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Playing the traffic light game helps your toddler understand simple instructions.
Use the words 'red' and 'green' to signal when to go and stop.
Watch the video below for inspiration on how to get the most out of this easy game.
What are the benefits of playing the traffic light game?
- This game help your little ones to connect colours with words and actions.
- Listening out for the colours encourages them to follow simple instructions.
- Remembering what each colour represents boosts your child's memory and concentration skills.
- Letting them call out the instructions helps build up their confidence and encourages them to use words.
- Teaching them that red means stop and green means go helps them start to understand basic road safety.
How to play the traffic light game
Use the colours 'green' and 'red' to signal when to go and stop. Let your child be in control of giving the instructions.
If you are feeling creative, you could create your own traffic lights with card and paper to hold up when you say the words. This will help your child connect the words, colours and pictures all together.
Make this game more advanced for older children by adding yellow as a new colour, like on a traffic light.
When you say yellow, they can either strike a pose, run on the spot, or move in slow motion. It's up to you how you want to set up the game.
This activity can be adapted for any occasion. Try swapping running around for clapping, dancing, or crawling - the possibilities are endless!
Helping toddlers understand safety
- Stories are a great place to start introducing lots of different life lessons, such as road safety. Check out this story from The Toddler Club about learning to cross the road.
- Check out this page on why toddlers might run off and what you can do to stop them.