It’s so important that you teach your kids how to be safe in and around cars. Crossing the road, not opening doors or windows, seat belts and always paying attention around roads and cars. All of these keep your kids safe around cars.
We’ve got some tips for rules and processes, to keep your kids safe around cars.
Kids in the car
Whether they’re in a rear facing car seat, booster seat or the front seat controlling the music, they need to stay safe.
Obviously seat belts are essential, but what are some other areas to focus on?
- Click goes your seatbelt, click, click, click. One of the most iconic songs ever produced. It’s a handy jingle to remind kids that the first thing they should do when they get in a car is put their seatbelt on. Whether the car is moving or not.
- Check all connections on their car seat. You’d be amazed how wiggling and writhing around can undo even the best connectors. Always check the car seat before you set off. If it’s in the front seat, make sure the airbag is off too.
- Make sure the ‘kiddie locks’ are all on. You don’t want any doors, windows or boots opening while you’re driving. Kids have an annoying trait of finding levers and buttons extremely interesting. It also pays to ingrain into them that you are the only one who opens the doors and windows.
- Never forget them. This one is for you. Put your phone beside them or on the passenger seat. This will mean that you have to physically check the car before you get out. Ensuring you never leave them locked in the car.
Kids outside of the car
Kids are little by nature, this makes seeing them from a car very difficult. Kids need to always give way to cars. Teaching them about safety around cars is akin to teaching them water safety. It shouldn’t be something they think about, they should just be safe.
- Never play in front of, behind, or beside a car. On or off. This works two ways. If the car is on and going to move, blind spots mean that they or you, might not see them. By staying weary of cars kids can stay visible and safe. The other way this works is that it stops them moving between cars and near traffic. Stay on the home side of the car, always.
- Don’t play on or near roads. Moving cars, distracted kids. The same applies for driveways. Make sure you clearly define ‘play areas’ and ‘serious areas’. Whether it’s oncoming traffic, people pulling in to park etc. Roads aren’t for kids, they’re for cars.
Keeping your kids safe is something you can manage. It is something that you want to get stuck into early on though.