March 29, 2024

Children Crossing

Teach Your Child About Pedestrian Safety

As a mother of five children, and three young boys, I am very concerned about their safety.  Morning, noon and night I wonder if they are being safe and put things in place to make sure they are.  Is the bunk bed secure since they like to climb on it?  Is the gate locked so they stay in the backyard and don’t run in the street?  Do they have the cell phone on them so that incase we get separated they can call?  The list goes on and on but the bottom line is – as a mother I never stop worrying about my kids.  Some may call this obsessive but I don’t let my concerns prevent them from having fun.  I just look for ways to keep them safe while they are.

I recently read a statistic that jumped out at me and added to my growing list of concerns.   Boys between the ages of 5 and 9 are at the highest risk of being hit by a car. Since I have three boys in that category it is especially concerning.  Since boys tend to be more fearless and less cautious than girls it makes sense.  The report talked about boys running out in front of cars and then getting hit.  As a mom it is my job to make sure my children all make it to adulthood without too many broken bones and their dreams intact.  Keeping them from being hit by a car definitely fits into my job description.

The statistic was made worst when I read ­­­­that a toddler was recently run over in Texas by his grandmother and subsequently died.  This poor little boy was out playing in his yard when his grandmother, of all people, got into her vehicle and drove right over him.  This terrible tragedy is enough to break any parents heart and I feel terribly for that family.  The story reminded me of how kids are not even safe in your own driveway or on the street in front of your house.  All it takes is the carelessness of one driver to put your child at risk.  Since you can’t control all the people driving around your kids you have to teach your kids to be safe. Various groups and law firm website like, The Elmore Law Firm, list out safety tips you can give your children.

I am sure you have heard of defensive driving.  I am teaching my kids to practice being a defensive pedestrian. Comical as it may sound there is a family in Texas tonight that probably wishes they had put these rules in place.

  1. Don’t play in the front yard, driveway, or street unattended.
  2. Look both ways before crossing the street.
  3. Walk on the sidewalk.
  4. Walk with a buddy (two kids are easier to see than one)
  5. Where bright colored clothes when walking.
  6. Listen to your mother at all times (this has to be added to every list)
  7. Do not talk on the phone or listen to music while walking – pay attention
  8. Wait for cars to pass.

These are just some of the things kids can do to stay safe.  The important thing is to have a conversation with your children, regardless of age or gender, to inform them of the importance of practicing pedestrian safety.  Statistics show that people do get hit and killed by cars every year.  Preventing an accident is the best way to prevent an injury.  I want my kids to grow up safe and healthy so I will continue to be the safety mom.

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