Teaching kids to wear bike helmets

Getting around by bicycle is a common way of life for many residents of Washington, and if you are among those who prefer to get from here to there on two wheels, rather than four, you may be working to instill a similar mindset in your children. At Dean Standish Perkins & Associates, we recognize that the earlier you teach your child safe cycling practices, the more likely he or she will be to adopt them for life, and we also recognize the critical nature of teaching your children to wear bike helmets.

According to K5 News, bike crashes are the second-most-common cause of serious injuries in school-age children, and head injuries, which are common after bike wrecks, are the leading cause of bicycle-related fatalities among youths. The good news is, though, wearing a helmet can prevent about 85% of potential head injuries suffered in bike crashes, highlighting just how critical it is for adults and children alike to wear one every time they travel by bike.

Depending on the age of your child, among other factors, you may find that he or she does not want to wear a helmet, but setting clear rules about wearing one consistently can help your son or daughter establish a habit of doing so. Teaching your child how to wear a helmet correctly is important, and so, too, is having him or her remove that helmet before climbing trees, playing on playground equipment or doing anything else where the helmet’s straps could potentially cause injury.

To make sure your child is wearing his or her helmet correctly, you will want to check how it lines up with his or her eyes, ears and mouth, performing what is known as a “three-point check.” You can find out more about bike crashes and bicycle safety on our webpage.