Traffic Light Scooter
Physical DevelopmentPersonal, Social and Emotional DevelopmentUnderstanding the WorldCommunication and Language
What you need
- a scooter or balance bike, and a helmet
- three sheets of paper: one red, one yellow, one green
- a few soft toys to steer round
How to do it
- On a flat, quiet path away from roads, set out a few soft toys to steer round, and use the paper as traffic light cards.
- Helmet on. Explain the rules: green means go, yellow means slow down, red means stop with both feet down.
- Stand at the end of the path and hold up one card at a time while your child scoots or rides towards you.
- Swap after a few goes: they hold the cards and you follow their lights, on foot.
Why it matters
Keeping an eye on the card while steering round the toys is a lot to juggle at once, and stopping on red is the same rule they'll use at real crossings.
What they're learning
- Pushing and steering
- Scooting and turning round the toys without stopping.
- Stopping on a signal
- Both feet down the moment red goes up.
- Following a rule
- Three colours, three things to do.
What to look for
Notice them putting both feet down the moment they see red.
A tip
Pick a park path or a quiet playground well away from roads and driveways, and keep the helmet on for every go.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: use only green and red, and leave out the toys
Harder: add a blue card that means turn round and go back
