By BEST Childcare Consulting
There is something deeply powerful about holding a child’s hand as you walk beside a road. In that simple moment, you are not just guiding their steps—you are shaping their understanding of safety, trust, and care. During National Road Safety Week (17th–24th May), we pause to remember the lives lost and the families forever changed by road trauma. But for those of us working with young children, this week also calls us to something more—an everyday commitment to protecting, teaching, and modelling safe choices.
Children rely on us completely. They watch how we cross the road, how we respond to risk, and how seriously we take their safety. These early experiences become the foundation for lifelong habits. When we slow down, hold hands, use safety language, and stay present, we are sending a powerful message: your life matters.
This week is not just about awareness—it is about action, reflection, and responsibility. It is about embedding road safety into the heart of our practice, working in partnership with families, and ensuring that every child in our care grows up with the knowledge, confidence, and support to stay safe.
SDERA (School Drug Education and Road Aware) – Programming Ideas & Links
In Western Australia, School Drug Education and Road Aware (SDERA) provides high-quality, evidence-based resources that align beautifully with early childhood frameworks. Their materials support educators to intentionally teach road safety through play, inquiry, and real-life application—making learning both meaningful and memorable for young children.
1. Early Childhood Road Safety Learning Experiences
SDERA offers age-appropriate activities that introduce key concepts such as:
- Safe pedestrian behaviour
- Identifying safe places to cross
- Understanding adult responsibility
Programming Idea:
Create a “Safe Travel Week” where each day focuses on a different concept (e.g. crossing safely, riding safely, travelling in cars). Use visuals, songs, and repetition to reinforce learning.
Link:
https://www.sdera.wa.edu.au/programs/road-safety/early-childhood/
2. “Smart Steps” Pedestrian Safety
This resource focuses on explicitly teaching children how to:
- Stop at the kerb
- Look both ways
- Listen for traffic
- Think before crossing
Programming Idea:
Set up a daily routine where children practice “Smart Steps” when moving between indoor and outdoor environments, embedding it into transitions—not just isolated experiences.
Link:
https://www.sdera.wa.edu.au/programs/road-safety/
3. Story-Based Learning & Literature Connection
Using children’s literature is a powerful way to make road safety meaningful and relatable.
Feature the book One Hand on the Car as a key teaching resource. This beautifully simple and relatable story reinforces the important message of staying close and safe in car parks and near roads.
Programming Ideas:
- Read the book and pause to discuss: Why does the child keep one hand on the car?
- Practise the strategy in real life during arrivals and departures
- Create a visual poster: “One hand on the car keeps me safe”
- Role play car park scenarios using props and dramatic play
Extension:
Invite children to draw themselves arriving safely at the service, reinforcing the connection between story and real-world behaviour.
Here’s a reliable place you can purchase the book One Hand on the Car by Taylor Cameron:
This listing provides the paperback edition and confirms it as a children’s picture book focused on teaching young children to stay close and safe in environments like car parks.
4. Ride or Walk to School/Service Focus
Encourage awareness of how children travel in their community.
Programming Idea:
- Create a visual chart: “How did you get here today?”
- Discuss safety for each mode (car, walking, bike)
- Invite children to draw their journey
5. Family Engagement Through SDERA Resources
SDERA provides fact sheets and guides that can be shared directly with families.
Programming Idea:
Host a “Road Safety Morning Tea” where families:
- Learn about current road safety guidelines
- Explore correct car restraint information
- Engage in simple activities with their children
Provide take-home SDERA resources to extend learning beyond the service.
6. Risk Awareness & Real-World Application
SDERA emphasises helping children recognise and respond to risks in their environment.
Programming Idea:
Take children on a supervised local walk and:
- Identify safe vs unsafe crossings
- Discuss traffic signals and signage
- Practice holding hands and staying together
Follow up with drawing or mapping the walk to consolidate understanding.
Why SDERA Matters in Practice
Using SDERA resources ensures your programming is:
- Evidence-based and aligned with WA priorities
- Developmentally appropriate for young children
- Consistent with community safety messaging
- Supportive of EYLF outcomes, particularly children’s wellbeing, safety, and active participation in their world
By embedding SDERA into your everyday program—not just during National Road Safety Week—you are building children’s confidence, awareness, and ability to navigate their world safely.
QIP Write-Up
Quality Area 1 – Educational Program and Practice
Exceeding Theme 1: Practice is embedded in service operations
Road safety education was intentionally embedded within the educational program through the consistent use of School Drug Education and Road Aware (SDERA) resources. Educators integrated “Smart Steps” strategies, story-based learning (including One Hand on the Car), and real-life application into daily routines, transitions, and play experiences, ensuring continuity and relevance for children.
Exceeding Theme 2: Practice is informed by critical reflection
Educators critically reflected on children’s understanding of road safety concepts and adapted experiences to ensure they were developmentally appropriate and meaningful. Reflection focused on how effectively children were able to transfer knowledge from structured learning into real-life contexts, such as arrivals, departures, and outdoor play.
Exceeding Theme 3: Practice is shaped by meaningful engagement with families and/or community
Programming was strengthened through collaboration with families, incorporating shared strategies and consistent safety language. SDERA-aligned information was shared with families to support continuity of learning between the service and home environments.
