Crossing road when children around?

mrbrightside842

I wouldn't tell a person off for doing so, but if I'm with my children and someone crossed whilst the red man was on, I'd tell my kids that 'that's a very silly person and it's very dangerous, you should only cross when the green man is on' etc.

Buttonmoons

I always wait for the green man if I'm with DD, of course some areas have no lights, or if it's a small road. If I'm not with her and there is no traffic, I'll just dash across. I never worry about what others are doing at the lights, it's up to them and I don't think it's a bad example to your children , unless said person is doing a mad dash across a busy road!

When I visit a friends house, we have to cross a main road which has traffic lights, then another road that leads onto the main one, that one is a pain, as you have to be totally aware of cars indicating in (which they sometimes don't do, so I always wait until I'm sure I can get across before another car comes in sight)

Only a few weeks ago, me and DD crossed a road and the green man was flashing away and I was about to cross when I realised a car approaching was going WAY too fast, good job I didn't step off the pavement, because the idiot just flew on by, we'd off been mincemeat! He stared at us as he did it? Why to laugh at my expression? No idea.....

fernliebee

Personally I don't care wether people cross or not, I will teach my children (or the children in my care as has been my experience, as DD is too little at the min) I would tell them not to pay attention to what other 'naughty' people are doing, but to listen to me and wait for the green man/ the beep.

There are plenty of stupid people in the world, doing all manner of silly things, and the sooner children learn that they cannot blindly follow others the better. They should be listening to what you as their parent/ carer is saying and follow your example rather than joe bloggs on the street.

Only my opinion of course, but children are so intelligent they will easily learn if taught well. My DD is only 14 months and run's around everywhere, she has so much confidence and is def not afraid to leave my side, however she knows if I say stop in a very serious voice that she has to stop. Obviously she will prob test this as she gets bigger but then it is my job to re-inforce how important it is. Children young enough to not be able to cross on their own should be holding a hand/ side of the buggy anyway IMO.

milliebear00001

gracie83 wrote: »

I am wondering what others think about how they should cross roads when there are children crossing the road too.

The situation is always the same. Mother, usually a push chair and one or two walking children. I usually join them standing at the crossing. The crossing next to work is a very very long sequence. So if the road is empty I cross the road as it seems crazy to be standing by the edge of an empty road just waiting for the green man. I never cross roads dangerously. There is either plenty of time to cross (no running!) or I wait for the green man. Twice now during the school holidays I have been shouted at by the mothers as I have been crossing the road. I am 'setting a bad example' and then after telling me off explaining to the children that they never cross the road unless the green man is on and to ignore stupid idiots like me. One mother used slightly stronger language which was nice!

Surely though you don't just want kids to blindly cross the road because the green man is lit. Surely the kids have to be taught to look at the traffic on the road as well and not assume that green man is safe.

Anyway these telling off got me thinking. As an adult, should I stand at the side of an empty road diligently waiting for the green man to set a good example for little children if they are also at the crossing even though it is perfectly safe to cross the road?

How bizarre! I never cross the road with my children unless the green man is on, but I routinely do when I'm on my own! It is not your job to model road crossing to other people's small kids! On the odd occasion my children have commented on a grown up crossing before the green man, I always said to them that it was up to the adult how they crossed, but children should always wait. I think children are well used to adults ding things they are not allowed to do themselves as children, and are generally fine with this!

snowdrop1967

What really annoys me is when I can't walk on the path with my children because cars are parked on it and we are forced to walk on the road, its so dangerous. I'm so tempted sometimes to knock their mirrors.

Katyag

I complain at DH if he goes to walk across the road if the green man isnt on and we havent checked the road, as our children look to both of us for an example.

However I wouldnt dream of complaining at anyone else for crossing whenever they felt like it, thats up to them!

Curlywurli

I always wait at the lights for the green man with my little ones and we go over the rules of crossing the road. We always check it's safe to go, even when it's green.

Plenty of people around here randomly cross, which is really silly as it's a busy junction. I wouldn't dream of having a go at them, what they do is their business. I do quietly comment to my children that they should never do that but I've never said anything to an adult. As a parent I'd be more offended if I was in a restaurant and people sat there swearing.

newcook

snowdrop1967 wrote: »

What really annoys me is when I can't walk on the path with my children because cars are parked on it and we are forced to walk on the road, its so dangerous. I'm so tempted sometimes to knock their mirrors.

this really bugs me too!!! near where I work there are a few people who think its perfectly acceptable to park completely on the pavement making me walk in the road (and its quite a busy road). I therefore deliberatly walk as close to the car as I can with my arm tensed ready for when it hits their wing mirror.
I also have zips on my sleeve and dont care if it does scratch their paint work - they are lucky I dont walk up the bonnet and over the roof with stilletto heels!!!! grrrr!!!!

madnessandmayhem

Personally I wait until the green man is there if there are small children who obviously being taught how to cross roads safely. It doesn't bug me when others just cross the road hen I am with my children-my eldest (6) knows how to cross a road safely (he never does it on his own!!) my youngest seems to know about the green man and recognises that it means you can cross (usually cos he shouts 'go, go, go' at thee top of his voice lol) but he doesn't realise the dangers. I trust that I have taught my children well enough that they know how to cross a road properly, and not do what everyone else is doing-my eldest usually states (very loudly!!) that the man/lady was naughty because they didn't wait for the green man. There is a crossing near us that is in 2 bits cos the road is wide, and from the one side you cannot see what is coming until it is right in front of you, and although if i was doing it on my own I could get across safely, I wouldn't risk my son being able to get across etc just in case. although once there were a lot of people waiting who decided to cross before the green man, and my son went to follow-luckily i had hold of his hand because just aftter they'd got off the road a car cam speeding round the corner-not sure my son would have been quick enough to get out of the way-that was the one and only dodgy moment we've had with roads thankfully!!
OP you should cross the road however you like-it is the parents responsibilty to ensure their children are safe by roads, and are taught how to cross safely-not yours!!! i'm sure they don't launch a verb al attack on anyone smoking, drinking, eating junk food etc just because it's setting a bad example!!! (not my opinion!!)

kirstle99

Haha, I thought it was hilarious when I was at the crossing once with my (then) 21 month old, a lady crossed the road without waiting for the green man and walked towards us, when she got to where we were standing my son turned around and shouted 'naughty!'
Speaks volumes. I would never shout at anyone myself though but it's nice to know my son knows right from wrong.