• Teach kids about safety with these fun activities.illuminated stop sign image by leemarusa from Fotolia.com
  
  Looking both ways before crossing the street, not talking to strangers, never running with scissors--these are all things we teach children to ensure their safety. Teaching children about safety at a young age will ensure that they know how to avoid danger and safely care for themselves. Use any of these activities to teach children about safety.
  
  

"Traffic Light Game"

• This activity is a fun way to teach children about the importance of traffic lights and how they work. You will need an open space in order to play. Select a child to be the traffic light. She will stand in front of the space. The rest of the children stand about 30 feet away from the person who is representing the traffic light. The traffic light turns her back to the group of children and yells "green light!" During this time, the children move as fast as they can to reach the person playing the traffic light. Whenever the traffic light feels like it, she turns around and yells "red light!" At this, the children must stop moving. Any child caught moving must sit out. The game continues until one of the children reach the traffic light, touching her on the shoulder. This person becomes the next traffic light and another round is played.
  
  

"Stop, Drop and Roll"

• Teaching children to "stop, drop and roll" is an important part of fire safety. They can learn this fire-safety tip by doing this activity. Have children create a large flame on a piece of paper using red, orange and yellow crayons. Have them cut out the flame then attach it to their backs with tape. Allow them to roll on the floor until their flames fall off. While they are doing so, have them sing this song to the tune of "Three Blind Mice."
  
  Stop, drop and roll!
  Stop, drop and roll!
  Don't ever run, don't ever run!
  Remember these words can save your life!
  Remember these words can save your life!
  Stop, drop and roll!
  Stop, drop and roll!
  
  

"Look Both Ways"

• Through this activity, kids will learn the importance of looking both ways before crossing the street. Select two children to pretend they are cars. One child stands on the right side of an open space, the other stands on the left. They should be standing about 10 feet apart. Another child stands back on the "sidewalk," looking both ways before she crosses the "road." The "cars" quickly walk toward each other as if they are cars moving in opposite directions down a street. They walk past the point where another child will be crossing the "road." If the children who are playing the cars are approaching, the pedestrian child should not walk. If there is enough time for her to cross without being hit by the "cars," she can cross.