Road education for children: How to teach the little ones about signs and rules

We know the way!

Let us first try to explain how the road is made. There is a place where vehicles cannot travel, which is reserved for people who walk on foot, it is often raised and has a different color from the rest of the road. It is important to first learn to recognize the sidewalk!

Then there is the part reserved for vehicles. It is called a carriageway, it is in the center of the road, it can be one or more lanes, and the vehicles circulate keeping to the right. At least in this part of the world. By the way: do you know in which countries people drive on the left? Japan, United Kingdom, Australia are the most famous, but there are many others too including Indonesia, South Africa, Malaysia, New Zealand and Thailand.

Even though children mostly walk the streets, this doesn't mean we don't have to teach them some basic road safety rules to respect. And read carefully because we may surprise you too! Let's see the most important ones together?

See also

Children in the car, in front: can it be done?

Child bike seats: which one is right for you?

All about transporting children by car

Look where you put your feet!

First of all, when you are on the street you have to walk on the sidewalk and if the sidewalk is not on the edge of the carriageway in the opposite direction to that of the vehicles, so that you can see them clearly when they approach. It is necessary to walk in the center of the sidewalk, or preferably close to the wall of the houses, not too close to the edge facing the street, to avoid the risk of falling.

Crossing is not child's play!

To cross, set a good example and teach children to use the stripes, it is a very important road safety rule. If there are no pedestrian crossings, always give priority to motorists. How do you cross? Look first to the left and then to the right, start crossing and take another look to the right. If there is a pedestrian traffic light, obviously, wait until it is green.

Always careful, to distract yourself there is the sofa

When walking, even on the sidewalk, you don't listen to music at full volume, nor do you look at your smartphone for long! Explain to your children that they must always keep the situation under control, as if they were secret agents! Have they ever seen an agent on a mission distracting himself by sending a whatsapp?

Skates and skateboards

If children are wearing skates or traveling on a skateboard or scooter - push, the electric one is reserved for children over the age of 14, and other rules apply - you cannot allow them to get off the road. You have to stay on the sidewalk, but be careful not to get in the way of others, and above all, let's never pull them, it's dangerous!

Wheels = helmet

Whenever there are wheels in motion, it is advisable to make our children wear a helmet, just like when they ride a bicycle. In this regard: on a bicycle you stay on the roadway, and proceed in single file keeping to the right as much as possible. If the child is under 10, however, the accompanying adult must travel outside, therefore to the left of the child, to protect him.

Hand bike: when?

Ride your bicycle by hand when you think it will annoy pedestrians, or when you have to cross the street. Explain to your children to always keep at least one hand on the handlebars, not to wheelie and to proceed in a straight line avoiding zigzags that can cause confusion in those who follow. And when you have to turn, signal your intention by holding out your arm, both adult and child!

Traffic signs: let's make them a game

And finally the road signs. First of all, we teach that they can be drawn on asphalt, and in this case they are called horizontal, and are used to organize the road surface. Or they can be represented by road signs: in this case they are called vertical and warn in case of dangerous situations, prohibitions or obligations. How to start teaching your children? Should we refer you to the article on how to entertain children in the car?

While traveling or traveling, however short we are, make small riddles to the children about the meaning of road signs, this will undoubtedly make the journey more enjoyable, for them and for you.

Road education for passengers

Many children even more frequently than pedestrians are passengers in a vehicle. The road safety rules they must learn to follow when transported, whether in a car, taxi or on a tram? Wear a seat belt, do not throw anything out of the window, do not distract the driver, whether it is the mother or the driver, and always get on and off the sidewalk!