Did you know that children do not develop peripheral vision until around the age of 9 – this is just one reason why they are at an increased risk of injury as pedestrians.
Walking is great for children’s health and fitness, however being a pedestrian does involve a number of hazards.
Roads are designed with adults in mind, however children aren’t ‘little adults’. Child pedestrians are at an increased risk of injury because unlike adults, they are less developed physically (e.g. children have underdeveloped peripheral vision until age 9), cognitively (e.g. children are not as well equipped to tell where sounds are coming from) and in terms of their traffic experience.
To help keep your children safe around roads, teach them how to follow the safe road crossing procedure – STOP, LOOK, LISTEN and THINK:
Wheeled devices such as tricycles, bicycles, skateboards and scooters provide hours of entertainment for children, a great form of exercise and help them to develop skills such as balance. However, there is also a risk of injury to children when using these devices.
To help keep children safe when using wheeled devices there are a few key steps you can follow:
