The daily journey of students between home and school is often dismissed as a mundane routine. However, experts from various security, social, and educational agencies in Sharjah insist that this journey constitutes a critical series of details that collectively create a safety net for children. From buckling up in the appropriate seats to safe descent and proper road crossing, each element contributes to a child’s overall security during their daily commute.
Importance of Early Positive Behaviours
Officials emphasise that true prevention begins prior to any danger occurring. They advocate for a cohesive effort involving families, schools, and relevant institutions to translate safety rules into everyday behaviours. This is particularly important given the heavy traffic around schools during pickup and drop-off times.
Lieutenant Saud Abdulrahman Al Shaiba, Head of Community Awareness at Sharjah Police, highlighted the importance of fostering security and community awareness among children and their families. He noted that instilling positive behaviours from an early age is crucial for effective prevention.
Community Involvement and Education
Al Shaiba stressed the value of utilising cultural and community events to deliver awareness messages to children and parents in a simplified and interactive manner. This fosters a stronger understanding of security, prevention, and social responsibility among the younger generations.
Moreover, Khalid Al Kuthairi, Head of the Child Helpline at the Sharjah Social Services Department, pointed out that ensuring children’s safety is a shared responsibility that begins at home and extends to schools and the wider community. He insisted that awareness and prevention form the first line of defence against potential risks to children.
He further mentioned the need to cultivate habits in children from their early years, such as fastening their seatbelts, sitting in designated seats, and refraining from being left alone in vehicles. Teaching children the correct way to cross roads and to use pedestrian paths is equally vital.
Post-School Safety Measures
Furthermore, Al Kuthairi underscored that the process of safely leaving school is just as significant as the journey there. Adults must ensure that children are picked up by a known and authorised person. This cultural shift towards safety cannot merely sprout from temporary directives at the start of the school year; it requires consistent dialogue and ongoing monitoring for positive behaviours to become ingrained habits.
Preparing for School Beyond Logistics
The Child Safety Foundation reiterated that school preparation extends beyond packing bags and organising schedules—it starts with ensuring a safe trip to and from school. They emphasised that buckling up in appropriate seats is non-negotiable, irrespective of how close the school is to home, as abrupt traffic incidents can occur without warning.
There is an urgent call for training children to avoid crossing streets between vehicles or running unexpectedly, and to always use designated pedestrian pathways, with the understanding that the shortest route may not always be the safest.
School’s Role in Promoting Safety
In the field of education, the Sharjah Private Education Authority has disseminated awareness leaflets to schools aimed at reinforcing a culture of safety amongst students, parents, and the school community at large. These messages serve to strengthen preventive concepts and connect the family’s role with the school’s efforts, fostering a collective responsibility in creating a safer environment for students during their daily journeys.
In conclusion, experts agree that child safety is not established through seasonal instructions but rather through the consistent details of daily routines. A child who learns that a vehicle does not move before their seatbelt is fastened, that roads are crossed only at specific points, and that they should only leave school with recognised adults is building a significant foundation for self-protection.
Ultimately, the crucial message for families each school morning is clear: the familiarity of the school journey must not lead to complacency. The seemingly minor details are what ultimately draw the line of safety for the child.