Honk your Horns this Holiday with Chuggington and the NHTSA!

The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year for family travel. From visiting relatives out of state to driving to the mall to shop for gifts, families are constantly in and out of the car and on the move. There’s no better time than now to recognize the importance of paying extra attention to traffic hazards at home and on the road.

This year, parents can teach their children how to stay safe on the roads by joining the more than 170,000 children who have taken the Traffic Safety Pledge as part of the ‘Think Safe, Ride Safe, Be Safe!’ traffic safety program, which provides families and their young children with important traffic safety resources. Developed by NHTSA, the nation’s trusted source of traffic safety information, and the creators of Chuggington, the popular preschool television series, the campaign includes tip sheets, traffic safety games, an activity book, coloring sheets, a PSA currently airing on Disney Junior and more.

Holiday Traffic Safety Tips

• The holidays are a busy time at shopping malls — especially parking lots. Drivers should be on alert for small children when reversing out of a parking space. Remind young children to always hold an adult’s hand when entering busy parking lots.  Parents can also ask children to hold the side of a shopping cart, a coat, or the handles of a shopping bag if adult hands are full. Parents should never leave children unattended near an open trunk, where they can get trapped.

• While winter clothes keep children warm, they can also interfere with the proper harness fit of a child in a car seat. Parents must make sure to place blankets around their child after they fasten the harness.

• Last-minute shopping can be stressful and rushed. Parents should never leave infants or young children unattended in a vehicle—even if the windows are partly open or the engine is running.

• Remember to always buckle up! Not only is it the law – it could help save your life.

• Play it safe and check your local news source for up-to-the-minute traffic information and weather conditions of the interstates and roads you will be traveling.

• Last but not least, make it fun! Heading out on a ‘road trip’ to Grandma’s? Pack an assortment of age appropriate holiday music, DVDs (like The Chugger Championship) and travel games to make your trip fun for the entire family!

CHUGGINGTON GIVEAWAY DETAILS

PRODUCT:  Chuggington and the NHTSA will give away a traffic safety kit that includes:  printed activity book, tip sheets, stickers, and a children’s traffic safety vest.

 Giveaway Dates:  December 7, 2011 – Dec. 14, 2011.  Entries must be received by 10:00 p.m. CST  on 12/14/2011.   Winner will be drawn at random.org and notified by email.  The winner has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.  Chugginton, the NHTSA, or The Preschool Toolbox Blog may not be held liable for any damages in association with this giveaway or the use of the product after the giveaway has ended.

How to Enter:  Do the following and leave a comment under this post telling us the actions you took.

 1.  Visit CHUGGINGTON on Twitter and become a follower.

2.  Visit CHUGGINGTON on Facebook and “like” their page.

3.  Take the Chuggington Traffic Safety Pledge

4.  Register for The Preschool Toolbox Blog (right side under Register or Log in!) and leave a comment telling us that you followed Chuggington on Twitter, “liked” the Chuggington Facebook page, and took the Traffic Safety Pledge linked above. (If you are already a registered user, just click the comment tag below and leave a comment HERE.) Please leave a comment below or we cannot know you wish to be entered for the giveaway!

Giveaway Rules:

Open to residents of the USA , age 18+ to enter.  Winner announced right here on December 14, 2011. Thanks for entering and good luck! Winner selected through random.org and notified by email.  NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW

We were given the above information in hopes that we would share valuable traffic safety information with our readers.  We have received no monetary compensation for this giveaway and the opinions expressed are our own.