May 12, 2006 UPDATED IMAGE LIBRARY This rates as one of the best and most sensible ideas we’ve ever seen. Anyone who has ever tried to orchestrate a public outing for more than two children under the age of eight years knows the dangers. Children don’t have the ability to judge speed, distance and danger so they make unpredictable and vulnerable pedestrians with matters often made much worse due to arousal levels heightened by the proximity of other children. The Walkodile child safety walker is a significant development in the field of child safety as it offers a stress-free method of shepherding a group of primary school age children in public. The UKP200 Walkodile links four to six children to a central flexible spine, which they can hold on to whilst they walk. Each child is fitted with a high visibility, adjustable harness and joined to the Walkodile, which has been very successful in both formal and informal tests, as supervisors are able to steer six children by holding the hand of just one of the lead children. Quite predictably invented by a school teacher (that’s the inventor Elaine Stephen pictured), the Walkodile means no more lost children and a greatly reduced possibility of much worse.
The Walkodile child safety walker is a significant development in the field of child safety as it offers a stress-free method of shepherding a group of primary school age children in public. The UKP200 Walkodile links four to six children to a central flexible spine, which they can hold on to whilst they walk.
Each child is fitted with a high visibility, adjustable harness and joined to the Walkodile, which has been very successful in both formal and informal tests, as supervisors are able to steer six children by holding the hand of just one of the lead children. Quite predictably invented by a school teacher (that’s the inventor Elaine Stephen pictured), the Walkodile means no more lost children and a greatly reduced possibility of much worse.
On reaching their destination the children are simply unclipped from the central spine. However, they continue to wear their high visibility harness for their lesson or play so they are more easily seen in large open spaces or built up areas. When they are finished, the children are clipped back into Walkodile ready for their journey back to school or nursery.
The Walkodile costs UKP200 but if you purchase more than one, the cost reduces to UKP$100 for each subsequent unit.The Walkodile offers several benefits:
- Children are kept safer then ever before on a walking tripThe supervisor’s job of controlling the children is more effective and less stressfulThe walk is now relaxed, encouraging more interaction between staff and pupilsTeamwork is promoted amongst the children and leadership for the front pairThe risk of a child becoming cut off from the group is reducedAs a group, staff and children are more easily seen by other road users.
