Traffic rules for children: how to explain to your child

Traffic rules are a very important topic that should be introduced to the child from an early age. Unfortunately, many children around the world are killed in road accidents. Our task as adults is to teach children the rules of behavior on the road, thereby protecting their health and life. In this article, we talk about the rules of the road for children: when and how to start introducing them to a child.

When to start studying traffic with a child

It is best to start training before the child goes to the first grade – from 4 to 5 years. This is best done with a personal example. When crossing the road, tell your child why you are standing when the red light is on and going “to the green.” 

Up to 6 years, the child still has a weak concentration of attention and not well developed lateral vision. He may accidentally drop a toy on the road and return for it, forgetting that he is on the roadway. Therefore, the first thing you need to convey to him is that when you cross the road, hold your belongings firmly, if you drop it, you do not need to come back! Here it is necessary to explain why it is impossible to return: the green light does not burn for a long time, and when red lights, cars begin to move and can run into a pedestrian. It's dangerous.

Start with simple things and tell your child that:

• if there is no traffic light or pedestrian crossing, it is forbidden to run across the carriageway;
• you need to stop near the carriageway and see what color the traffic light is lit;
• You can’t play where cars are.
• along the road, you can walk along the sidewalk, if there is no sidewalk - along the road along the curb to meet the traffic;
• You can not cross the road by scooter or bicycle, you need to stop, get off and cross on foot.
• If you are late and the green light is about to switch to red, wait for the next one. Nothing is more important than health and life.

Basic rules of the road for children

Let’s consolidate the above and summarize what the main traffic rules are important to teach a child before school:

1. Acquaintance with traffic lights: what colors are, what to cross the road, look first “left”, then “right” (for countries with right-hand traffic, vice versa).
2. Acquaintance with the “zebra”: what is a pedestrian crossing, how it looks, how to cross the road on the “zebra”.
3. Acquaintance with the “security island”: how it looks, the rules of behavior on it.
4. The concept of “brakeway”: even if the driver sees a person on the roadway in advance, the car in motion will not brake immediately. The path from the moment of braking to a complete stop is called “braking”. Therefore, you can not run on the road while driving.
5. Rules of conduct in public transport: enters and exits only when the bus, tram, trolleybus completely stops. In transport, it is necessary to hold on to handrails.
6. Rules of cycling, scooter: you can not ride on the roadway. Yes, adult cyclists ride on the highway, sticking to the right side, but as long as the child is a preschooler, it is better to ride where cars ride, it will be forbidden for him.

After getting acquainted with the basic traffic rules, you can go to the signs.

Road signs you need to introduce your child to school

Zebra - pedestrian crossing

If there are white parallel lanes on the road and a sign “Pedestrian crossing”, then you can cross the road. Only first you need to make sure that the cars on the left and right stopped traffic to let the pedestrian pass.

Traffic banned

When you see that sign, you can't go. That means it's dangerous in this area. For example, repair the road, there was a collapse or heavy traffic, as on highways.

Watch out, kids!

It is installed for drivers near gardens and schools, which are located near roads. The child needs to know that the presence of this road sign does not provide complete safety and it is impossible to cross the road in unspecified places.

Underpass

If you see this sign, there is a descent into the underground passage. This means that there is no other safe way to the opposite side and it is necessary to cross it.

On retro-reflective elements

Children who move unaccompanied by their parents, including at night, should be provided with reflective elements. This will help to become more visible on the roadway and reduce the risk of accidents.

Advice for parents: how to learn fun

The rules of the road for children is a difficult topic that can be easily and interestingly mastered in the game.

For example, you can play with a child in a quiz with prizes.

"What will you do?"

When you have discussed the basic traffic rules with him, come up with your questions that will help test your knowledge. The more correct answers, the closer the victory. Questions could be:

• You have to cross the road. Where and under what conditions can this be done?
• What color does a traffic light use when you can’t walk?
• What would you do if the ball rolled onto the road?
• If you’re late and there’s a red light on, what do you do?