Together for our future – A heart for the forest in Merzig
It was a day full of energy, joy, and a genuine connection with nature: a special tree-planting event took place in Merzig, demonstrating the power of community and commitment.
One minute they’re babies and the next they’re off to school on their own. Starting school is exciting for many children and parents alike – new experiences, new friends, but also a new responsibility. A safe journey to school is essential to ensure a carefree and safe start to the day. Children are particularly at risk in the darker months of the year or when there is a lot of traffic. We would therefore like to give you, as parents, some important tips to ensure your children are safer on the way to school!
Some drivers don’t seem to know the rules of the road anymore – so it’s all the more important to raise awareness among all road users, even the youngest ones. It’s never too early to discuss the basic traffic rules with your child. Children tend to react spontaneously and misjudge situations on the road. They should therefore learn early on which rules are important for them and how to take the best possible care of themselves. Waiting at traffic lights and crossing roads at crosswalks or traffic lights are particularly important. Explain to your child or children that you should only cross the road when it is safe to do so – preferably by making eye contact with drivers.
Another important point is the distraction caused by cell phones or other electronic devices. Many adults make the mistake of looking at their cell phones while walking – and children quickly adopt this behavior. Teach your child to keep their cell phone in their pocket on the way to school. The focus should be entirely on road traffic.
Good preparation is the be-all and end-all when it comes to road safety. Walk the route to school several times with your child before they go alone for the first time. A slightly longer route can sometimes be the better, safer option – for example via a quiet side street or a residential area instead of along the busy main road.
Also explain to your child possible danger spots on the way and how they should behave in certain situations, for example at blind junctions or roadworks. The more often you practise the way to school together, the safer your child will feel later on and the more routine they will develop in dealing with typical traffic situations.
The darker time of year brings additional challenges for road safety. Especially on grey, foggy autumn days or in winter, when it is still dark in the morning, children are often difficult for drivers to see. Bright, highly visible clothing and reflectors on jackets and rucksacks are therefore particularly important. There are special reflective stickers or tags that can be attached to school bags or jackets to further increase visibility. Ideally, hats, scarves and gloves should also be chosen in bright colors. If your child cycles to school a lot, make sure that the lights and reflective strips on the wheels are in good working order – this should be checked regularly before setting off.
Safety on the way to school is an important issue that is often underestimated. Even a short journey can be a dangerous one. With the right measures, you as parents can make a big contribution to ensuring that your child gets to and from school safely. Practice traffic rules and the route to school early on and provide your children with high-visibility clothing – these are the best prerequisites for a safe start to the school day. Walking to school can be an important step for children to learn independence – as long as it is safe!
Find out why breaks are so important for children. We explain how regular time-outs promote concentration, reduce stress and increase creativity.
It was a day full of energy, joy, and a genuine connection with nature: a special tree-planting event took place in Merzig, demonstrating the power of community and commitment.