Crossing the street seems like a simple matter to most adults. After all, we've been doing it for years, so what's the big deal?
But young children may not understand the dynamics involved, especially since a high proportion of school-age kids ride the bus to school each day rather than walk, as so many did in the past.
If your children do not habitually walk to school or a friend's house and have never learned to cross the street safely with an escort or a crossing guard, here are a few tips for helping them become familiar with this protocol:
1. Start with a low-level traffic area near your home. Take your school-age child to the corner and prepare to cross when the light changes. Show her where the light-change button is and how to push it, so the light will change to green and allow crossing for pedestrians. If the crossing area does not have this feature, emphasize the need to watch for a green light in her direction.
2. Point out where to cross between the white lines, if there are any. Otherwise show the range of movement area for crossing traffic. Explain what jay walking is and why it is prohibited. When the light changes, go with your child across the street, showing how to check that all cars have stopped both ways and to look for turning vehicles that may not see her.
3. If there is a traffic officer, explain how to follow his or her directions. The same holds true for crossing guards, if any. These are typically posted in a school zone or high-traffic area. Discuss the role these figures play and define some of their hand movements in terms your child will understand. Also mention that many crossings do not have traffic directors or crossing guards, so your child will need to figure out how to navigate traffic for herself.
4. Next, take her to a high-traffic area, not necessarily on the same day, so she won't be overwhelmed or confused. Tell her what to do when the light turns yellow or when a car goes through a red light. Also explain how to cross at an intersection where there is no functioning traffic light. Then cross this street or highway together, and see if she appears to look around and take note of her surroundings. If you feel she is handling it okay, wait on the other side and let her cross alone.
5. Go over a complete list of safety rules. These might include no running, staying between the lines (if any), no talking to people in cars, and not dawdling. You may be able to think of others as well. Add that a friend or schoolmate may try to cross differently, but you insist that she follow the rules you've explained, and to let you know if she has questions or uncertainties.
Crossing a busy street can become a matter of life or death. Many children are injured by vehicles near their homes. Go over safety issues and your expectations so the children know what to expect before crossing their first street alone.
