DUBAI // Toddlers at Dovecote Nursery were yesterday taught a little song to help drive home the importance of buckling up in the back seat.
Lesley Cully, the founder of the “Buckle Up In The Back” campaign, visits nurseries to get the message to parents through their children.
And after every session Ms Cully hands the children a bag with stickers and posters and teaches them a song to reinforce the message.
“Use your seat belt in the car, buckle up,” she sings. “Doesn’t matter near or far, buckle up.”
She said that parents “take better care of the eggs they buy than their children sometimes”.
And to emphasise the fact, she told the Jumeirah nursery’s three-year-olds while shaking a box of eggs: “A car is like an empty box. All that shaking, like when you go to the desert, can be dangerous if you are not wearing a seat belt.”
Ms Cully has been running her campaign since 2010 and has spoken to more than 36,000 parents, schoolchildren and university children.
“The message is for everybody – even adults,” she said. “But I target children because they are the road to awareness. They have great ‘pester power’. If they tell the parents they need to buckle up, they will listen.”
Child fatalities in car crashes could be reduced by 63 per cent if back-seatbelt laws were in place, she said.
“Most people say the only reason they wear a belt in the front is because it is the law,” she said, adding: “Many parents think it is unnecessary to wear a seat belt at the back because it is safer. It isn’t, especially if there is a high-impact crash and those behind are thrown from their seats.”
Mena Press, the manager at Dovecote Nursery, said she approached the buckle-up campaign after witnessing irresponsible behaviour during pick-up hours.
“Usually, we have drivers picking up the children and they do not ask the children to wear the seat belt,” she said.
"Also, some of them drive with the child on their lap.
"I blame the parents for not telling their drivers how important it is that the children be strapped in or ensuring they sit in a car seat."
Ms Press said she personally tells off drivers, but it was necessary for parents to be educated too.
“Children can effectively pass on the safety information. What they learn now also makes them more responsible adults in the future,” she said. “We will also be sending out newsletters to parents.”
aahmed@thenational.ae
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Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
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The specs: 2018 Maserati GranTurismo/GranCabrio
Price, base Dh485,000 (GranTurismo) and Dh575,000 (GranCabrio)
Engine 4.7L V8
Transmission Six-speed automatic
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Torque 520Nm @ 4,750rpm
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Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
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