How do I teach DS some road sense???

[ShittyBogStain]

DS (8) is constantly being told off for running into roads and messing around near roads. He seems to think that if a road has speedbumps and is relatively quiet, there is no danger of being run over. I have told him over and over again that this is not the case. He just never listens.

So tonight on the way home from school, a kid taps him on the shoulder and then looks both ways quickly before darting across the road and reaching the other side. DS does NOT look or even THINK ... he just shoots into the road after the lad, RIGHT IN FRONT OF A CAR. The poor bloke slammed the brakes on, DS froze and actually layed his hands on the car bonet instintively, THATS how close it was.

I screamed at him, grabbed him, have banned xbox, tv, dvds etc for a week. He was put to bed at 6pm and will be for the rest of the week. I explained (albiet very angrily) why this was such a STUPID thing to do and how close he just came to being run over. He seems shocked but I just know he will forget and do it again. He has the attitude "yes I could have been killed, but I wasn't so no harm done".

He just doesn't care.

I'm so annoyed. I made him hold my hand all the way home but he's 8!!! I shouldn't have to hold his bloody hand. Most of his friends are walking to school on their own now. I was hoping to let him do the same soon but I now know he is nowhere near ready for that responsibility.

What can I do??

[cory]

sounds like you are doing what you can, and that you just have to hang on in there

[christywhisty]

I think ROSPA say that a child doesn't normally get true road sense until the age of around 11.

[Lmccrean]

Im sure that was a massive shock to you. Are you ok? (other than being angry!)

Im a CM and tell the kids that if they act in any way irresponsibly near the road they will have to hold my hand. That includes the 9 year old boy. That seems to have sorted it (except for youngest who is 5 and cant be trusted, but we are working on it gradually)

Do you do the whole "lets stop, look, listen" thing? If he does it often enough, hopefully it will slip into his subconcious!

[giantkatestacks]

I would expect more road sense than that to be honest at 8. God that must have been awful for you.

Do you always wait at traffic lights even when its obvious you dont need to and everyone else is crossing? Have you had his ears tested - sounds stupid I know but it can make a difference.

One of my friends asked her local safer neighbourhoods police officer to have a word with her ds - though you'd have to live somewhere quiet otherwise I imagine they would be really cheesed off.

[muppetgirl]

He's 8 and is aware of why he has to have road sense. I would reiterate how to behave, your expectations etc. I would give him a time limit as to when you expect this ie 'we have this week to sort this out and for you to show me you can be safe around roads' If he can't do this I would say that he has to go back to holding your hand everyday as you just can't trust him...

This isn't about humiliation it's about genuine road safety.