To make sure that children who are starting school are spared any experience of how serious life can be, it is important to plan a safe route to school.  

• The route to school should be planned and decided on together with the child. Small detours may have to be taken in the interests of safety.
• Once a safe route has been planned and decided on, it is important that parents and children practice taking the route together a number of times. If at all possible, this should be done well in advance – while they are still at kindergarten or nursery school, for example. It is a good idea if children “lead” the way and tell their parents what they are doing and why.
• While the sidewalk is intended for pedestrians, it can also be dangerous where there are entrances, exits or garages. Children should also be taught to stop and look at these points to make sure there is no vehicle coming.
• Crossing the road makes considerable demands on a child. Crossing the road where cars are parked on both sides is particularly dangerous. Children should not cross the road at these points if at all possible because they can’t see what’s coming when they are standing between cars, nor can they be easily seen.