It’s Never Too Early to Learn About Traffic Safety
The California State Auto Association, in conjunction with the American Automobile Association, has developed a highly detailed and absolutely adorable web site for kids. The target age range is preschool to second grade, although even adults may get a kick out of some of the games.
The Otto Club is hosted by Otto the Auto, an animated car along the lines of the vehicles from the movie Cars. Otto lives in a garage in a small town, where a host of his animated friends also live. Kids can click on any of the buildings, which lead to games and activities led by the characters.
The activities are designed to promote traffic safety, from crossing the street to dressing to be seen by drivers. A range of tasks including coloring and matching can also help children to develop hand eye coordination and other important skills.
Bright colors, engaging music and friendly characters help to keep kids’ attention. The lessons are presented in the guise of well-developed games, and the site never feels preachy or talks down to children. Instead, kids are met at their own level with activities that are fully fleshed out. A particularly nice feature is the ability to click on virtually everything on screen. Background features such as stop signs and traffic lights become characters in their own right, moving and interacting when they are clicked.
Though the site is graphics intensive and uses music and dialogue, it is not a drain on system resources. This ensures that kids are able to stay involved, rather than waiting on pages to load. There is no advertising or subtle promotion of any agenda.
Whether or not you plan to someday pass down your Certified Mercedes to your children, it is important for them to learn traffic safety. So the next time they whine about being bored, why not give Otto the Auto a try?
Filed Under: Certified Mercedes-Benz
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