Roadsigns: Children's crossing signs in Panama

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Children's Crossing Signs in Panama

Panama city, 22.xii.2008; pict. Baeten & De Dier

1– Panama city, 22.xii.2008;
pict. Baeten & De Dier

2– Colón, 31.xii.2008;
pict. Baeten & De Dier

3– Gamboa, 06.ii.2025;
pict. J. Breine

To chain children to a desk and fill their heads with data is not doing well to their body. Mens sana …, I agree with that. Some light exercise may be healthy. But Panama is driving it too far in my opinion; for both parts of the phrase.

Let's look first at the second part, the corpore sano. The runner (1) is clearly having more exercise than just running because he is a massive bundle of muscles. I can't help but feel like his head can't keep up. Or is it the perspective? I don't think so; his right arm and his head are clearly shifted backward relative to his body.

The next two finds of many years apart (2, 3) show the consequences of too much attention to mens sana, and probably too much screen time also. The result: no trace of muscle, a stiff back, and a dangerously swollen head. This can hardly be called sana anymore. The poor creature is well on its way to becoming a robot.

But it must be said: these are designs that can only be found in Panama. And that certainly is a positive thing. We, roadsign (and bird) spotters, love endemics.

4– Belisario, 28.i.2025;
pict. J. Breine

5– La Cabima, 28.i.2025;
pict. J. Breine

6– Manzanillo, 10.xii.2015;
pict. A. Klaver

The remaining signs can also be found in several countries of Central (e.g. Guatemala, Mexico) and South America (e.g. Colombia, Ecuador).

The range starts with people walking (4) who gradually degrade into people who are ready for a sprint (9).

Notice the many variations: the head floats above a recess between the shoulders (4); the male has a neck (5); the heads are the same size (7), or not (8, 9); variations in the cut and length of the skirt; variations in limb length and knee position (8, 9).

7– Panama city, 04.i.2009;
pict. Baeten & De Dier

8– Valle de Antón, 10.ii.2025;
pict. J. Breine

9– Valle de Antón, 10.ii.2025;
pict. J. Breine

10– Panama city, 22.xii.2008;
pict. Baeten & De Dier

The shape is typical for the new world, but the image comes straight from Germany where girls bring their younger brethren to school.

11– Valle de Antón, 10.ii.2025;
pict. J. Breine

This boy kicking a ball has not been reported from anywhere else but Panama. It is an endemic road sign. The only other similar sign in the collection is from Peru, but the boy there isn't wearing shorts and looks rather adult.