Top tips: Staying safe outside in the dark
As the evenings grow darker, it’s important to stay extra vigilant when children are outdoors. In low light or bad weather, young children can be difficult for drivers and cyclists to spot. These easy tips can help keep your children safe when out after dark.
Top tips for staying safe outside in the dark
- Review your setting’s approach to road safety to ensure that you have a cohesive, consistent approach across all age groups
- Parents: In darker winter months, encourage parents to choose outer clothing like coats and hats in bright colours or add reflective strips to wellies, prams, wheelchairs etc. In darker weather children are much easier for drivers to spot if something they’re wearing reflects the light in car headlights. Share top tips for keeping children safe whilst crossing the road
- Outings: Review routes to ensure there are well-lit pavements whenever possible. Ensure staff always hold children’s hand near roads and keep them on the inside away from the road edge.
- Staff should act as good role models for safe behaviour by crossing at zebra crossings, traffic lights or with a lollipop person, teaching children how to wait for the green man and explain what the signals mean
- Curriculum: Teach road safety early by introducing “Stop, Look, Listen and Think” when crossing the road. Encourage staff to use this on every outing so it becomes a habit for children. Provide lots of opportunities to practice road safety during play experiences, for example, chalking a zebra crossing in an outdoor play space
- Talk about why safety matters: Children are naturally curious. Keep explanations simple and clear and repeat the messages regularly to help children understand and remember
- Habits for life: Provide lots praise to celebrate when children remember to stop, look, and listen. Positive reinforcement builds confidence and helps safety habits stick for life.
Disclaimer: Activities with children must always be risk assessed, including for allergies or choking. Children must always have adequate supervision. Resources and materials must always be appropriate for children’s age and stage of development.
- MyNDNA
- Tips
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