This Mother Goose Time activity is a fun way to teach children about safety near roads and streets.
After the children create the roads and signs, they can role play safety scenarios with you.
Then, they can use it for free play.
This Mother Goose Time activity is from a few months ago, when our theme was Transportation, but it was such a fun activity and I had chosen to post other activities during that time.
I thought I'd share it with you today because it is important to periodically review safety near roads and in front of the house.
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| Photo Copyright Caroline Brooke |
Mother Goose Time sent us a fun activity entitled, Build a Road Art. It came with everything we needed to get started.
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| Photo Copyright Caroline Brooke |
Here she is building a sign.
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| Photo Copyright Caroline Brooke |
Streets have lots of signs. It is important to pay attention to all of the street signs. Mother Goose Time provided little signs for the children to cut out and build.
When we walk we really need to pay attention to the cross walk lines.
The dotted lines in the middle help us know what side to drive the car on.
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| Photo Copyright Caroline Brooke |
Street and Road Safety
As we created the streets and signs we talked about what side of the street people drive on.
"What is the first thing we do when we get into the car?"
"We put on our seatbelt."
We talked about how important it is to look both ways before crossing the street.
"Where do we cross the street?"
"Always cross at the cross walk. People might not see us if we cross on a busy street with no cross walk."
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| Photo Copyright Caroline Brooke |
"Not only do we need to look, but we need to listen, too. So, no headphones on or looking at iPhones. We need our eyes on the road."
We also talked about how texting and driving can cause an accident. It isn't worth it.
"What should we do with our iPhone while we are driving?"
"Put it away, and turn it off."
"What do you do if your ball rolls into the street?"
"Tell mom or dad, don't get it yourself."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"Well, you are small and a car may not see you. So, it is safer for mom or dad to get it for you."
Of course, we talked about strangers and people we may already know, too. We may see more people by the roads. And how even if you know someone (even many years), you never get in the car with them if mommy and daddy aren't there... Even if they said mommy and daddy said it was okay... Even if it is one of your friend's mom or dad. We would never tell anyone that was okay. Also, sometimes people use cute puppies, kittens, candy and fun activities, like a trip to Disneyland, to try to trick kids and get them into the car. Those are not safe people. If someone is doing that, we know they are not safe. That is not a normal thing for an adult to do, unless they are up to something and not safe.
"Mom, is it okay for the bunny to go in the street with the cars?"
"On your toy street the bunny can do that. If this were a real street why would we not want our bunnies to do that?"
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| Photo Copyright Caroline Brooke |
"Bunnies don't belong in the street. They might get hurt."
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| Photo Copyright Caroline Brooke |
"Do you promise not to go into the street without mommy and daddy with you?"
"Yes. I promise."
"I love you, my little bunny."
"I love you, too, Mom."
Parent's Personal Reflection
My little sister was killed by a "reckless driver", so this is sensitive stuff for me.When you were young, were you ever almost kidnapped by a road? I was.
So, this is not over-reacting. It happens. I was almost taken more than once. Fortunately, my mom had told me what to do, so I had enough sense to run away, so they could not follow me. She taught me to run the opposite way that the car was driving. Also, another time my grandmother walked out to the front yard just in time. I was selling lemonade with my sisters. A strange car pulled up and they were about to grab one of us when my grandmother ran out.
We need to teach our children these life skills, so that they are safe, but most of all, we need to keep a close eye on them. It's okay not to trust people with your kids, especially if they are too friendly, too fast and are being a bit too interested in your kids. Don't feel guilty for putting your kids feelings first. Did you hear that? Put your kids first.
