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ADVICE RATING

4.86 (Highly recommend) from 18 votes (971 Visits)

Toddlers And Road Safety

Anonymous Author (January 2007)

I have taught Breanna from an early age that cars can run over you and squash you---she equates death with squashed mozzies so she has had an understanding of squashed from the age of around 18 months.When we come to a road we:- LOOK both ways and then left again.CROSS the

road whilst holding hands,Breanna knows that she must hold my hand at all times whilst near traffic.From the time she was 18 months and could grasp the idea of squashed I have taught her respect for vehicles.

If we are outside in the drive way and she hears a car or truck start up she will run straight to me and hold my hand,she is 27 months old at the moment.If we do have a typical toddler NO day and she is being difficult I just wont budge till she holds my hand.It is very important though to not become complacent even once they do grasp the road safety concept as children have a very short attention span and a bit of the super man complex.

Another good idea is to show them what a Zebra crossing is and what it stands for,Breanna actually looks out for them now as I associated the crossings with ZEBRAS and she gets really excited when we see the said crossings LOL she is very impressed that the traffic have to stop for us so we can cross the road......I think she is showing some traits of a budding control freak LOL Just one more thing.....Even though I know Breanna has an understanding of the road and traffic I still realize that she would run after a ball if it rolled onto the road,it is purely a child reflex.

I am in the process of teaching her to call Mummy (even though I am always there anyway) I am just coaching her if she loses her ball to the road.I believe this is a very important life tool to teach your child,I still see adults who don't cross the road properly.......remember MONKEY SEE MONKEY DOO Regards Merle.

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ADVICE RATING

4.86 (Highly recommend) from 18 votes

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	March 2008 \| oopsy

Re: Toddlers And Road Safety

I totally agree............this is an extremly important life tool to teach ur kids.

DD used to always do the run on me, not paying attention to cars or buses. She used to just get so excited to get out of the car & bolt, laughing & waving her hands in the air. She was almost hit by a car one day on a very busy road.....i was trying to get DS into his car seat at the time. It was the scariest thing i have ever been through. We have since been teaching her road rules & to look both ways & hold hands. She is alot better.

Great advice about the zebra crossing.......im gonna start doing that one!

Reply

	5.00 (Excellent) \| February 2007 \| mandymum3

very true

monkey see monkey do.... love it. great advice

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	5.00 (Excellent) \| January 2007 \| nell18-3

Road Safety

Thanks Merle
Road safety is always a worry, my youngest with the ADHD is sometimes a nightmare when we go out, if he sees somewhere in town he needs to go, he puts no thought into how he gets there he is totally driven by wanting to react there and then so I'm always having to make a grab for him.
Great advice
xxx

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	January 2007 \| breannababy

Road Safety

Thanks Helen,I noticed through the years of being a parent boys as a rule(not always) are less cautious than girls.......to prove my point watch boys and then men LOL get back to me LOL

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	5.00 (Excellent) \| January 2007 \| exquisite-flower

I was lectured today

We were walking under the bridge on our way home from pre-school today and i wandered across the cul-de-sac as we usually do, but usually I am holding E's hand apaprently. I mean, we hold hands all the time,...Crossing the rad is just a habit to hold her hand normally. Today I didnt and she stood herself in front and to the side of me as we walked and lectured me that this was not safe and we might get run over and please mummy, but we should be holding hands. I was most contrite and when we crossed the road to our home she wasnt holding my hand and i said that we had to - and i repeated her lecture back to her. It was amusing, but it was also good to know that even in the sleepy areas that she knows how important road safety is.

to E!!
Peace
EF.x

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	January 2007 \| breannababy

I was lectured today

LOL LUCKY E IS ON YOUR CASE ........Nice to know your angel listens to you so well.Thank-you for your comment hugs Merle.

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	4.46 (Good) \| January 2007 \| HOTMAMA

look both ways

I try to tell my kids that cars cant see them, so they have to be carefull. We live in the country and the kids are not allowed to go near the road at all. It makes it a little harder for them to understand when we are in town and are crossing the street. We do the look both ways and go when it is clear, and I have taught them even if a car is stopped to let them cross, make eye contact with the driver before you cross. Some people stop at stop signs and dont see people waiting to cross. Great advice!

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	January 2007 \| breannababy

look both ways

Thank-you for your comment,Good on you for teaching your kids road safety.regards Merle

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	4.37 (Good) \| January 2007 \| lexiw

I do it too

Great work merle,

I do the same thing and so far so good.

Lexi xxx

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	4.00 (Good) \| January 2007 \| breannababy

I do it too

I just find it so much easier getting co-operation from Breanna now she has a basic concept of road and traffic danger.Thanks for your comment Lexi hugs Merle

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	5.00 (Excellent) \| January 2007 \| lunaeclips5

I have tooo!!!

All my kids have always been made to hold the pram or my hand while on the street out anywhere for that fact. They have also been told about road safety. Richard still managed to run out on the road one day in front of a car who just missed him.. i have seen other mums say the same thing... When they know you've lost your attention they'll do anything to run away..
Great Job

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	5.00 (Excellent) \| January 2007 \| breannababy

I have tooo!!!

