ALAN NAGER, MD: Well this is an interesting age
because, contrary to children at younger ages, this is the age range in
which children are trying to understand the rules. They learn by
examples. So if you as a parent are good role models for your children
and set concrete, good, wholesome examples, your children will follow those.
Also children are gaining independence; they want to go out there and see
what's the real world like. They might try to get away with things.
They may want to try and impress their peers. So there are a number
of issues which make this age group very complicated, and especially trying
to instill safety guidelines or rules for them.
BONNIE BOSEWELL: So they're risk takers at this
point. And what about their judgment at this point?
ALAN NAGER, MD: Their judgment is really questionable.
Kids have difficulty judging and perceiving sounds, distances, sort of
those concrete things in our environment which make their world very complicated.
Those perceptions ultimately may make them make bad choices, ultimately
causing accidents.
BONNIE BOSEWELL: Okay, well that becomes particularly
important in just their everyday life. For example, crossing the
street. Let's talk about some of the things that happen to kids just
being on the street. What kinds of things do you find typical that
will happen to kids as they're learning these rules in the street?
