Children growing up in cities and busy urban areas face different and often greater daily risks than those who live in rural areas. Daily activities such as taking public transportation, crossing the street, and playing in the park can pose risks to children if they are unsupervised or if they are not taught basic safety guidelines.
Because young children are developmentally unable to grasp the consequences and dangers associated with their actions, it is necessary to give them a guiding structure of rules to follow to keep them safe in potentially dangerous situations.
Crossing the Street: Teaching Children About Traffic Safety
Because of their height, children cause visibility problems for drivers and are often unable to see cars themselves. Additionally, children have difficulty judging distance and speed and have not yet developed the street smarts that are second nature to adult city dwellers.
Most children are taught to look both ways before crossing the street and to wait until the light is green. Although it may seem safe to cross when the light is green, crossing at a green light does not eliminate traffic from cars turning in from an intersection. In busy urban areas, it is also important to make children aware traffic flow and direction and of the presence of reckless drivers.
While children may feel invincible as long as they are on the sidewalk, standing too close to a busy street can be dangerous – it's easy to tumble into the roadway or even to be knocked off the curb by an out-of-line driver.
No matter what, it is important that children learn never to cross the street without an adult. Even if a child runs ahead, teach him or her to automatically stop at any intersection, well before the curb, and wait for an adult to cross.
Subways, Metros and Buses: Teaching Kids About Public Transportation Safety
The bustle and grime of the subway or metro can seem a daunting place to bring a small child, but children can quickly grow accustomed to using urban public transportation with the help of a few basic safety guidelines.
Playground Safety: Child Safety Tips for Playgrounds and Parks
City parks and playgrounds are great places for children to get exercise, play with friends, and experience nature. Teach children to practice good park safety by taking the following safety measures:
Reinforcing Child Safety Guidelines
Repeat these safety guidelines often so that they become automatic : if children find themselves alone or feel that they are in danger, they shouldn't have to figure out what to do or how to act, they should simply follow the rules that were already established.
The aim of child safety guidelines is not to create paranoid or nervous children but to ensure that kids don't take unnecessary risks or put themselves in dangerous situations. Teaching children about safety precautions cities enables adults to better provide a safe environment for kids play and learn freely.
Because young children are developmentally unable to grasp the consequences and dangers associated with their actions, it is necessary to give them a guiding structure of rules to follow to keep them safe in potentially dangerous situations.
Crossing the Street: Teaching Children About Traffic Safety
Because of their height, children cause visibility problems for drivers and are often unable to see cars themselves. Additionally, children have difficulty judging distance and speed and have not yet developed the street smarts that are second nature to adult city dwellers.
Most children are taught to look both ways before crossing the street and to wait until the light is green. Although it may seem safe to cross when the light is green, crossing at a green light does not eliminate traffic from cars turning in from an intersection. In busy urban areas, it is also important to make children aware traffic flow and direction and of the presence of reckless drivers.
While children may feel invincible as long as they are on the sidewalk, standing too close to a busy street can be dangerous – it's easy to tumble into the roadway or even to be knocked off the curb by an out-of-line driver.
No matter what, it is important that children learn never to cross the street without an adult. Even if a child runs ahead, teach him or her to automatically stop at any intersection, well before the curb, and wait for an adult to cross.
Subways, Metros and Buses: Teaching Kids About Public Transportation Safety
The bustle and grime of the subway or metro can seem a daunting place to bring a small child, but children can quickly grow accustomed to using urban public transportation with the help of a few basic safety guidelines.
- If there is only one adult accompanying one or more children, have the child pass through the turnstile first and wait for the adult on the other side. This eliminates the possibility of a kid getting stuck alone on the wrong side in case he or she loses her ticket or needs help getting through the turnstile.
- Because most metro stations do not have glass doors separating the platform from the tracks, it is important to supervise young children closely. Teach them to always hold onto an adult's hand while in the metro, and to stay away from the edge of the platform. Approach the train only after it has come to a complete stop.
- Form an emergency back-up plan in the case of separation: If a child gets on a train without an adult, he or she should get off immediately at the next station and wait for the adult. If an adult gets on the train leaving the child behind, the child should wait at the same station for the adult to come back and get him or her.
Playground Safety: Child Safety Tips for Playgrounds and Parks
City parks and playgrounds are great places for children to get exercise, play with friends, and experience nature. Teach children to practice good park safety by taking the following safety measures:
- If the park is large, explore it for the first time with the child. Make sure that he or she knows the boundaries of the park, where the exits, entrances and restrooms are, and if the park has a supervisor or information desk, make sure the children are familiar with the park personnel.
- Teach children to stay within the gates of the park; they should never, for any reason, leave the park without the supervision of their parent or carer.
- Agree on an set area of the park where children can play while remaining within eyesight of an adult. Teach children to come and check in every so often.
- Young children should be always be supervised and spotted when using playground equipment.
- Establish a secret, individual signal for children to use with their parents or guardians. Whether this is a whistle or a call, the adult can use this signal to call the children, and the children can summon the adult if they ever need help or are hurt or in danger.
- Educate children about "stranger danger." Studies show that the vast majority of children aren't kidnapped by complete strangers but by people who have managed to gain their affection and trust. A September 21, 2000, article entitled "Teaching Kids Safety Strategies Without Scaring Them" by Jolie Bales on CNN.com states that parents should rethink the notion of "stranger danger" and teach children to be wary of strange and dangerous behavior, rather than simply people that they don't know.
Reinforcing Child Safety Guidelines
Repeat these safety guidelines often so that they become automatic : if children find themselves alone or feel that they are in danger, they shouldn't have to figure out what to do or how to act, they should simply follow the rules that were already established.
The aim of child safety guidelines is not to create paranoid or nervous children but to ensure that kids don't take unnecessary risks or put themselves in dangerous situations. Teaching children about safety precautions cities enables adults to better provide a safe environment for kids play and learn freely.
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