Thanks for your comment,I dread watching kids traveling home from school unsupervised.They are just so unaware of where they are sometimes.The near misses I have seen boy no wonder I am going grey.LOL

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	4.68 (Excellent) \| January 2007 \| angelmum

So important

I have had only one scare with my daughter, one she or I will never forget. A few months ago, I was out the front with the kids and all the kids were walking home from the school up the road, we live on a pretty main rd so its busy all the time. A mother and her 5 kids crossed the road just up from our house, they all crossed very well holding each others hands, however one of the boys was holding a soccor ball and he was bouncing it as he walked, just as they got to our house the ball went on to the road and this little boy went after it. I did the natural think and screamed out no, all I could hear were the screech of breaks, I held my breath. The car 4wd just missed him and drove off, I wanted to go over and scream at him, but his mum did that for me!!! he would of been around 7 or 8 and by that age he should of known better. Educate your children, and educate until your blue in the face, it only takes a split second, this time this boy was lucky, I hope he learnt his lesson

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	4.33 (Good) \| January 2007 \| breannababy

So important

Thanks Fiona,It is amazing at just how quick it can happen.......I am with you educate educate educate.

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	5.00 (Excellent) \| January 2007 \| NickysMumMum

Road safety

It's scary to think what might happen if we aren't as cautious as you, Merle. I love this article, and about the mosquitoes and zebras I was LMAO. Really, this is such good advice to everyone. There are positive ways to teach kids about road safety. You've given us a really great beginning. Squashed mozzies, a great way to tell kids that could happen to them. I say put the fear in them. The road is no place to play. Well done.

's Hayley xx

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	4.33 (Good) \| January 2007 \| breannababy

Road safety

Thanks Hayley,LOL I had to think quick once Breanna started walking(running)we were out bush and Dad was the mechanic as such we were around heavy earth moving equipment on a regular basis.She listened to the roar of engines even in the womb,LOL the property was powered by generator and whilst pregnant I used to have start it up or shut it down so loud noises didn't scare her the mozzie thing was a way that worked for us.You know funnily enough if the generator shut down in the night while I was asleep when pregnant she would wake me up kicking LOL.Glad you liked the article mmwwaahh

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	4.68 (Excellent) \| January 2007 \| VenusMercury

Road safety lessons

At work our road safety dept does programs with kinder kids on road safety, I wonder if it is avail to parents, i will look into it. the kit may be available for you to start a local program with a mslal group of kids or members of the family.

I remember reading Dr Seears advice on road safety, they repeated the scenario over and over. firstly: Take child to road, explain, rules, sounds, danger etc, then walk back to where you started - house? - then take them back to the road. As many times as you can a day. All that time teaching them to look both ways, and ask them if they see or hear cars themselves and confirm it.

I also do the sounds of a whoosh - my daughter then realises it is danger because of my reaction, Oh BIG WHOOSH BROOM danger!

It does work, DD now will no run off the concreted part of the driveway and if she hears cars coming she jumps back onto the verandah as she recognises the sounds. Car parks took 3 months for her to understand. We use the painted lines as guides, she puts her toes behind the line and grabs my hand. She is starting to remember each time now. Or I say HAND PLEASE in a 'this is important ' voice.

I am trying with her nearly 2year old cousin but she is a handful and would rather smack me than listen atm - I'm perserveing though, in the mean time I'm half a step behind her at all times!

Her parents believe she will learn to come back - I found her in the neighbours yard and also in the middle of the road near a blind corner, she hates it but i still teach her in front of them hoping they will take note.

Reply

	5.00 (Excellent) \| January 2007 \| breannababy

Road safety lessons

Thanks for your great comment,I can only hope you can teach the little one some safety.....Boy her parents need a bit of a wake up!!!!! regards MERLE

Reply

	4.37 (Good) \| January 2007 \| mumof1girl

Road safety.

I've also taught my daughter about road safety. Only on a numerous occasions has she run accross the road with out looking and stopping, and once a car was coming and nearly hit her, but luckily the car was going slowly, but she got the fright of her life, and now she is very carefull about walking across the road.

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	4.50 (Excellent) \| January 2007 \| breannababy

Road safety.

Kids are so dam impulsive and live in the moment..........You can only persevere and do the best you can,lucky she didn't get hit......at least she is more cautious now.thanks fr your comment regards Merle

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	5.00 (Excellent) \| January 2007 \| Raine

Road safety.

It's not only the kids who are impulsive Merle, some of us adults can be a little that way ourselves...My little 25yo still runs across the road without looking properly sometimes when he's running late for work... great article BTW - Raine

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	4.54 (Excellent) \| January 2007 \| MadMel

Road Safety

I am so scared of roads and kids. My boys DO get a smack for running on the road. It scares the bejeezus outta me that one day they might do it and get hit. Jaidan doesn't run on the road anymore but i'm still so careful to keep reminding him.
One thing you need to remember about little toddlers and kids is that they don't think before they act most of the time. They cant see the consequence that will happen so the risk that even the most taught toddler will still run on the road to chase something or whatever is VERY high.
The other thing is that I always cross at the lights and we always wait for the 'little green man'. I make it a BIG point to say "LOOK AT THEM! They are so naughty" when someone crosses when its red in front of my kids.
Road safety is so important and is something that should be taught from a baby. Who says you cant tell a 6 month old about car danger. They WILL eventually understand.

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	4.00 (Good) \| January 2007 \| breannababy

Road Safety

Thanks for your comment,I am really road safety concious as I was hit by a car when 2 yrs old.......I am still cautious of crossing a road.I don't think kids are ever too young to learn safety issues. hugs Merle

Reply

Related keywords: crossings, road, safety, toddler, toddlers, traffic


Any contributed content above is the subjective opinion of that member or external author, and not of Minti.com Pty Ltd. If you are searching for health related advice we strongly suggest you seek professional medical support. View our Terms of Service for more details.

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