UK Kids Have A Lesson On Bike Safety
How does your child get to school? The chances are that at least some of you have children who bike to and from school. And even if they do not use this mode of transportation for traveling to and from school, I am sure that your children spend a considerable amount of time on their bikes during the off-school hours or during the weekend. Same thing with children in the UK.
That is why about 6 schools in Portishead took part in a cycle safe week. It’s much like some other programs that we have had in many parts of the United States. The idea is the same – to school the children on bike safety. The Weston Mercury reports:
Portishead police have been working with Gordano School, its Youth Watch Group, five primary schools and North Somerset Council to organise the project.
The aim has been to ensure that cyclists who will be moving up to Gordano School next year have good road skills.
Police community support officers Debbie Charman and Dawn Tremlett, along with members of the Gordano Youth Watch Group held mini cycle rodeos at each school teaching road safety, with certificates at the end for each child.
Children from Nailsea have also swapped their books for bikes to learn about road safety.
More than 40 year six pupils at Golden Valley Primary School signed up for cycling training sessions led by Dave Mazur, an instructor from North Somerset Council.
The young cyclists have been riding around the playground and nearby roads to try out their new skills.
One outstanding thing about this program is that they are starting early. What I mean is that the children who were the main target of this program were those who are to leave primary school to enter secondary school. I am not very well versed with the British system of education but I am assuming here that primary school is akin to our elementary school. (Someone please correct me if I am wrong). Though I think that we even while they are at primary school, children should enter similar programs already, this intensive course right before they move on to something new in their lives would be very good for the children and would leave a lasting impact on them as well.
I have not heard much about summer bike safety programs in the US. Maybe some of you know information on this?
Photo courtesy of sfbike
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Posted on June 30th, 2008 by Deborah J Thomas
Filed under: Administrators, High School, K-6, News, Parents, People Involved, School Grade Level, School Safety Issues, Students
Anybody can pose a threat to a small child either physically or sexually. These threats can come in the form of a playground bully, an adult stranger, or even a familiar grown-up. Many children are now being taught how to stay safe through special lessons at school. It is vary important that small children are not left alone in unsupervised areas in shops and shopping centres. Make sure that an adult stays with them all the time and above all don’t ask strangers to keep an eye on them, irrespective of the reason. With all children, teach them their address and phone number, so that they can be brought back home easily if they get lost. You can also write their name and address on a piece of paper that can be kept on their person.
Most young children carry no form of identification and parents are worried about the implications of giving them a mobile phone at a young age. Incase of an emergency children easily forget their mobile numbers and nowadays children have to memorize mobile numbers as well. In the UK safety devices are easily available online to help parents keep their children safe.