By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google
Sign up with Facebook
Q: For those with children, how do you handle the traffic?
My wife and I had our boy while living in the States, and now we're back in China for a year (or longer) so our toddler can get to know his grandparents, learn to speak Chinese, have fun, etc. When my wife and I were living in China previously -- without a child -- the traffic was an afterthought; I just had the strategy of being aggressive yet alert when crossing the street. Now, my boy is just a toddler and I'm trying to teach him how to cross the street.
However, crossing the street -- even when you have a green walk light -- seems to be dangerous. Just the other day a Mercedes honked at me to move when my kid and I were crossing the street with a green walk sign; this was like the 4th such incident in a month of being back, so I punched the hood of the car, and cussed the guy out. If it was a Maserati maybe I would have keyed it haha.
In China, I often hear people say that folks do everything for their children. But I don't see this philosophy being upheld in terms of traffic, smoking, getting on the subway/bus, etc.
For those with kids, how do you handle the traffic?
8 years 1 week ago in Family & Kids - China
as a parent i can understand how you feel as crossing the road in China can be a hart stopping experience.
I encourage the use of the subway or overpass option if available however that can be few and far between.
i try to explain as we cross the road for example "when that taxi goes past we will walk this way till we get to that spot "
hopefully they will understand what we are doing and use the information later themselves.
but i will still hang on to their hand till their partner can take over
good luck to you and best regards
as a parent i can understand how you feel as crossing the road in China can be a hart stopping experience.
I encourage the use of the subway or overpass option if available however that can be few and far between.
i try to explain as we cross the road for example "when that taxi goes past we will walk this way till we get to that spot "
hopefully they will understand what we are doing and use the information later themselves.
but i will still hang on to their hand till their partner can take over
good luck to you and best regards
If your child is older (5 and up) traffic shouldn't be an issue, and using public transportation can be a fun learning experience. However, if you have a baby in China you really need a car. Taxis, buses, and trains aren't clean or safe for toddlers and babies.
philbravery:
actually i found it easy on public transport with a young child. believe it or not people would offer a seat or move out the way to help One of the better experiences in China
My brother and his 6 year old niece came to visit me in GZ, and when we were out on the streets I made sure I always held her hand, when we were on the bus and could not seat down I made sure she would hand on the rail or something. Your senses are much heightened and you take no risks, even in HK it's the same just cause the sheer amount of people around. All you can do is keep your guard up at all times. (Which I'd imagine is what you're doing whenever your out with your son)
ScotsAlan:
HK is different. The traffic is faster, but that's because they follow the rules of the road. And the pedestrians know to stop look and listen. The problem I have, with my almost 4 year old, is that mum and I try to teach her. Green man, all the usual stuff. But MIL just walks straight out into the road, then says "Ohh", when a bus misses her by a few inches. Now our daughter sees side roads (the most dangerous), as a playground. She challanges me and her mum over the stop, look and listen stuff. I am working on the MIL.
