‘Lily The Safety Bug’ sign unveiled

THE first signboard to be erected by Kiwanis Club Pride of Barbados, underscoring the importance of being safe while playing, has been launched.

‘Lily The Safety Bug’, which is the name of the sign, is situated in the playground shared by the PAREDOS GEMS and The Sunshine Early Stimulation Centre.

Speaking at Tuesday’s launch, President of Kiwanis Club Pride of Barbados, Cidgred Cummings, explained that the Club’s safety at play programme follows a previous initiative which was concentrated on safety in the kitchen.

“The Club’s focus turned to safety at play, recognising the need to teach our children that even though play is a necessity and the playground is a fun place to be, accidents can and sometimes do happen.”

She added, “This project would have seen the return of our ‘Lily The Safety Bug’, a fictitious and playful character designed to capture the imagination of children and some adults. The question was, how can we impart the importance of safety at play to children? The answer – Lily, a child-friendly signboard with playground rules, easy to read and with visuals to emphasise these rules, making it easier for children to understand.”

Also addressing the gathering at the grounds of PAREDOS GEMS, DP Dianne Skeete stated that the location was selected “because it is well appointed, a wide cross-section from both centres will benefit and due to our long partnership with PAREDOS and now our recent association with The Sunshine Early Stimulation Centre”.

Expressing gratitude to the Kiwanis Club Pride of Barbados for the signboard and to Roberts Manufacturing Company Limited for sponsoring it, President of the Board of Directors at PAREDOS, Justice W. LeRoy Inniss, described it as great.

“It is such a wonderful thing to have a project like this because no matter how careful we are, whether it be at school, at play [or] wherever, there is always room to be more careful. You walk the road you see signs, wherever you go you see signs reminding you to be more careful and this project with its lovely little character, Lily, is something which will capture the eyes and imagination of children; and those who have been involved in education at some time or the other would tell you how important visual aids are, especially to young children.”

Also speaking positively about the project, Principal of The Sunshine Early Stimulation Centre, Jennah Parris, said having visuals to accompany the rules listed on the signboard was a plus.

“We know we have young children, but our children still very much can understand rules. They very much can follow and by having those visuals, even though they are not able to read those words, by the use of the visuals they are able to still look and remember and understand what we are asking them to do.”