Safety rules work best when children know the reason behind them. At Safety Square, Year 1 explorers practise what to do on the road, at home, near water and when something goes wrong.
What your child will learn
- Cross roads safely: stop, look and listen
- Know why we use seat belts and helmets
- Stay away from hot, sharp and unknown things
- Know what to do if lost or in an emergency
Practise before it matters
In a real emergency there is no time to think it through, so the answers need to be automatic. Talk through “what would you do if…?” calmly and often, and make sure your child knows their full name and a phone number to call.
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. Where is the safest place to cross a road?
- On a bend
- Between parked cars
- Anywhere, if you run
- At a pedestrian crossing
Show answer
Answer: At a pedestrian crossing. Drivers expect people at a crossing and can see you there.
2. You are lost in a shop. Who is a good person to ask for help?
- Nobody — just hide
- A shop worker at the till
- A dog
- Someone outside in a car
Show answer
Answer: A shop worker at the till. People who work in the shop can help find your grown-up.
3. Where should you walk beside a busy road?
- Behind parked cars
- On the footpath, away from the traffic
- Right on the edge of the road
- In the middle of the road
Show answer
Answer: On the footpath, away from the traffic. The footpath keeps you away from moving cars.
Tips for grown-ups
- Practise crossing a quiet road together, saying each step aloud.
- Teach your child the emergency number for your country and when to use it.
- Agree a meeting place in case you are separated on a day out.