Get Your Child Learning Bike Safety Early
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by: kellogvanderhague
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Without bike helmets, those numbers are estimated to be double by the Children's Safety Network. No matter how much your child may complain and protest, they must wear a protective helmet when they ride a bike.
If you are going to teach your child to ride a bike, make sure the lesson begins with teaching bike safety. These lessons can begin as early as preschool age or even before. The first lesson can be taught by example when a child's parent regularly wears their bike helmet when riding.
While very young children might not be ready to learn all there is to know about bicycle safety, they can begin to grasp important concepts. Beyond wearing a helmet, parents should be constantly reviewing the basics of bike safety with their toddler age children. This can include pointing out areas that you consider safe to ride. When riding with a child, stop at intersections and stop signs and explain why you are making these safety stops.
Learning balance is a critical aspect or learning to ride a bicycle, but surviving is an even more important skill to learn. Make teaching your child how to avoid a collision a top priority.
The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute makes the following recommendations:
1. Always stop before riding into the street.
2. Obey stop signs.
3. Check behind you before swerving, turning or changing lanes.
4. Always ride on the right side of the street.
5. Never follow another rider without obeying rules 1-4.
A 3-year-old can definitely learn how to ride a bike. Kids even younger have learned to ride using a balance bike. It's a child's inability to process the information that allows us to realize the inherent dangers in bike riding that makes the activity risky.Their limitation is their inability to grasp the danger inherent in the activity. They need you to teach them that lesson.
Share an important lesson about bike safety with your child every time they ride. Teach them where it is safe to ride, how to stop and make sure they are riding in safe zones free of traffic.
About the Author
Curious about the balance bike? Check out Balance Bikes 4 Kids site where they have a complete line of balance bikes and size guide to help you pick the right bike. Choose from both wood bikes and steel frame balance bikes designed to teach your child what matters most...balance.
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