Walk to/from School Safety Tips - What are you teaching your kids these days?

[Anonymous]

A friend in NYC has been updating her kids on keeping their heads on a swivel but also to stand with feet in a stance apart like a mortal Kim at fighter one behind the other at stop lights so no one pushes you into oncoming traffic or train tracks. I figure these are safe tips to use even here in DC. Is there anything else you have recently heard that you hadn’t practiced before?

[Anonymous]

Good christ. I just don't have my kids walk if they were to live in fear like that.

[Anonymous]

What?! Constant swivel head and fighter pose is just going to mark you as a target.

[Anonymous]

I've taught my kid never to enter an intersection until he either makes eye contact or is 100% sure the car is going to stop. Too many cars go through crosswalks in our neighborhood, even right next to the schools. I have never said "keep your head on a swivel," but I have mentioned always being aware of your surroundings. We've also talked about avoiding people who ask for help because "they lost their dog" or "don't know how to get to place A." Maybe the last one is a bit paranoid of me, but I feel like adults will never ask children for directions...I've been in situations where someone was asking me for directions then it got sketchy and I had to extricate myself (I'm a woman). My kid likes being helpful and unfortunately I've had to teach him to be a little more cynical living in the city.

[Anonymous]

Don’t be on your phone/ have it out. Walk with purpose. Mind your business. Be about your business.

[Anonymous]

Pay attention to your surroundings. Be careful at intersections and watch for turning cars. We identified safe places on their regular walk to stop if they don't feel safe (fire station, elementary school, family friend's house). Keep walking if someone tries to talk to you. Never ever ever get in someone's car.

[Anonymous]

Be aware of your surroundings.
Never run into intersections even if you have the light. Always check for cars turning left.
If something seems off (on the metro) get off and change cars.
If you need help, look for a woman with kids.
Never get into another persons car - run away like your life depends on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be aware of your surroundings.
Never run into intersections even if you have the light. Always check for cars turning left.
If something seems off (on the metro) get off and change cars.
If you need help, look for a woman with kids.
Never get into another persons car - run away like your life depends on it.

This is one of the things I have always told my kids too. That or a police officer but I kind of prefer a mom if they have the choice.

[Anonymous]

My kids don't walk to school but when we walk to parks etc. I teach them to not stand close to the curb.

[Anonymous]

Go over with them what to do if hit by a car. I hadn't reviewed this with my child, and they didn't know what to do when it actually did happen to them.

[Anonymous]

Don't wear both earbuds. You must be able to see and hear what's going on around you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A friend in NYC has been updating her kids on keeping their heads on a swivel but also to stand with feet in a stance apart like a mortal Kim at fighter one behind the other at stop lights so no one pushes you into oncoming traffic or train tracks. I figure these are safe tips to use even here in DC. Is there anything else you have recently heard that you hadn’t practiced before?

This sounds like a person who needs to move to Vermont.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Be aware of your surroundings.
Never run into intersections even if you have the light. Always check for cars turning left.
If something seems off (on the metro) get off and change cars.
If you need help, look for a woman with kids.
Never get into another persons car - run away like your life depends on it.

This is one of the things I have always told my kids too. That or a police officer but I kind of prefer a mom if they have the choice.

I have always told my kids that any adult that asks them for help should be avoided, but that if they need help, they can ask any adult. I like to think that any adult, and not just moms and police, will take a few minutes to help out a pre-teen kid who asks for help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Be aware of your surroundings.
Never run into intersections even if you have the light. Always check for cars turning left.
If something seems off (on the metro) get off and change cars.
If you need help, look for a woman with kids.
Never get into another persons car - run away like your life depends on it.

This is one of the things I have always told my kids too. That or a police officer but I kind of prefer a mom if they have the choice.

Same, I have always said to look for a mom or grandma, or a worker if in a store. Related - teach your children YOUR cell phone number by kindergarten! Make into a song and teach them to ask that helper mom to call your cell phone.
An adult should never ask a kid for help. A safe adult would know to ask another adult, never a kid.
Always check intersections and alleys before entering. Cars don't follow the rules of the road and run red lights/stop signs. It's THEIR job to double check there are no cars.
You don't have to be polite if someone is bothering you and won't stop. If they don't listen and won't leave you alone, you can yell as loud as you can to get other adults to notice and help you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't wear both earbuds. You must be able to see and hear what's going on around you.

This, plus making eye contact before crossing even if you have right of way. Way too many drivers make turns w/o seeing pedestrians.