Child safety

Christina: My four year old daughter is learning her green cross code and wants me to stand back and let her cross the road by herself (I don't let her). I just wondered what age do you think it is suitable to let a child cross the road on their own?

Inspector Tim Bonnett: I am glad your child is learning this essential safety skill. You are right that at four she is too young to cross the road without the help of an older person - even an older child. A child so young cannot correctly judge the speed of vehicles and other hazards. A good start would be to let your child use a Pelican or Zebra crossing with you watching and then move onto a road with no designated crossing. You are NOT being over protective.

Sam: My daughter is eight-years-old old and, being a very independent child, she likes to go out with her friends. With the summer holidays looming what kind of safety information would you tell a group of eight to twelve-year-olds when playing out, do you think they should keep money to ring home? Self defence classes? They are normally just five minutes walk away from the house.

She has been allowed to play at the local park with her friends for a few months now, they are only allowed in a group of three or more, they know not to separate and wander off on their own, they know to come straight home if anyone bothers them and they are really good at letting parents know if they are going to be somewhere else.

They are pretty good at following these instructions and I do think that allowing them a bit of independence is good for their social skills and their self-confidence. I know I learnt a lot from being allowed to play out and take a bit of responsibility for myself. I would be interested to hear a professional opinion on this though.

Inspector Tim Bonnett: You are doing all the right things. You have set appropriate boundaries and given sensible advice that alerts not alarms your child. You are clearly a good loving and careful parent who is also letting your child grow and become independent.