Road safety for preschoolers

Streetproofing
Streetproofing, instructing children about the risks and dangers of daily life, has taken on the meaning of protecting children from abduction by a stranger. Parents should, however, consider other more common risks and dangers to their children and street proof them about traffic injuries, abuse by someone they know, getting lost, and dealing with other people's pets. There is no way to totally protect anyone. Streetproofing is as much instilling in our children enough self-confidence that they will listen to their instincts as it is about giving them enough knowledge to be aware but not fearful, of everything and everyone.

Traffic safety
Traffic injuries are the Number One cause of death and injury in children. One in two hundred children under the age of fifteen dies or is seriously injured in a traffic-related incident. One reason might be that children don't get the street-safety education that kids received a generation ago although there are more cars on the roads. Parents and professionals are more likely to talk to children about stranger abduction.

It's up to parents to teach street safety. Children under the age of six should not go near the street or road without supervision, for several reasons: A child under six has poor depth perception and her peripheral vision is undeveloped; she is easily distracted; she's small and can't see over or around obstacles; she can't read signs or warnings; and a child this age probably thinks that, if she can see a car, the car's driver must be able to see her.

Making your child more aware
• Teach your child to look in both directions before crossing a street.
• Practise listening for traffic as well as watching for traffic.
• While driving with your child in the car, play road games such as Spot the Road Signs, Spot the Dangers, Spot the Bikes to increase your child's concentration and awareness of the road and of vehicles.