We are pleased to share with you some useful resources provided by NI Direct specifically for pupils aged between 8 and 11 years old. You may recall we shared some of these resources via our website back in June 2020.
"Safer Places To Cross" Task
This task is designed for you to work alongside and complete with your child/children in relation to a key road safety issue. The focus is on safer places to cross and builds upon and encourages the use of the “Green Cross Code” when out and about as a pedestrian. Use the opportunity of your daily exercise to allow children to learn through doing under supervision – in this case finding a safe place to cross and using the six steps of the Green Cross Code to get across safely. There are also two follow up activities (name the crossing/fill in the missing words) which can be printed out and completed by your child.
On your daily exercise, see how many of the following ‘Safer Places to Cross’ you can find (before you go, you might want to use the internet to learn what those less familiar ones look like and how to use them properly):
Zebra Crossing
Pelican Crossing
Toucan Crossing
Puffin Crossing
Pedestrian Island
Footbridge
Subway
Level Crossing
Don’t forget the School Crossing Patrol as a safer place to cross – if there is a Patrol on the normal route to/from school then this is an excellent discussion point with your child.
For extra special research, check out what a Pegasus Crossing is and for whom in particular!
If there are none of the above available on your journey or at particular places you need to cross, then ensure you cross from a position that you can see and hear traffic coming from both directions. This is especially relevant in rural locations.
The Green Cross Code:
- Find a safe place to cross.
- Stop on the pavement with toes behind the kerb.
- Look all round for traffic and listen.
- If traffic is coming - let it pass then look all round again.
- When there is no traffic near, walk straight across the road.
- Keep looking and listening for traffic while crossing.
For further information, why not have a look at the following resources to assist you in teaching your child how to use our roads safely and effectively as they develop:
Watch the following short video: https://youtu.be/-HlOJqqL56U
To view the teaching aid calendars that are issued in hard copy to every primary school across Northern Ireland providing each class teacher with a weekly photograph, message and discussion note on a road safety theme: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/road-safety-teaching-aid-calendars
General road safety information for parents of 7-11 year old children: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/road-safety-seven-11-year-olds
Pedestrian safety leaflet: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/pedestrians-leafet
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