Safer Streets, Healthier Kids – The importance of educational programs on road safety in schools:
Kids and street play are Synonymous!
Kids are the purest of souls on Earth. The priority of every parent is their kids. They spend their innocent childhood playing, especially outdoor games. The enjoyment they get through playing is a dream that is wished, to be continued forever. No worries and only playing is childhood’s mantra.
Though outdoor playing is Children’s preference, there is much to worry about the health of the child, due to the dangers associated. Only certain children have the privilege, of playing in a safe outdoor premises. Most of them play on the roads. Hence teaching Road safety when younger becomes important.
A major part of their lives during childhood, is at their schools. Teaching road safety at schools will enhance their ability to understand our road rules better.
Schools – Their First Road Experience:
Travelling to school becomes their first road experience. Though they travel a lot to other places, their childhood travel is dominated by schools. Every child has a means of transport. Some walk, few ride in cycle to school, and many of them go in car, bike and buses.
Though travelling to school is a moment of joy, it doesn’t come hazard-free. This decade has a huge number of vehicles passing by. And our children need to travel safely, to and fro from their schools.
When the rules and safety measures are taught to children at school, it makes their journeys hassle-free. Children ought to know the pros and cons of every means of transport. They should be made aware of basic rules like wearing helmets, fastening seat belts and following traffic signals properly.
Road Safety Educational Modules:
Schools can teach the children, through road safety workshops, and programs specially curated for kids. The teachers can teach through funny, yet thought-provoking stories about the importance of road safety. Road safety should be a part of their school syllabus and children need to be graded for the same. The grading will help them focus better. The students should be taught to adapt better and eco-friendly ways like walking and cycling to schools.
Road safety campaigns must be conducted by schools regularly. The students must be involved as volunteers, and they must be asked to make posters, and hoardings highlighting the importance of road safety. Working models on road safety rules, can be done by the students as a form of inquisitive learning process. Healthy practices such as walking to school must become a part of their road safety projects. Students enacting a skit scripted on road safety initiatives will be a great way of learning it. Students who excel themselves in these programs can be applauded. This will encourage other children to increase their involvement.
Conclusion:
Educated kids pave the way to safer streets and thus become healthier. The more the students are aware of road safety, the less we need to care. This is the motto of Cape of Good Hope in line with the schools.