Saudi blogger Ahmed Omar BaAbood is proud of his handiwork. He has taught his daughter Joori the importance of safety and buckling up and is collecting the dividends today.
Writing at his blog, Living in KSA [1], BaAbood shares the following story (Ar):
دائماً نحرص على أن تجلس جوري في الكرسي الخاص بها في السيارة و أن تربط حزام الأمان. بما إنا متعودة على الموضوع من الصغر فهي لا تعترض على هذا الأمر إلا في حالات نادرة جداً و يتم التعامل الحازم مع مثل هذا الرفض. بالأمس رأيت فائدة تعويد الأطفال على أمر كهذا، فقد كنا في مدينة الملاهي الموجودة داخل مركز المارينا مال في الدمام. جوري لعبت في لعبتين و في كلتا الحالتين بادرت هى بنفسها بربط حزام الأمان الموجود في اللعبتين مع إن عمرها تجاوز الثالثة ببضعة أشهر فقط. كنت سعيد، بل أستطيع ان أقول فخور بصغيرتي التي تعودت على أمر لازال بعض الكبار يرفضونه و بشراسه!.
We have always been keen that Joori sits in her car seat and buckles the safety belt. And because she has been used to doing this since she was a toddler, she doesn't object except for a few rare cases – and we deal with this refusal firmly. Yesterday, I witnessed the benefit of teaching children such habits. We were at the amusement park, inside Marina Mall, in Dammam, where Joori enjoyed two rides. In both cases, she tightened the safety belt on the two rides on her own – even though she is three years and a few months old. I was happy. I can say that I am so proud of my little one, who is now used to doing something a lot of older people are fiercely rejecting.
Although all Arab countries now have rules regarding the use of safety belts in cars, many flout the law and only buckle up when there is a policeman in sight.