One of the best things your child can do is learning how to ride a bike. Bike riding is fun and it can get your child out of the house, away from the TV. Riding a bike is also a great way for your child to meet new friends and stay active. Getting them involved in this type of activity early on is key and it can help lead to a more physically active lifestyle later on. Bike riding can also promote bonding between you and your children through family bike rides.
Tips for safe bicycle
riding
Riding a bicycle can be fun, but it also can be dangerous. One thing parents need to keep in mind if they plan to get their child up and on a bike is safety. According to one.nhtsa.gov (2006), you should always inspect your bike before using it. Make sure all parts of the bike work properly and are secure. Some safe bike riding tips for children and yourself include: wearing a properly fitted helmet; wearing reactive clothing; riding a proper sized bike; avoid riding when it is dark out; avoid areas where gravel, pot holes, and construction work is present; and using tricycle wheels if balance is not the best. These are just a few ways in which you can help keep your child safe while out on their bike.
Finding the right helmet
Making sure your child has a properly fitted helmet when they ride is one of the easiest and safest ways to prevent injuries. According to safekids.org (n.d.), the risk of head injuries while riding could be reduced by at least forty five percent if properly fitted bicycle helmets are worn. They also say that less than half of children who are fourteen years of age or younger usually do not wear a helmet when they ride (Safe Kids Worldwide, n.d.). It’s important that when around kids, parents and other caregivers continue to wear their helmets when riding even if they think they are "too old." I say this because children like to look up to their parents as their role models and they will do anything that their parents do.
There are a number of things to do when picking out a helmet for your child. According to safekids.org (n.d.), you should let your child pick out their own helmet. Letting them pick out what they are going to wear will increase their likelihood of wearing it every time they go for a ride. The helmet should fit the child’s head snuggly, not moving or shifting all over the place. According to safekids.org (n.d.), kids should take the Helmet Fit Test:
Making sure your child has a properly fitted helmet when they ride is one of the easiest and safest ways to prevent injuries. According to safekids.org (n.d.), the risk of head injuries while riding could be reduced by at least forty five percent if properly fitted bicycle helmets are worn. They also say that less than half of children who are fourteen years of age or younger usually do not wear a helmet when they ride (Safe Kids Worldwide, n.d.). It’s important that when around kids, parents and other caregivers continue to wear their helmets when riding even if they think they are "too old." I say this because children like to look up to their parents as their role models and they will do anything that their parents do.
There are a number of things to do when picking out a helmet for your child. According to safekids.org (n.d.), you should let your child pick out their own helmet. Letting them pick out what they are going to wear will increase their likelihood of wearing it every time they go for a ride. The helmet should fit the child’s head snuggly, not moving or shifting all over the place. According to safekids.org (n.d.), kids should take the Helmet Fit Test:
·
Eyes
check: The child will put the helmet on and they will look up. They should see the bottom rim of the helmet and it should be lying one to two fingers above the child’s eyebrows.
·
Ears
check: The straps on the helmet should be snug, but not too tight around the child’s head. They should form a “V” under the child’s ear when buckled together.
·
Mouth
check: The child should feel the helmet hug their head when they open their mouth. If the helmet does not hug their head, the straps need to be tightened and the buckle should be flat under the child’s chin.
Here
is a quick video presenting the Helmet Fit Test!
Safekidsusa. (2016, August 23). Safety in Seconds: Bike Helmet Fit Test.
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ4wWoChSe8
References
National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). (2006). Kids and Bicycle Safety. Retrieved
10/7/2017, from https://one.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/bike/KidsandBikeSafetyWeb/index.htm
Safe
Kids Worldwide. (n.d.). Bike.
Retrieved 10/7/2017, from https://www.safekids.org/bike?page=1
Safe
Kids Worldwide. (n.d.). Bike Safety Tips.
Retrieved 10/7/2017, from https://www.safekids.org/tip/bike-safety-tips