“School’s out for summer.” Those wonderful words were forever immortalized in song by the heavy metal poet Alice Cooper in 1972. It’s a song that has gone on to become a June anthem for generations of kids, its lyrics blasting in the background as the sudden rush to freedom pushes young bodies on a collision course through the proverbial institutional doors to smack head on into summer and its long days of endless possibilities spread before them like an all you can eat buffet. At this moment September is just a very small spot on the distant fall horizon that can be easily ignored.

It has been more than 20 years for me now, but every June I can still recall a small tingle of how glorious that feeling really was as a student. At 40, and as the mom of a 9-year-old, my more practical side exerts itself now when it comes to summer break. My message? Be on the lookout for kids. For the next three months, kids will be in places you don’t normally see them and at times of the day or evening you would not normally expect them to be around. Adjust your driving and speeds accordingly.

The neighborhood in which I live, the nearby school, Naval Avenue Early Learning Center, is the closest park or play area that the kids have to use. This means that crosswalks, sidewalks and even the street sees a considerable increase in kid traffic during the summer, especially on nice sunny days. Quite frequently I can stand at the corner of 10th and Naval with my son Nick in a marked school zone with a designated crosswalk in front of us for several minutes while cars continue to pass. I have even started holding up my hand and counting with my fingers the number of cars that pass us by before we can safely cross. There have been times I have needed to use both hands because that many cars were not paying attention. Wake up, people! The worst offenders who typically do not stop and infuriate me to no end? Other moms in minivans and SUVs with kids inside. No excuses for that.

Also, as parents, we need to address the other side of the issue by taking the time in the next few days to talk to our kids about watching out for cars, crossing safely by themselves at intersections where they are accustomed to school crossing guards helping them. Also, remind them about not playing in the street, especially around blind corners where drivers cannot see them.

Let’s have a very safe summer by helping to watch out for each other.