Road Wary
Posted on June 9th, 2009 – 9:32 AMBy Kay Krhin
Last weekend the kids and I were playing on the driveway. Vivian was playing with sidewalk chalk by the garage. I bent over to help Ben get a rock out of his shoe. In a blink Vivi was running down the driveway full speed heading towards the street. To my left I saw a van coming around the corner. I swear time stopped and I flew down the driveway in a blur. One arm outstretched waving wildly at the van and scooping up Vivian with the other. Luckily it was a neighbor who drives slowly and cautiously down the block. Many don’t. My heart was up in my throat as I carried her back in my arms. A reminder, that it just takes a split second for the unthinkable to occur.
This morning, Gail Rosenblum’s column made my heart go right back in my throat as she discussed the recent tragedies of children hit by cars. She also mentioned something I had never heard. Children’s peripheral vision isn’t fully developed until they reach their teen years. You can read her column here “Kids can’t help being kids, so let’s keep them safe”
7 Responses to "Road Wary"
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We have a rule with my son, who is 4, that if he runs around the house, by himself, to where I can’t see him he goes inside for the day. I have only ad to take him in once, kicking and screaming, I might add. When goes get running, I give him a reminder and he turns right around. You really can’t take your eyes off of them!
Wow, very interesting (and scary) article. I hadn’t realized that peripheral vision isn’t fully developed until the teen years. I’ve linked to the article from little four eyes.
As one commenter to the original article stated, I never understand why we all have these nice backyards, yet so many kids still play in the street and their parents are fine with it. I understand riding bikes and things like that (which I still think should be parent-supervised until a certain age). There are many kids in our neighborhood though who just “play” out in the street, and are allowed to cross the street multiple times, with no parent in sight. I’m not talking about 10 year olds either; I’m talking about 3 and 4 year olds. I just don’t get it.
It IS amazing how fast it can happen! Our son is 4 1/2, and has been a cautious kid his whole life…we’ve never worried a bit about him because there are certain things he just would NEVER do. He stays close by whenever possible.
With #2 you expect more of the same, so it’s been an education to see how much more closely we have to watch her. She’s not exactly a daredevil, but IS much less predictable.
This is such a good reminder–we all have to keep that guard up constantly!
Here’s an interesting idea to keep kids safe in parking lots. http://www.parkingpalmagnet.com/
it is amazing how different kids in the same family can be. I have 4. the oldest is very observant, very sharp. she notices everything, even helps other kids be safer. the next kid, not so much. he’s very smart, he just lives in his own little world, and has to be reminded to pay attention over and over and over. the third is a very cautious kid. even though he may not notice everything going on around him, he is very in tune with people and their emotions and does not like it when anyone is upset or afraid. even at a very young age he has adopted anyone and everyone’s fears and is always on the lookout for them. and the baby…she is just plain crazy. I have never in my life met such an active, adventurous, mischievous child, and she’s only 19 months. God help us…
