Detranzinho's educational festival gets into the June spirit and prepares children for safe vacations on the road
In June, the program emphasizes safety when playing near roads and highways
Playing in public roads, flying kites, setting off fireworks and firecrackers. All of this is part of the routine of children and teenagers in June and July, but when it happens near roads and highways, it can cause a traffic accident. To raise awareness about these dangers, the State Traffic Department (Detran) prepared a themed program at Detranzinho. The Traffic Festival started this Tuesday, the 3rd, with 18 children from the Jean Piaget School in Ananindeua.
The pedagogical actions at Detranzinho are all playful and accessible, and children learn while playing. With the arrival of the June festivities, the space has been fully decorated to integrate the festive atmosphere with a proposal for traffic awareness, addressing ethical, environmental, and social responsibility aspects. Bunting, bonfires, pools, and kites are part of the scenery.
The musical ambiance has also been adapted to the rhythm of São João. “I generate the lyrics of the songs in AI (Artificial Intelligence) and then add a June rhythm with messages that talk about respect and awareness in traffic,” explains Detran education agent Ailton Trindade. “Oh, what a wonderful São João, but we have to be careful, my brother! In the street, with fireworks, with kites in the air, safety comes first!” and “Oh, let’s swing, swing, let’s play with attention! In the street, cars are passing by, taking care is our mission!” are some of the verses prepared especially for this period.
Traffic education agent from Detran, Nayane Maués explains that playing in public roads increases the risks of accidents. Kites with cerol or Chilean line can cause serious injuries to motorcyclists and pose a risk of electric shocks when flown near power lines. Fireworks and firecrackers cause burns and scares to drivers, which can lead to a traffic accident.
Similarly, the use of bicycles, scooters, and skateboards in vehicle traffic areas represents a risk of collisions. “It will be a month of a lot of fun at Detranzinho, but also of encouraging care for others and collective responsibility. Our goal is to raise children who take the learning home and into their communities, helping to guide their peers and family members,” highlights Nayane.
The educational actions last about three hours and also involve playful workshops, storytelling, discussion circles, and the distribution of educational kits. In all of them, respect for traffic rules is addressed, especially the use of helmets, how children should be transported in vehicles with safety devices according to their age, crossing at pedestrian crossings, proper use of bicycles, and recognition of signs and signals.
With so many visual and pedagogical resources, the kids learn quickly and become important allies of Detran. “Children can only walk in front of the car from the age of 10. Babies must use a baby seat, the right-sized car seat, and also the seatbelt. From 10 years old, they can sit in the front seat, but always with a responsible adult. We should let pedestrians pass first, and only then we can go. We cannot go in front of the pedestrian,” taught little Maria Alicia Silva, 10 years old.
Enzo Lima, only 9 years old, also learned well about the precautions he should take when playing in the street. “I learned that we shouldn’t fly kites near busy roads because we can literally hurt a motorcyclist's neck or, like, cut a wire. Then we could die because of electricity. I also learned about traffic laws today here, and that we must never throw trash out of the car window because that can cause a serious accident.”
The June program at Detranzinho continues until June 25 with the 13 schools that have already made prior arrangements.
