Walking Safety

June 15, 2011

The nice weather makes a perfect time to take the family out for walks.  We walk quite often in my family, but until recently, my idea of walking safety was merely making sure the kids don’t run too far ahead and don’t go in the street.

One day as we were taking our kids for a walk, my husband called our 6-year-old back to us after he ran ahead.  He told him that it was because there could be cars backing down their driveways and not see him.  I’m embarrassed to say that I never even considered that a possibility.  Never occurred to me.

But let me say, I’m so glad he brought it up!  A short time later while I was walking our 6-year-old to school, a woman talking on the phone backed down her driveway without looking!  If I had not seen her, or if our son had been just a few feet in front of me, she would have hit him.

It’s a fine line we as parents have to walk between teaching our children to act with safety in mind without making them afraid of the world.  However, I do think it is worth the time to explain to your children that it is important to stay with you while walking past driveways, especially since you are taller and more likely to be seen.  Or, if they are of the age that they go on their own on bike rides or to their friends’ houses, that they watch for cars backing.  So many children are being taught by their parents that cars will stop if they see them, but that doesn’t really apply if the driver never sees them.

I hope this walking safety tip works for you!


Kristina is a stay-at-home mom of two boys.  She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English and spends her down time sewing, baking, doing crafts with her children, and experimenting with recipes with her husband.

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