Introduction
Every year, thousands of children are killed or injured in pedestrian accidents. In 2020, there were 6,516 pedestrian deaths in the United States, and an estimated 130,000 pedestrians were injured. Children are especially vulnerable to pedestrian accidents because they are smaller and less visible to drivers, and they may not have the skills or experience to safely cross the street.
Parents and educators can play a vital role in keeping children safe by teaching them about pedestrian safety and by modeling safe behavior. This article provides a guide for parents and educators on how to teach children about pedestrian safety.
Teaching Children About Pedestrian Safety
The best way to teach children about pedestrian safety is to start early. Even toddlers can learn basic safety rules, such as holding hands with an adult when crossing the street. As children get older, they can learn more complex safety rules, such as how to look both ways before crossing the street and how to use crosswalks and sidewalks.
Here are some tips for teaching children about pedestrian safety:
- Start early.The best time to start teaching children about pedestrian safety is as soon as they are able to walk. Even toddlers can learn basic safety rules, such as holding hands with an adult when crossing the street.
- Be a role model.Children learn by watching the adults in their lives. If you want your children to be safe pedestrians, you need to model safe behavior yourself. This means always crossing the street at crosswalks, using sidewalks whenever possible, and looking both ways before crossing the street.
- Make it fun.Learning about pedestrian safety can be fun for children. There are many games and activities that you can do with your children to teach them about safety. For example, you can play a game of “I Spy” where you look for safe and unsafe pedestrian behavior. You can also draw pictures of safe and unsafe pedestrian behavior and talk about why each behavior is safe or unsafe.
- Be patient.It takes time for children to learn new skills.
- Don’t get discouraged if your child doesn’t learn all of the pedestrian safety rules right away. Just keep practicing and reminding them of the rules.
Pedestrian Safety Tips for Parents
In addition to teaching your children about pedestrian safety, there are some things that you can do as a parent to help keep them safe. Here are some tips:
- Always supervise your children when they are near a road.Even if your children know all of the pedestrian safety rules, it is important to supervise them when they are near a road. This is especially important for young children, who may be more likely to dart out into the street without looking.
- Talk to your children about the dangers of distracted walking.Distracted walking is a major cause of pedestrian accidents. Talk to your children about the dangers of walking while texting, talking on the phone, or listening to music.
- Make sure your children wear bright clothing when they are walking.Bright clothing makes children more visible to drivers.
- Teach your children how to cross the street safely.This includes teaching them to look both ways before crossing, to use crosswalks and sidewalks whenever possible, and to obey traffic signals.
- Drive safely in areas where children are present.This means slowing down, being extra cautious, and being prepared to stop for children who may dart out into the street.
Pedestrian Safety Tips for Educators
Educators can also play a role in keeping children safe by teaching them about pedestrian safety and by modeling safe behavior. Here are some tips for educators:
- Teach children about pedestrian safety in the classroom.There are many resources available to help educators teach children about pedestrian safety. The National Safety Council offers a variety of free resources, including lesson plans, activities, and posters.
- Model safe behavior.Children learn by watching the adults in their lives. If you want your students to be safe pedestrians, you need to model safe behavior yourself. This means always crossing the street at crosswalks, using sidewalks whenever possible, and looking both ways before crossing the street.
- Organize pedestrian safety activities.There are many ways to organize pedestrian safety activities for your students. For example, you could organize a walk to school day or a pedestrian safety fair. You could also invite a local police officer or safety expert to speak to your students about pedestrian safety.
- Work with parents to keep children safe.Parents are the primary caregivers for their children, so it is important to work with them to keep children safe. You can do this by sending home
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