May is Road Safety Challenge Month. 

Teach Children the Rules of the Road. 
Over 2,400 children 14 years of age and under, are killed or injured on Canadian roads yearly (Child Pedestrian Injury Report, 2007-2008, Safe Kids Canada, 2010).

Early Learning Professionals can help lower this rate by teaching young children about road safety. Children’s ability to identify traffic light colours and their ability to judge distance, speed, and sound varies with their developmental stage. If the teaching is geared to their age and the messages are repeated often, children will learn road safety rules.

A resource called KIDestrians:Practising Traffic Safety with Kids, provides a variety of activities that are age appropriate for teaching children road safety. To view this resource, go to http://www.wechealthunit.org/family-health/safety/booklets/Kidestrian-Book-WECHU-Logo-SingleFinal-Nov-08.pdf.

For more information or for a free copy of the KIDestrian guide, contact the Intake Nurse at the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit at 519-258-2156 ext.1350.