Walking To School: Safety Precautions Every Child Should Know

If your child walks to and from school, the following tips will help you encourage her budding independence while keeping her safe.- Walk or ride from your home to school and choose the safest route for your child, avoiding danger spots such as empty lots, alleys, and wooded areas. Point out to her safe places to go in an emergency such as a neighbor's house or a store. Instruct her to take the same route every day.If necessary, teach your child how to cross the street. Emphasize the following:- Follow the crossing guard's instructions.- Cross at the corner.- Keep within the crosswalk.- Look both ways before crossing.- Watch for cars turning the corner.- Be alert for bikes.- At a traffic light cross when the light facing you is green or the "walk" sign is on.- Do not walk into the street between parked cars.- Arrange for your child to walk to school with a friend.- Give your child a whistle to alert others if she feels she is in danger, or instruct her to yell if she is approached by a stranger- Let your child know that she can call 911 from pay phones.- Do not have your child wear clothes with her name in a place that others can see.- If your child is fearful of meeting up with certain peers on the way to school, find another route to take or ask the school principal to talk with students who may be bothering your child.- If your child thinks she is being followed, instruct her to go quickly to a place where there are other people, such as the school, a store, or a neighbor's house.- Instruct your child to avoid anyone she doesn't know who approaches her. Tell her not to accept rides or items offered by anyone unless she has your permission in advance, and not to respond to anyone's questions. Make it clear that you will always let her know in advance if someone other than you is picking her up and that she is not to accept a ride under any other circumstances.- Make sure she knows not to hitchhike.- If your child rides a bike to school, insist that she wear a helmet.- Arrange a code word with your child to be used by a person unfamiliar to your child whom you have asked to pick her up.- Make sure the school has a way of contacting you if your child does not show up at school.