Lessons/activities for toddlers that have to do with traffic? Any ideas welcome!
By cyberfluf
@cyberfluf (4996)
Netherlands
July 29, 2008 1:01pm CST
Dear all,I work in child day care, usually part time but as I'm covering for someones holidays during my summervacation I will be working 4 days a week for 4 weeks from this week on. We use themes every 3 weeks and this week we started the theme 'traffic'.
I have a group of toddlers (2 to 4 years old) and we do different kind of activities. Excersizing, dancing to music, learning new songs, creative activities, theater and more. I'm making a bundle of activities that go with this theme and I could use your help.
Do you know...
- Activities that match this theme or could be customized into it?
- Songs about traffic, vehicles, traffic rules, etc?
- Educational posters you could scan or add photo's of?
- Crafts that are doable for this age and match this theme?
- Websites that have this kind of (free to use) content?
Thanks in advance! 
What I allready have:
- Make your own traffic sign board (clear board, add a picture)
- Exercise activity: pretend to be a vehicle, how fast does it go and what sound does it make?
- Crafting a stopsign with added vocabulary and traffic rules lesson, red for stopping, green for going and orange for stopping too unless you are allready crossing.Planning on making- Traffic memory with sound CD
What I allready have:
- Make your own traffic sign board (clear board, add a picture)
- Exercise activity: pretend to be a vehicle, how fast does it go and what sound does it make?
- Crafting a stopsign with added vocabulary and traffic rules lesson, red for stopping, green for going and orange for stopping too unless you are allready crossing.Planning on making- Traffic memory with sound CD1 person likes this
1 response
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
2 Feb 09
What a shame this one didn't generate any ideas in time cyberfluf. 
What I HAVE seen that was extremely effective was group activity involving the children singing and then memorizing songs that bring home the message required. There was a wonderful campaign running in Australia many years ago about road safety and the lyrics went something along the lines of: "You look to the left, you look to the right, then you look to the left again!" Kids in schools everywhere were singing it and it was hugely successful! Pretty much any lesson can be drilled into small children with the right music, right dancing and fun factor! The little buggers will sing friggin' Barney at the top of their lungs for hours on end, so why not traffic safety tips! lol.
What I HAVE seen that was extremely effective was group activity involving the children singing and then memorizing songs that bring home the message required. There was a wonderful campaign running in Australia many years ago about road safety and the lyrics went something along the lines of: "You look to the left, you look to the right, then you look to the left again!" Kids in schools everywhere were singing it and it was hugely successful! Pretty much any lesson can be drilled into small children with the right music, right dancing and fun factor! The little buggers will sing friggin' Barney at the top of their lungs for hours on end, so why not traffic safety tips! lol.1 person likes this
@cyberfluf (4996)
• Netherlands
3 Feb 09
I was pretty bummed not to get any replies on this one, for sure. It would have been awesome to generate ideas that people around the world would be able to use when educating children. The songs are indeed a good idea, we use songs to go with a lot of activities. At this time we have the theme 'circus' and I have been able to come up with a big chunk of activities we will be able to do.
With the traffic theme I think it's most important you learn children the basics that are neccesairy to be save, and indeed learn them in a fun way so they will keep repeating it and memorize it. Thanks!
