🚸
Children Crossing
CHIL-druhn KRAW-sing
Definitions
1
Travel · Safety
Common
A yellow diamond-shaped warning sign indicating children may be crossing a road, typically near schools or playgrounds. Used to signal caution in areas where children are present.
Often used literally to reference school zones or children's safety, but also metaphorically to indicate situations requiring special care.
Driving through a 🚸 zone. Need to slow down!
Text message
Remember there's a 🚸 near the park, so drive carefully.
Family chat
Universally recognized safety symbol in most countries, though the exact design varies slightly by region.
2
Social · Warning
Uncommon
Used metaphorically to indicate caution around sensitive content that may not be appropriate for children, or to warn that children may be present in a digital space.
Sometimes used humorously to indicate childish behavior or to warn about content not suitable for young audiences.
🚸 Keeping the conversation PG, my kids are in the group chat!
Group message
Digital usage extends beyond the literal road sign meaning to convey general caution in family-oriented contexts.
Evolution Timeline
2010
Added to Unicode 6.0 as part of early transportation and signage symbols.
Growing need for traffic and safety symbols in digital communication.
2015
Usage expanded to metaphorical warnings about child-appropriate content online.
Increasing concern about children's exposure to inappropriate digital content.
Cultural Context
The emoji represents a universal concern for children's safety that transcends cultures, though the specific sign design varies globally.
Unlike many emojis that evolved new meanings, this one has maintained its primary safety warning function with minimal drift from its original intent.
The yellow diamond design is most similar to North American signage, which can cause minor confusion in countries using different warning sign designs.
Regional Variations
United Kingdom
The actual UK road sign differs from the emoji (showing a red triangle), causing occasional confusion.
United States
Commonly recognized as the standard U.S. school zone warning sign, yellow diamond with silhouettes of children crossing.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Typically used for its intended purpose in discussions about traffic safety or children's wellbeing.
Gen_Z: Occasionally used ironically to indicate childish behavior or to mock overly cautious attitudes.
Older: Limited usage, primarily in literal contexts about road safety near schools or playgrounds.
Millennials: Often used literally in parenting contexts to discuss school zones and children's safety concerns.
Common Combinations
🚸⚠️
Enhanced warning about children's safety or child-appropriate content.
Used to emphasize caution in areas with children or about content inappropriate for kids.
🚸🏫
School zone or area with children present near a school.
Specifically references school safety zones and traffic caution near educational facilities.
🚸🚗
Warning to drive carefully where children may be present.
Used as a reminder to reduce speed and increase vigilance while driving.