This is still our ‘Achilles’ heel’ (ha ha ha…) but we keep our shoulder to the wheel as hell. Anyone can realise it’s one of most important and difficult in same time topic every parent is forced to face up to at some point.

Remember – Safety first!

Yeah…just find the way to explain its importance to a dreamer waking beside you but in the parallel universe. Hearing you but doesn’t care about cars coming. Streets without any barriers. Making a break in the middle of pedestrian crossing just to observe an airplane up in the sky above. Not noticing traffic lights. Not following instructions about how to act.

Not knowing the street rules kids put themselves at high risk if not supervised by any adult.

Explaining every single detail starting from the most important one like colours of traffic lights and most common signs like STOP.  Make it more than clear that even if the green light is on we should be really sure no car is approaching so first we have to look left and light anyway.

Teach about crossing a street without traffic lights, how important it is to control the road numerously before crossing.

Even if you drive your kid to school or there is a school bus passing there is or will be sooner or later the need to be familiar with all the road rules. Just to go to a friend living across the street for a playdate. There will be a necessity and in case of kids on the spectrum it’s always better to be prepared and be sure to be safe and sound.

In our case we realise that if an issue is pictured and explained in a visual way it’s way easier to make a clear statement about it and much faster for him to get the picture of an idea.

You can use some publications, fun pop-up books, picture cards, DIY is a great idea. You can take some paper boxes and draw a city, cut out some important street signs like STOP, give way, pedestrian crossing, pedestrian prohibited etc. 

You can try road safety story book “Look Left, Look Right, Look Left Again”  with a cute little duck teaching how to cross the street safely.

There are some noteworthy board games like “Rules of the Road Driver Education Game” for older kids. Vintage and rare but if you are lucky to get it, fun is guaranteed.

I find interesting and helpful as well those Crossing Safety Posters you can print for free and hang on a wall in your kid’s room.

Our good friend YouTube has lots of interesting videos to offer as a theoretical preparation with some songs and tongue twisters as well.

Here are the ones we enjoyed more:

There are hundreds of short stories you can find on the web so just figure out what is suitable for you kid and serve it generously explaining on your own examples like your home nearest pedestrian crossing etc.

Once you mastered the theory proceed with some practice.

Always safety first so holding hands is not an option. Try to keep the focus on important details such as sidewalk, the limit between the pedestrian part and the actual street (notice the kerbstone if present), street lights and its changing sequence, always walk never run while crossing the street, look carefully several times and listen to the traffic around you. Never and ever trust only changing traffic lights. Even if there is a green light for you do not cross before making sure there is no car approaching. No sidewalk – you suppose to walk on the left side of the street.

Teach waiting. Waiting is important. If your kid is not able to be patient and stop to check the traffic at a pedestrian crossing, all work in vain.

Have fun and – most important – stay safe and sound!