You may remember a few weeks ago I posted about the UK Department for Transport’s (DfT) new Ad Campaign, ‘Tales of the Road.’
Having a four year old and an eight year old I am always interested in anything that will help me to ensure their safety. This campaign is proving to be one of them.
I love the moody Tim Burtonesque style. I love the simple, childlike poem (I’m thinking Roger McGough), as this takes the sting out of the tale leaving the kids to hopefully take in the message of wearing bright clothing so that they can be seen. Once more Miss E, and especially Miss M, stop and listen when the ad interrupts their TV viewing.
I keep thinking, did the Green Cross Code Ads do this when I was a kid? I think they did. And I remember the ‘It’s better to be safe with Sooty than sorry with Sweep’ slogan to this day, but in my kids lifetime, which let’s face it, only covers the last eight or so years, I think these are the most memorable ones.
In fact, I can only really remember the cute hedgehogs, and while they were adorable…
..I think their message was kind of lost in that, well, my kids do not look like hedgehogs. No really they don’t. And they don’t look like hedges or hogs either for that matter.
And yes, I know my kids are not as wide eyed or large craniumed (yes that’s a word, honest) as the kids in these ads, but they can still relate, and it’s going in, and I am so, so glad.
And even better, the lovely folks working on the DfT campaign have provided me with four fabulous reflectors from Scanglo to pass on to four lovely readers. (As well as one each for Miss E and Miss M).
There’s also a brand new game here that seems less splat happy than the last one so I may actually let my girls play it.
If you’d like to win one of the reflectors please leave a comment below on your own thoughts on the latest instalment of Tales of the Road, ‘Be Bright. Be seen,’ and let me know if you want a scanglo by stating, ‘I really want my kid/s/self to be bright and be seen.’ The first four will be sent a cute reflector that can be clipped onto clothing, a dog lead, a bag or belt or anything else you might have dangling about your person. (Cough).
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January 27th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
OH MY. it sort of freaked me out. I think it is a GREAT message, but I sort of found it hard to follow. I don’t think it is all that scary….just hard to follow, maybe….okay and scary. LOL
BUT, I do really want Sugar to be SEEN! I really do!
January 27th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Corey, I will pop one on the post for Miss Sugar asap.
January 27th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Or even in the post. If I put it on a post she would not be able to reach it as she is so tiny small.
January 27th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
i had to put this on low so as to not wake h-dude. did that just say ‘it ran into her guts?’ that’s a little bizarre. it’s really riding that fine line of ‘delightfully quirky’ vs. ‘eery and not at all pleasant’, isn’t it?
I, holly n ireland, friend of jo beaufoix, really want my kiddies to be bright and be seen.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
I like those ads—and I love Tim Burton. There’s a new movie coming out in that visual style—have you seen the trailers? It’s called “Coraline.”
And I do love those triaangular reflectors, but would never ask yout o mail all the way to the states—so please save them for your geographically closer commenters. However, please tell me where you got them–maybe I can order one for a friend of mine who jogs and bikes at night?
January 27th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
Cute.
My interview is up when you are ready to view it. Thanx it was fun!
January 28th, 2009 at 1:06 am
I hadn’t seen the new ad – the perils of a TV permanently tuned to the Disney Channel, but I love it and I would love my kids to be bright and be seen. Can I have a glo thing for my son? He’s 5 and he’d love it.
January 28th, 2009 at 9:11 am
I can’t wait to “forward” this to my son Michael, who is the father of my little granddaughter…when we lived in England The Green Cross Man was his hero because of his connection to Star Wars rather than safety lol…but he’ll love to share this with Arianna!
hugs
Sandi
January 28th, 2009 at 9:59 am
I, daryl r. edelstein, friend of holly n ireland, friend of jo beaufoix, really want their kiddies to be bright and be seen
January 28th, 2009 at 11:17 am
Holl it did say her guts, which is maybe kind of weird, but my two don’t seem to mind it. And Scanglos on the way for the Queen and the Thrower.
Susan, you are a star. If you click on the link for the Scanglo company they are the folks who made these little cuties. They have all sorts of stuff there. I’ll email the link to you.
Karisma fabulous, I’ll be there soon.
Guider you can. Miss M got a teddy one from school today so I have s spare. Perfect.
Sandi I didn’t get the connection then but now it just makes me laugh. I just remember him as being very tall.
Daryl, ahhh they wil be thanks gorgeous.
January 29th, 2009 at 10:22 am
I, Leendaluu T, friend of daryl r edelstein, holly n ireland and jobeaufoix think that your children (and cats) are VERY bright and would like them to all to be seen……