It's just as important to teach young children to be safe in a car as it is to be safe crossing the road. Countless accidents are caused because children distract the driver and we all know how 'challenging' car seats can be at an age when sitting still is the last thing on their mind.
Here are the key messages to get across to your class:
- When you're small, you have your very own special car seat so you can be comfortable and safe when a grown-up takes you for a drive.
- You have your own seat belt too because a grown-up one won't fit you yet.
- You always have to wear your seat belt in the car – it's the law.
- As you grow, you'll need a booster car seat so you can use a grown-up seat belt.
- You must never lean or wave out of the car window – it's dangerous.
- You must never throw or hang anything out of the window - it might hit another car or driver and cause an accident.
- If you're in the back of a car, sit still. The driver won't be able to see clearly through their driving mirror if you're jiggling about.
- When you're getting out of the car, never step out onto the road. Always use the pavement side and wait for a grown up to open the door for you.
- While the car is moving, don't touch the door handles – you might accidentally open a door and cause an accident.
- To help keep you safe, the driver might sometimes put the child lock on so you can't accidentally open your door.
In addition to the other games and activities on the site, here are two extra activities to help bring the road safety information to life.
Simply download them and photocopy for each child. We've even suggested the part of the curriculum we think each activity best complements.
If you'd prefer to plan your own lesson, here are a few activity suggestions that may spark ideas of your own. They're just suggestions, so please feel free to come up with your own ideas following any of the road safety messages.
- Help the class make an activity book to keep them occupied in the car. You could combine this with some of your other projects – spelling or art for example.
- 'Favourite journey story time' – get the class to talk about the journey they've most enjoyed in a car or would most like to take. Ask questions like 'did you have your seatbelt fastened?' or 'did you sit in a car seat?'
- Make a paper seatbelt for the children to wear home – like a sash. You could draw a message on each belt for the children to colour in that will then help to remind their parents of the safety message too.
