Crossing the road with the green cross code really is an important life skill.
If you have never heard of Green Cross Code campaign it really is a great way to help your child learn how to safely navigate crossing roads. Although predominately aimed at school aged children aged 7-11 there are some fantastic things to take on board with younger children too.
With an ever-growing toddler I am now, and have been doing for a while trying to teach him about the red and the green man on crossings .. well he is 2 and we do need to start at the beginning.
We have been using crossings where ever possible and have been pressing the button and waiting for the green man ….. however it seems there are very few people who actually use these crossing safely.
If you can see I am teaching my child that it’s not safe to cross until the green man is there then why instead do you walk into the traffic with not a care in the world? .. not only is it confusing to my toddler that the green man is not on but also your also risking causing an accident.
In a society with compensation claims everywhere, surely making sure we are able to cross the road safely and teaching our children how to cross safely so as not to cause a road traffic accident should be paramount?
For me crossing a road safely really is a major learning hurdle and it NEEDS to be done for the safety of our children…. or is it just me?
Joshua is getting very good at shouting when the green man appears and we are now working on the checking both ways before we step out into the road however I do have a message for those that don’t use crossings safely:
Please can you think in future …. our little ones learn from example and although you may cross that time without injury our little ones may follow your example next time and not be so lucky!
So lets all take the time to cross the road safely and help our little ones to learn an amazing life skill!
I completely agree – its hard enough to get Z to stand still and not shout “lets go!” constantly. I keep telling him we can’t go when its red and he#s almost got it but he still gets impatient
he is not the only one, there are lots of adults that wont wait either!
We’re doing the Green Cross Code with Lucas and he’s doing really well. My pet hate, however, is those who press the button, and then cross before they should – not setting a very good example for Lucas and it’s caused him a bit of confusion!!! #PoCoLo
too right these people really really drive me crazy!!
Can’t agree more! If someone at the crossing decides to dart across instead of waiting while I’m waiting with a child I’ve got into the habit of loudly saying: “That man/woman/blithering idiot is not being sensible is he? We have to wait for the green man to cross don’t we?” Great post.
thanks Afra, i think i may start this myself i am struggling to hold it in with frustration
I quiet agree. Something I am really passionate about – especially because of what happened to my own brother. I didn’t realise it was aimed at children aged 7 – but guess that’s because otherwise they shouldn’t even be beginning to think about crossing on their own.
i do think thats why its aimed at 7 really although elements of it can be used at a younger age.
If there is a crossing I will use it!! My girls both know to wait for the green man….I think even when my youngest was still in her pushchair she knew what it meant!
Great post!
thanks Kim, i have started with Joshua in a pushchair and it think its important too
Such an important life skill to learn. I thought Little Mr A was doing well until he made a break for it in Sainsburys car park today, my heart was in my mouth but luckily no harm done. I think he got the message after that!
i think they all try it once, their attention goes and thats it! i am so pleased he is ok honey x
I completely agree. In my pre-motherhood days I didn’t give it much thought and didn’t always cross that safely if I’m honest but now, even if the road is clear we wait for the green man. always. xx
we are a now a Marta to little green men!
Now that Munchkin is 7, I really need to drill the green cross code into her!
lol its hard work isnt it! xx
One of my pet peeves is when adults cross regardless of the signal it drives me nuts, such a bad example! #PoCoLo
it sure is isnt it! x
I think the Green Cross Code should be compulsory in schools! Sadly it isn’t but I would put it on my curriculum! I have always explained this to Grace though. Thanks for linking to PoCoLo xx
my pleasure thanks for having me, i would have it on mine too!
Same here, we stand and wait and people around run without even a glance at the lights.
they need to get a grip dont they!!
Thank you for linking this up, I completely forgot to add stuff about crossing didn’t I.
no worries my lovely, i thought it was a post which was part of a series xx
I’m still drilling it into my kids to cross the road safely and they’re pretty good at it, but I’m aware that biggest pedestrian casualties are in the 10-14 age group, so I keep drumming it into them!
it sure is, my 12 year old couldnt understand why i shouted when i saw her reading a book while crossing the road!!