My daughter in Kindergarten came home yesterday with a driver's license. Earlier in the day, she and I (as a parent volunteer) had the opportunity to go on a field trip to Safety Village. Safety Village is a miniature town complete with stop lights, stop signs, one way and two way roads, and a working rail-road crossing arm that lowers as the alarm sounds and the lights flash. The kids get to pedal a "car" around this town and learn the "rules of the road" such as stopping for stop signs / stop lights, going down the road on the right side, stopping at rail roads when the crossing arm is down, and learning what a pedestrian crossing sign means. They were guided on their field trip by a real-life police officer and fireman.
This village is affliated with the Iowa City Mercy Hospital and they also run a two-week summer camp (for 5, 6, & 7 year olds) where the children go for 2 hours a day and learn not only about safety on the road, but water safety, stranger danger, animal safety, fire safety, electrical safety, etc. This camp is priced very reasonably at $50 for the two hours a day for two weeks.
Safety Village is located at 1930 Lakeside Drive on the Southeast side of Iowa City at the Grant Wood Elementary School. My daughter loved this short field trip and I'm strongly considering sending her to the 2 week camp (if we can rearrange some vacation plans.) Afterall, how much is it worth to have your child exposed to more ways to be safe?
For more information, check out their website at www.safety-village.com
I really think the idea and intentions behind this village is excellent!
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