posted near the school, in order to slow down traffic. Another useful step is to walk the route that your child takes to school, a couple of times during the year. Along the route, you should ensure that the sidewalks are functional; traffic lights supply enough time for crossing; intersections lack objects such as parked cars, which could impede the visibility of drivers; and the amount and velocity of traffic. On the other hand, if your child rides a bike to school, verify that the route only contains streets that are wide enough, but is void of any unchained dogs.

However, many children live too far away from their school, to walk there. For these students, following school bus rules is of the utmost importance. While school buses remain one of the safest means of transportation, children should practice safety measures when entering, exiting, and waiting for, buses. It is important that your child wears the proper attire for the current day’s weather. Also, if your child is not picked up directly at his home, never drop him off at the bus stop significantly early. In addition, create an emergency plan, for the times that your child fails to catch the bus back home. It is wise to supply your child with some tips for riding the bus:

One “street smart” lesson that children must learn while they are young, involves walking around streets. According to some experts, about 60-70% of a child’s lifelong safety practices become cemented by the time they are in first grade! Also, these habits are significantly based on their observations of adults. Therefore you should always be alert for cars; wear attire with light hues; cross at corners or sidewalks; personally maintain the road’s rules when walking; and use sidewalks whenever possible, Lastly, children’s peripheral vision does not become fully developed until a child becomes nine-years-old. Therefore, it is advisable that children younger than age nine, not be permitted to walk along streets alone.

The world seems to constantly become more hazardous to anyone in it. However, you can take certain measures to make it safer—such as supporting the installation of more children at play signs to slow down traffic, where your child walks or bicycles.

Children at Play Kids at Play