Do you teach your kids not to walk in the middle of the road?

@kgwat70 (13388)
United States
February 24, 2008 6:29pm CST
This seems to be a ongoing problem in my area lately as when I am driving through the neighborhood kids are always walking in the middle of the road. They do not even care if cars are coming as it takes a while before they move to the side. Do you teach your kids about how dangerous it is to walk in the middle of the road or even ride a bike in the middle of the road? Could it be that kids these days do not care and do what they want to do?
3 people like this
11 responses
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
25 Feb 08
I have always taught my daughter to never walk in the middle of the road even if there are no cars coming. She is not allowed to ride her bike on any main roads either because it is too dangerous. I think alot of kids these days are rebellious and they do not listen and they choose to what they want to regardless of what anyone says.
3 people like this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
25 Feb 08
Growing up we used to walk, run, ride bikes, build bike jumping ramps and skate in the middle of the road but we also knew enough to get out of the way when cars came by. These days the kids don't move. My Niece and Nephew ride their bikes everywhere these days and they have been taught to either stay on the sidewalk (when no ppl are on it) or on the road close to the curb with the flow of traffic. **AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
2 people like this
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
25 Feb 08
"Growing up we used to walk, run, ride bikes, build bike jumping ramps and skate in the middle of the road but we also knew enough to get out of the way when cars came by." LOL yea we were big BMX ramp jumping, street hockey kids in my neighbourhood but like you said, we had sense enough to get out of the way...there were those times though that once you were OUT of your neighbourhood that daring brat got the better of you...NEVER EVER in your own neighbourhood though becuase your parents would always find out LOL
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@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
26 Feb 08
I know what you mean about your parents finding out...if you were in the road and someone almost hit you...you better be bleeding. LOL **AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
1 person likes this
@plumwish07 (4057)
• Indonesia
25 Feb 08
at this moment i have no children at all. but when i was kid, my parents and my family taught me not to walk in the middle of the road. they always remembering me about those thing. they taught me what the risk if we are walking in the middle of the street. about this children recent days, i am not sure about it but if their parents giving good approaching to their children, i am sure that the children would not neglect it.
@crystal8577 (1466)
• United States
25 Feb 08
It has never been a problem for us. My kids are not in the road unless they are crossing the street. They are not allowed to play in the road or alleys. I think that is a dangerous things to let kids get used to doing.
2 people like this
@chertsy (3798)
• United States
25 Feb 08
In my neighborhood with idiots that don't want to obey the speed limit, yes I have teached my kids to keep there butts out of the street. I grew up in the country were you got the idiots that think fast is the only way to drive. I honestly never had a dog that lived a old age because they always got in the road. I even seen one of my dogs get hit. So I tell my kids the dangers of being in the road. Even still, I'm outside with them when they are on there bikes. I stand right next to my mail box and watch for cars from each direction. That's the only time they are allowed to ride there bikes in the street, but as soon as I spot a car, they will ride over to the side, stop and wait for the car to pass by. Once my child doesn't follow this rule, it's time to put the bike up and go inside. Even when we are walking and right there by the side of the road. If we hear or spot a car coming, we stop and wait for the car to pass by. We look stupid doing this, but at least we are trying to be safe. When I'm driving and I see kids outside, I slowly move over so that kids have distance. Just wish that everyone would do that for mine.
2 people like this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
25 Feb 08
I try to teach my kids this. My youngest won't even cross the street without mom or dad holding his hand. My oldest, he doesn't walk in the street, but with him being autistic, if he finds something that's interesting and it goes into the street, well he may just follow it. For example, he was chasing a chicken he saw at a park. The chicken ran out into the street, so he did too. :( Fortunately there weren't any cars driving around where he was at, but I gave him an earful just the same. Autistic or not he has got to learn not to do this type of thing as it is very dangerous.
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
25 Feb 08
LOL its nothing new by any means..I remember we use to do it all the time when I was a kid....Do I teach my kids the dangers of it? Of course I do..do they do it anyway? Most definately...Kids today are just as stupid, cheeky and daring as me and my peers were when we were kids...
2 people like this
• Philippines
26 Feb 08
Yes i teached my nieces and nephews the danger of walking in the middle of the road and i always remind them to always stay on the side. Here in the Phils, whether it will be on the side and much more in the middle it is the same both are dangerous because there are many reckless driver present in here they think of themselves as the God on the streets. It is much more good if a parents or an adult always accompany minor on the road.
@4mymak (1793)
• Malaysia
27 Feb 08
howdy, i have 5 kidz and.... that is exactly what i teach them... i think the younger, smaller they are.. the better they listen... probably because they are still scared to be on the road with all the 'big', fast cars... but the older they get... they become more 'adventurous'.. have less fear of anything and everything... and the common response i get - "the driver can see us... surely they wont run into us on purpose...." huh ???... i know that teachers at the schools are also constantly reminding the kidz about road safety.. but, kidz will be kidz... still ignorant about soooo many things... even their own safety...
@honeylore23 (1081)
• United States
25 Feb 08
As of now I have no kids yet. When I was a kid and still studying in primary school, I usually don't pass on the roads. I go on the shortcut way as it is much safer according to my parents. When I reach high school, still not walking on roads because the school building is just meters away from home. But they always emphasize that if ever I walk on the roads I should stay on the side, so not be hit by vehicles. When I go somewhere, I have companion, it is either mother or father. I remember the first time I go to big city all alone, I am very cautious with walking, I always walk on one side of the road and never cross the street as I am afraid of being hit.
@tinkerick (1257)
• United States
25 Feb 08
I agree with steph in that the kids these days do it simply because they don't give a darn. I'm sure they were told as young children not to walk in the middle of the street. But as they get older they get the attitude that they can do whatever they want and everyone else can just shove it. I think part of that attitude stems from lazy parenting and the other part is lack of the ability to discipline. Parents who want to discpline in the same manner that we grew up with, can't for fear of child abuse. We have developed new ways to discpline, but often the good old-fashioned ways seem like they'd be better. -Tink
2 people like this