Safety Towns vary greatly – in cost, curriculum, and ages of children targeted. Because the quality of the programs also varies, some critics dismiss them as not the most effective or cost-efficient way to teach children safety. The ones that are done right – can prevent accidents – reduce injuries and build lifelong safety awareness in children and parents

Chlad says – since most of a person’s intellectual development occurs before age 3 – safety awareness should be started before children enter school – even if the youngsters are not yet developmentally ready to learn complex tasks – such as safe street crossing.

Some traffic safety experts question that teaching street crossing before children are developmentally ready. Children may get a false sense of security when the “traffic” they experience is – toy cars or trikes. Parents fear – and assume – their children can safely cross the streets after the training.

Chlad takes issue with both assumptions. We introduce numerals before we teach children to add – and – letters before we teaching words. We have to INTRODUCE safety education even before children are developmentally and emotionally capable of understanding traffic. Realism is built into the second week of Safety Town when the children and teen instructors are taken – by a police officer – to practice crossing a real street.

A research stated “many activities are fun and model traffic layouts are cute and lavish – but – a half hour of driving miniature cars and crossing pretend streets has been shown to be ineffective in changing children’s street crossing behavior”.

Chlad stated – does a half hour of ANY instruction really change behavior? It INTRODUCES information that must be followed up with appropriate and constant additional instruction.

Some complain that – Safety Towns – will be thought of as a “silver bullet” . Can a brief, one-time course be an excuse for schools not to have ongoing safety programs or for parents to think home teaching is unnecessary?

Chlad was “stunned” wtih that reaction! “How would anyone make that conclusion?” Safety Town is the – INTRODUCTION – which is Phase 1 – followed by Phase 2 – and Phase 3 – plus – parent child session and special parent sessions – plus – continued school instruction and parent/community events.

Because there has not been much evaluation and since there is no safeguard that what is taught it every Safety Town is age-appropriate – or – even correct safety information, some experts remain cautious about – Safety Town.

Jeffrey Diver, Field Director of – National SAFE KIDS – campaign said “This is a problem that need not arise. By providing hands-on experience, Safety Towns are a great way to educate children about pedestrian safety – and – other safety issues. But they should never be considered a replacement for a multifacted injury prevention program”.

Chlad stated again – Safety Town is a program that INTRODUCES safety awareness and procedures. Many injuries have been prevented as a result of children and parents who participated in the program. (See example attached)

“We will NEVER know how many accidents, Safety Town and other programs prevented! Every time a child – stops their feet at the curb – wears a helmet – does not play with matches IS A PREVENTABLE ACCIDENT!” says Chlad.