This is becoming a big debate with my 8yr old. He has a bike and roller blades that he ALWAYS wears a helmet when he uses them. He also has a scooter that I ALWAYS make him wear his helmet. But lately we are finding other children in the neighborhood and relatives that are not wearing a helmet when riding their scooters, so he is now challenging me on this. What do you all think? Do your children have scooters, and do you have them wear their helmet all the time on it?
In my house the rule is, if it has wheels (minus 4 wheeled toddler ride on toys), you wear a helmet. Period. I'm not in the business of making my children popular, just keeping them alive to adult hood :p
Wow after reading your post I thought that it was me that posted it. This is a huge debate at my house everytime my 8 yr old goes outside to play. Almost all of the kids in my neighborhood NEVER wear any protective gear. My son always leaves the house with his helmet on, but one time I caught him a few houses down at a friends with it off. I was so mad. I told him that if he did not want to wear his helmet that was fine we could give his bike, scooter and skateboards away on freecycle. I told him that his helmet is part of his outfit just as underwear are part of his clothes!
I do not alow any children to play in my driveway without a helmet. I have a few extra and the kids that come put them on and them they can play. One parent actually asked me how I got her 10 yr old to wear it because she never can!!
I do not know where oyu live but I live in Salem and there is a skateboard/rollerblade park here that is decitated to a 15 year old boy that was rollerblading and hit the cement ramp the wrong way and suffered a severe head injury and passed away.
I think that helmets are a big deal! I see older children riding their bikes in the street or jumping off the sidewalk without helmets and it really scares me that they have nothing to protect their head god forbid if they fall into traffic. Sorry this is so long!
N.
My son doesn't ride anything without a helmet. I also see alot of kids without them but I know if something happens with my son falling I won't have any regrets.I just simply say I am not the other kids mother I am your mother and those are my rules to keep you safe if you don't wear it you don't ride.He is actually fine and doesn't ever say anything anymore.T.
Check with your state for laws. Maybe there is a simple answer.
Personally I think riding the scooter without a helmet is ok. But we live on a very quiet street with a side walk. Before we moved, we had to walk along a very busy and bumpy road and I insisted on the helmet too.
If you let him ride the scooter without a helmet, make sure you have a different reason aside from "nobody else is wearing one" - that could backfire in some time.
Here's a thought, make a trip (by yourself) to the police station. Explain your challenge and ask if an officer could swing through your neighborhood while on duty. The officers in our town would (and have) taken time to explain safety to the kids in a non-threatening/educational way and it makes a BIG impact. It's different than when they do presentations at the school or Mom is nagging in the driveway.
Also, I totally agree with the Mom who said she's not in the business of making her kids popular, just keeping them safe.
Good Luck!
