The Child and Family Development physical therapy team helps kids and teens learn safe navigation in their community.

This can include stairs, exits/entrances, outdoor terrain and even street cross-sections.

Physical therapists sometimes use this safety checklist to assess skill level and identify hazards.

Does this child do the following?:

• Choose an appropriate route or accessible access as needed including beginning and end location to cross the road/parking lot

• Stop appropriately on a sidewalk, the edge of a road, edge of parked cars to view traffic

• Acknowledge and obey cross walk indicators when present

• Looks left and right before proceeding

• Listen or answer appropriate questions regarding sound   (i.e . notices sounds of nearby engines, backing sounds, etc)

• Notice visual indications of cars backing up as appropriate (such as reverse lights)

• Hold an adult’s hand if decision making skills are under an age equivalency of 10 years OR walk beside others if older than 10 years in decision making

• Choose an appropriate initial pace crossing

• Modify pace appropriately when crossing as determined by oncoming cars

• Continue to look left and right while crossing

• Understand Walk and Don‚Äôt Walk Symbols at crosswalks

• Know and press appropriate button (when available) to trigger Walk Symbol at crosswalk 

• Continue to monitor crosswalk indicator for changes

• Walks when the symbol changes to Walk

Read more about physical therapy services here.