Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Road Safety Race: Free Printable Game for Year 1
- ForYear 1
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Road Safety Race is a free printable game for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6). Children roll a dice, move a counter and talk about safe choices near roads. It is played in pairs, needs one dice and two small counters, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help ideas and a stretch task.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, use page 1 for play and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children play Road Safety Race in pairs. Each player takes a counter, rolls the dice and moves along the sheet. As they land on squares, they read or listen to each one and decide together whether the choice is safe. Picture squares are a cue to stop and think. The talking matters as much as the winning, so every turn becomes a small safety conversation.
What the game builds
Safe choices
Children hear a situation, think about it and say what a safe person would do. Saying it aloud helps ideas stick.
Taking turns
Rolling, moving and waiting for a partner are real practice in patience and fair play.
Listening and speaking
One child reads or listens while the other answers. Swap roles so both get a go at each.
Shared rules
Reading the rules aloud first means both players agree how the game works before it begins.
Why teach road safety through play?
Young children learn best when ideas are put into action. A game lets them hear safety words, make a choice and see what happens next, without any real danger. Because the same ideas come up each time the game is played, they become familiar. Familiar ideas are easier to remember when children are out and about.
Staying safe is part of PSHE education at Key Stage 1. Road safety is a very practical example, because children meet roads, pavements and traffic almost every day. A game is a friendly way to start the conversation. It does not replace walking beside a trusted adult and practising on real streets, which is where the learning really counts.
This game is practice only. Near real roads, children of this age should always stay with a trusted adult, who decides when and where to cross. Use the game to talk, then practise on a real walk with an adult in charge.
Road safety facts for children
- In the UK, vehicles drive on the left side of the road.
- Cars, buses and bikes cannot stop the instant a driver sees you. They need time and space.
- Pavements are made for people walking. Roads are made for vehicles.
- Bright and light coloured clothes can help drivers see people, especially when it is dull or dark.
- A grown up should hold your hand or stay very close when you are near a road.
Skills and curriculum link
- Safe choices near roads
- Taking turns
- Listening
- Speaking in sentences
- Making decisions
- Following rules
Ideas to talk about while you play
- Why we stop firstStopping gives us time to think. A calm pause is a good habit before moving near any road.
- Using our eyes and earsWe look and listen because we need to notice what is around us. Vehicles can come from different directions.
- Staying with a grown upChildren are small and can be hard for drivers to see. A trusted adult helps keep them safe.
- Safe places to walkPeople walk on pavements where there is one. Talk about why a pavement is safer than the road.
Key words
- RoadA hard surface for cars, buses, lorries and bikes to travel on.
- PavementThe path beside a road where people walk.
- KerbThe edge of the pavement, where it meets the road.
- TrafficThe vehicles that are moving along a road.
- CrossingA place where people can cross a road more safely.
- CounterA small piece you move along the game to show where you are.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the children. Keep page 2 for the grown up.
- Print one sheet per pair. Give each player a small counter and share one dice.
- Read the rules and the squares aloud together before you start, so everyone plays the same game.
- Take turns to roll and move. Talk about why each choice is safe or not, and say Stop, Look, Listen, Think on picture squares.
- Check the notes on page 2, then come back another day. Repeating a familiar game builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Read each square aloud for the child. Then ask, "What would a safe person do next?" Let them answer in their own words, or point to a picture. Play a few turns at a time, and praise each sensible idea.
To stretch confident children
Ask children to invent two new squares about crossing safely and add them in pencil. Each child explains their squares to their partner. Then play again with the new squares included, and talk about whether the choices are safe.
Make it a game
Say Stop, Look, Listen, Think together every time a counter lands on a picture square. Use a calm voice and add a small pause. Take turns to lead the chant, so each player gets to be the safety captain.
Talk about it
- What can you see on your way to school or the shops?
- Why do we hold a grown up's hand near roads?
- What does Stop, Look, Listen, Think mean to you?
- Where is the safest place to walk beside a road?
- Why do we need to listen as well as look?
- Can you think of a time you stayed safe near a road?
Take it off the page
Pavement walk
Go for a short walk with an adult. Ask your child to point out pavements, kerbs and crossings. Stay together and let the adult decide where to cross.
Make a safety poster
Draw a poster that shows one safe choice near a road. Add the words Stop, Look, Listen, Think in big letters and share it with the family.
Toy car street
Lay out a play mat or masking tape road with toy cars and figures. Act out safe walking beside the road and ask your child to explain each choice.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first game, then let them lead. Keep rounds short and relaxed. Ask them why each choice is safe, and use real journeys as chances to repeat the ideas.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task or a table activity within PSHE. It needs only printing, a dice and counters. Pair children carefully and encourage them to explain their choices.
Home educators
Add it to a wider PSHE plan alongside books, outdoor play and local walks. It is free to print again for brothers and sisters, or to revisit a few weeks later.
Where this fits in learning
Before this game, children learn simple safety ideas at home and in early years settings. They hear about holding hands, listening to adults and staying close when out. This game turns those ideas into choices that children can talk about and explain.
After it, children can practise safety on real walks and through class talk. In Key Stage 1 they keep building their understanding of how to stay safe in different places. Later they take on more responsibility, as they become more independent travellers.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Road Safety Race for?
It is written for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6) in Key Stage 1. Children in Reception or Year 2 may enjoy it too, with a little more or less adult help depending on confidence.
- What will children practise?
Children practise making safe choices near roads and taking turns. They also build listening and speaking skills by reading squares aloud and explaining why a choice is safe or not.
- What do I need to play?
You need the printed sheet, one dice and two small counters for each pair of players. Any small objects will do as counters, such as buttons or coins. A pencil is useful for the stretch idea.
- What if it feels too hard?
Read each square aloud and ask your child what a safe person would do next. Play only a few turns at a time. Let them answer in their own words or by pointing to a picture.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another class group whenever you like.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity within PSHE. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 has help and stretch ideas for mixed groups.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can colour the pictures if they like, but the game works without it.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.