Summer is here and there are more kids out on the streets playing street hockey, riding their bikes and walking to the park.
We want our children to get outside and play and be active. But ICBC wants to remind us that because there is more activity on the streets it's important to be more alert.
During the school year, we are not likely to be paying much attention to speed limits in school zones and playgrounds during the day when school is in session. But in the summer, kids can be out playing at any time during the day so it's important to be super aware. They are not only in the playgrounds, but also around the schoolyards or in their own front yards.
Watch for clues that kids are playing nearby. A hockey net, a bicycle or a ball is usually a signal of kids playing.
ICBC has provided helpful tips for parents.
I believe the most important is to be a role model. If you grab your youngster and run across the street mid-block, realize that you are teaching her how to cross the road. Is this what you want her to learn?
When you are out walking with your children, teach them about road safety. Besides being a good role model, talk about what is going on in the streets all around you. With younger children, make it interactive by having them point out all the traffic signs they see and ask if they know what they mean.
Always cross the street at the intersection and walk your kids through the process. They need to stop and make sure the vehicles have stopped. Tell them that it's a good idea to make eye contact with the driver so you are sure he knows you are about cross. Look left, right and then left again before you cross. And listen to see if you can hear any vehicles.
And teach them to walk briskly straight across the street.
Walk with your kids to the park, their friend's place and the schoolyard. When you walk, teach them the safest route. They should also avoid short cuts through parking lots where drivers are more distracted.
During the summer, different people - their friends' parents, grandparents and other caregivers - are often chauffeuring kids around. As parents, you know the law requires that your child use a booster seat until they are four-foot-nine tall or at least nine years of age, so make sure their booster seat goes with them wherever they go.
You also need to talk to your older kids. As they become more independent, they're probably looking forward to unsupervised outings with friends. It's important to go over the rules of the road with them too, especially since an adult won't always be there to guide them. Help them plan safe routes they can take with their friends and give them a road safety refresher - remind them to never cross a street mid-block, put away their phone and remove their headphones especially when crossing, make sure all lanes of traffic have stopped before they cross and discuss the importance of making eye contact with drivers whether at an intersection or in a parking lot.
When we teach our children from a young age how to walk safely from one place to another we are raising kids who will be more active. When they and their friends do not need to always count on a parent with a car to get to the park and play, they will be able to get outside and play. And we all want our kids to be getting more exercise and fresh air.
Teach them well. Walk with them at first, then have them take the lead and tell you what they are doing and why. Include the friends they are likely to be playing with in the instruction.
Then open the door and let them enjoy the magic of play in the summer time.
Kathy Lynn is a professional speaker and author of Vive la Différence, Who's In Charge Anyway? and But Nobody Told Me I'd Ever Have to Leave Home. Sign up for her informational newsletter at parentingtoday.ca.
