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Children age ten and older

Hillside Elementary School, Niskayuna, New York

Growth and Development Key Points

Children age ten and older:

  • Are usually ready for a mix of independence and supervision.
  • May need reinforcement and reminders about safe walking behaviors.
  • Benefit from practicing a specific route with an adult to talk about where to walk, where to cross and any other safety considerations before walking the route alone.

Children age ten and older continue to develop their physical, cognitive and psychosocial abilities. They are improving their processing, attention and decision-making skills, all of which are essential to pedestrian safety (Vinje, 1981; Pearson & Lane, 1991; Ridderinkhof, van der Molen, Band, & Bashore, 1997). Some children in this age group may be walking with little or no supervision. Therefore, it is essential for parents to ensure that their children continue to learn and practice the skills developed throughout younger childhood. To help their child prepare to walk alone, parents may want to begin with simple, low traffic routes. Walk the route with the child and talk about where to walk and, if necessary, where to cross before the child tries it alone.