Child safety: Preparing children for independent travel to school

Child rights advocates are providing guidance for parents preparing children for their first independent journeys to school or extracurricular activities. Experts emphasize that teaching a child a route is insufficient; they must also learn to recognize risky situations and know how to seek help.

Key recommendations include practicing the route multiple times, identifying recognizable landmarks rather than just street names, and discussing how to handle unexpected disruptions such as closed streets, changed bus routes, or dead phone batteries. Children should be taught to use the emergency number 112 if necessary.

Regarding interactions with strangers, advocates suggest teaching children to critically evaluate situations rather than judging people by their appearance. They warn that dangerous encounters often begin with seemingly harmless requests, such as asking for directions or help finding a pet. Children should be encouraged to end uncomfortable conversations and move toward public spaces or shops if they feel uneasy.