What you need
What to do
- You’re going on a road trip today; this could be done inside or out!
- Mark out a road using chalk or tape. If you do this inside, test a small area first to make sure the chalk or tape comes off cleanly.
- If you want to, you and your toddler can make a traffic light drawing to stick down. Or if you don’t feel like being crafty, add a tape/chalk mark, cushion or something of your choice to your track to indicate where the traffic lights are.
- Create a starting point and explain to your toddler that you’re going to drive along the road. If you like, find a pretend steering wheel each to use – a roll of masking tape/biscuit tin lid or other round lid.
- Walking along in your pretend vehicle, do a lap of your track so your toddler knows which direction they are ‘driving’ in.
- Explain that you will tell them when the traffic lights are changing. You might need to explain that red means stop, amber means get ready, and green means go.
- Encourage your toddler to drive along the road.
- While they drive, say, “Ohh the lights are changing, amber, slow down, red, stop!” Or when they are at a stop, “The lights are changing, amber, get ready, green, go!”
- Practise this a few times so they have a better understanding of what to do. Your toddler might want to take over being in charge of the traffic lights and direct you, too.
Good to know
When your toddler understands the game a little more, you could introduce other driving experiences, like doing a U-turn, and driving in the opposite direction.
If you have siblings or friends that can join in, you might be able to create a traffic jam and get everyone using their horns!
There are endless ways this game can be extended, use your knowledge of driving, or traffic, and let your imagination do the rest.
You might find that your toddler has some suggestions too.