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Teach your children the basic rules about being a pedestrian while you're still walking with them. You can practice the rules about the road and traffic with them regularly during your walks, so that much of this understanding feels like second nature to the child. In this way, by the time your child starts walking down and across streets without your help, none of the pedestrian road rules should come as a surprise to them.
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Instill the need in children to always stop before stepping onto the road. Each time they stop, tell them that they must look both ways and listen for vehicles that they cannot see. However, be sure to tell them not to rely on their hearing as the only form of knowing whether or not vehicles are about; explain to them that many vehicles such as hybrids and newer cars can be extremely quiet. Train them to use both their eyes and their hearing together when checking for traffic.
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Ask them questions about what they'd do in certain situations when you're walking. For example, you come to a crossing. Ask your child what they should do now. You should expect your child to answer something like: "I stop, look both ways to check the cars are actually stopping before I cross and only when I am sure they've stopped do I cross". Keep reminding them of the right approach until they're able to say it back to you in their own words (this shows they've understood it properly).
Have your children learn to make eye contact with drivers before they cross the road. This way they can be assured that the driver has noted their presence.
Have your children learn to make eye contact with drivers before they cross the road. This way they can be assured that the driver has noted their presence.