Hold My Hand campaign to keep kids safe
Logan City Council backs Hold My Hand child safety program
A new campaign at childcare centres will highlight the importance of safety for young pedestrians around roads, driveways and carparks.
Logan City Council is supporting the Hold My Hand campaign trial in conjunction with the Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation.
Ten childcare centres will take part in suburbs including Logan Central, Waterford, Underwood, Slacks Creek, Kingston and Waterford West.
It was launched at Hatchlings Early Learning Centre, Waterford West.
Each centre will prominently display ‘Hold My Hand’ signage. Children and parents will also receive educational resource materials highlighting the important topic.
Parents will be surveyed on their attitudes to child pedestrian road safety at the start of the campaign, and again at the end of the trial period.
The data collected will be used to shape future road safety campaigns.
Deputy Mayor Laurie Koranski
Cr Koranski speaks about the Hold My Hand launch.
Deputy Mayor Laurie Koranski said childhood safety around moving vehicles should be at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
“The safety of our kids – our most precious residents – is vitally important. I’m proud that Logan City Council is participating in this project,” Cr Koranski said.
“This will put the issue firmly in the spotlight for parents at drop-off and pickup each day, and it will be interesting to see the results of the survey.”
Division 5 Cr Jon Raven welcomed the campaign.
“Everyone wants to keep kids safe. Anything we can do to support parents around pick up and drop off is well worth it,” Cr Raven said.
On average, up to six children aged 14 or younger die and nearly 50 are injured in pedestrian or cycle accidents every year in Australia.
Little Blue Dinosaur Founder and CEO Michelle McLaughlin
Little Blue Dinosaur Founder and CEO Michelle McLaughlin speaks about the goal of the program and its tragic beginnings.
Sydney mother Michelle McLaughlin established the Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation in 2014 after the tragic death of her four-year-old son, Tom, who was struck by a car while on a family holiday.
“It is especially important for young children to hold their carer’s hand when around busy roads,” Mrs McLaughlin said.
“My family knows first-hand the heartbreaking reality of losing a child to road trauma.”
The participating childcare centres are:
- Hatchlings Early Learning Centre, Waterford West
- Community Kids Waterford Early Education Centre
- Kiwi Kids Education and Care, Logan Central
- Montessori Garden Childcare and Kindergarten, Underwood
- Paradise Road Early Learning, Slacks Creek
- Treehouse Early Learning Centre, Kingston
- Mojo Montessori Early Learning Centre, Logan Central
- Little Bunyas Day Care Centre, Waterford West
- Cherubs on Leichhardt St Childcare Centre, Logan Central
- Harmony Early Learning Journey, Bahrs Scrub