Teaching children how to properly and safely cross the street is one of the most important lessons that they can learn from a parent or guardian. Children don’t have the awareness that is necessary for crossing the street that adults have because that is the kind of skill that is learned rather than being inherent. Teaching them to safety cross even neighborhood streets that typically have far less traffic than city streets requires as much “showing” as it does “telling”. Parents should make it a priority to take the time to take their children to a nearby street, hold them by the hand and actively demonstrate the steps that should be followed when crossing from one side to the other.
The steps that are involved in safely crossing the street are simple but it is easy for young minds to forget one or two of them which could lead to an accident. That is why it is recommended that parents go over each step individually with their child. The steps are as follows:
- Stop – Always stop on the grass or sidewalk, never on the street itself.
- Look – Look both ways, making sure all lanes of traffic are visible.
- Listen – Listen for vehicles that may be out of the child’s line of sight.
- Think – Evaluate what you see and hear and decide if it is safe to cross.
With these steps firmly embedded in a child’s mind, they will be able to safely and confidently cross any street with or without parental supervision.
