Safe Travelling
Ms Chizzy
Nursery Teacher
It is very important for children to learn travelling safety at an early age. This will allow them to practice safer habits and promote their overall safety. Travelling safety pertains to the safety of travelling by any mode of transportation. This can be travelling by foot, bike, vehicle, and plane. The most common modes of transport for children under 6 years old is by foot or vehicle. Specifically pedestrian safety, car safety and bus safety should be practiced whenever children are travelling. All parents and caretakers are responsible for teaching and practising travelling safety with children.
1. Pedestrian Safety
Pedestrian safety includes safe habits to follow when walking.
- A guardian should always accompany young children when walking
- Children should be taught to stay on the pavement and only go into the road with an adult
- When crossing the street, the guardian should always hold the child’s hand, this provides an extra measure of safety for the child. Always use signals to cross and pedestrian crossings when present and always remind your child to look both ways before crossing the road to ensure it is clear. This can also be practised in a home setting as a learning opportunity to ask children, “tell me when it is safe to cross the street”.
- When helping children exit the vehicle, explain the rules of staying near an adult and remind them that carparks and pavements near the road are not a playing area. Remind them of areas they can freely run in such as a park or on the beach.
- If walking when it’s dark outside, teach children to be especially alert and make sure they are visible to drivers. Have them wear light or brightly coloured clothes.
2. Car Safety
Car safety includes safe habits to follow when travelling by car
- Adults should take precautions to help children get in the car and fasten their seat belts.
- Children should use a booster seat until the seat belt can fit them properly
- Remind children to stay seated with their seat belt throughout the car ride
- Activate child safety locks on your car doors to prevent children from opening the doors while the car is moving or standing still
- Praise your child for good car behaviour, such as keeping his/her seat belt on and not interfering with the locks or windows
- Make sure children exit of the pathway side away from traffic
- Never leave children unattended in a car, even for a minute. A variety of dangers and hazards could arise.
3. Bus Safety
Bus safety includes safe habits to follow when travelling by bus, for example the school bus.
- An adult should already be on the bus while another adult helps the children get in the bus
- Children should be taught the importance of wearing their seat belt on the school bus. An adult should check the seat belt to make sure they are secure
- Children should be taught that their behaviour on the bus can impact the drivers ability to focus and drive safely. Encourage children to refrain from yelling, talking loudly or getting out of their seats while the bus is moving.
- There should be an adult to children ratio to ensure all children are accounted for. Regular visible chekcs should also be done during the duration of the bus rode.
- When exiting the bus children should be taught to never cross behind the bus, they should walk far enough in front of the bus when crossing so that the driver can see them.
At a young age children are still learning what it means for something to be safe or unsafe. These are specific tips that can help children stay safe on all their travels.