Quality Area 2 – Children’s Health and Safety
Exceeding Theme 1: Practice is embedded in service operations
Road safety practices were consistently implemented across daily routines, particularly during high-risk times such as arrivals, departures, and excursions. Educators modelled and reinforced safe behaviours aligned with SDERA guidelines.
Exceeding Theme 2: Practice is informed by critical reflection
The service critically reflected on supervision practices and risk minimisation strategies in relation to road safety. This led to strengthened procedures around active supervision, traffic awareness, and safe transitions.
Exceeding Theme 3: Practice is shaped by meaningful engagement with families and/or community
Families were actively engaged in discussions around safe travel practices, including car park safety and pedestrian awareness, ensuring a shared approach to protecting children.
Quality Area 3 – Physical Environment
Exceeding Theme 1: Practice is embedded in service operations
The physical environment was intentionally designed to support SDERA-informed road safety learning, including the incorporation of bike tracks, signage, and role play areas that reflected real-world contexts.
Exceeding Theme 2: Practice is informed by critical reflection
Educators reflected on how effectively the environment supported children’s understanding of safety concepts and made adjustments to enhance engagement, accessibility, and authenticity.
Exceeding Theme 3: Practice is shaped by meaningful engagement with families and/or community
Family feedback informed environmental enhancements, ensuring learning spaces reflected children’s real-life experiences within their community.
Quality Area 4 – Staffing Arrangements
Exceeding Theme 1: Practice is embedded in service operations
Educators demonstrated a consistent and shared commitment to implementing SDERA road safety strategies and modelling safe behaviours in all interactions with children.
Exceeding Theme 2: Practice is informed by critical reflection
Ongoing team discussions and reflective practices supported educators to evaluate supervision, positioning, and engagement strategies to ensure optimal safety outcomes.
Exceeding Theme 3: Practice is shaped by meaningful engagement with families and/or community
Educators worked collaboratively with families to reinforce consistent road safety expectations and practices across all environments.
Quality Area 5 – Relationships with Children
Exceeding Theme 1: Practice is embedded in service operations
Educators supported children to develop confidence and understanding of road safety through respectful, intentional teaching and meaningful interactions grounded in everyday experiences.
Exceeding Theme 2: Practice is informed by critical reflection
Educators reflected on how to balance safety education with maintaining children’s sense of agency and security, ensuring learning was empowering rather than fear-based.
Exceeding Theme 3: Practice is shaped by meaningful engagement with families and/or community
Family perspectives and experiences informed responsive teaching approaches, ensuring road safety learning was relevant and culturally appropriate.
Quality Area 6 – Collaborative Partnerships with Families and Communities
Exceeding Theme 1: Practice is embedded in service operations
The service embedded consistent communication strategies to share SDERA-aligned road safety information with families through newsletters, displays, and conversations.
Exceeding Theme 2: Practice is informed by critical reflection
Feedback from families was actively sought and reflected upon to strengthen engagement strategies and ensure messaging was clear, practical, and accessible.
Exceeding Theme 3: Practice is shaped by meaningful engagement with families and/or community
Partnerships with families and access to SDERA resources strengthened a shared commitment to children’s safety and wellbeing across home and service contexts.
Quality Area 7 – Governance and Leadership
Exceeding Theme 1: Practice is embedded in service operations
Leadership ensured that road safety practices, aligned with SDERA guidelines, were embedded within policies, procedures, and daily operations.
Exceeding Theme 2: Practice is informed by critical reflection
Leaders facilitated ongoing reflective discussions and professional learning opportunities to strengthen educator knowledge and confidence in delivering road safety education.
Exceeding Theme 3: Practice is shaped by meaningful engagement with families and/or community
Leadership fostered a culture of collaboration, encouraging meaningful partnerships with families and the community to promote consistent and effective road safety practices.
Links & Resources
School Drug Education and Road Aware (SDERA) – Road Safety (Overview)
https://www.sdera.wa.edu.au/programs/road-safety/
School Drug Education and Road Aware (SDERA) – Early Childhood Road Safety
https://www.sdera.wa.edu.au/programs/road-safety/early-childhood/
School Drug Education and Road Aware (SDERA) – Smart Steps (Pedestrian Safety Concepts)
https://www.sdera.wa.edu.au/programs/road-safety/
Government of Western Australia – Road Safety Commission WA
https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/road-safety-commission
Kidsafe WA – Child Car Restraint & Safety Information
https://www.kidsafewa.com.au
National Road Safety Week – Official Campaign Website
https://roadsafetyweek.com.au
One Hand on the Car – Available for purchase
https://www.amazon.com.au/One-Hand-Car-Taylor-Cameron/dp/064673346X
BEST Childcare Consulting
Road safety is not a one-week focus—it is a lifelong responsibility that begins in early childhood. The way we model, teach, and prioritise safety today shapes the decisions children will make in the future. By embedding these practices into everyday learning, we are not only protecting children—we are empowering them to become safe, aware, and responsible members of their community.
We are passionate about supporting services, educators, and families through meaningful, practical professional learning opportunities that strengthen real-world practice. Our team is qualified and experienced in delivering engaging, impactful professional development for both educators and families—ensuring everyone feels confident, capable, and connected in their role.
As always, use these inspirations to lead your service throughout the whole year in your everyday practices to truly earn an exceeding rating.
Contact us TODAY.
