Smart Steps for early learning
10 May 2017
Originally developed in 2005 with a parent engagement focus, the Smart Steps program was revised specifically for early childhood educators working with children up to 8 years of age, to enable road safety to be embedded in early learning centres and school practices.
The program aims to:
- enhance educators’ understanding of the developmental capabilities of children in the traffic environment
- focus on the key messages to teach children so that they can remain safer in the traffic environment
- provide a range of teaching and learning strategies educators can use with children to build their road safety knowledge and skills
- explore strategies to engage parents in their children’s road safety education.
The program links to the:
- National Practices for Early Childhood Road Safety Education
- Early Years Learning Framework and in particular the 8 practices
- National Quality Standard
- WA Kindergarten Guidelines
- WA Health and Physical Education Syllabus
The program is free for educators working in early learning centres and for school teachers with students in Kindergarten to Year 2. A half day professional development workshop unpacks the Smart Steps resources. Attendees will receive over thirty free materials to run the program, including teacher resources, posters, stickers, story books and a large road safety play mat. SDERA also contributes to the cost of staff relief.
Dates for upcoming Smart Steps workshops can be found here.