Helmets. The number one piece of equipment every single child - and adult - needs to be safe when doing stuff on wheels (and ice skates and a whole host of other sports). There are a lot of helmets out there, and they aren't cheap, so you need to do a little research to be sure you get the right one and to make sure it fits properly when you do buy it. Here are some hints:
-- You and your kids can use the same helmet for biking, rollerblading, and scootering, but skateboarders need a different type. All helmets should be lightweight, smooth, and visible to motorists.
-- Be careful of ponytails. When wearing a helmet, be sure long hair is down or pulled base of the neck. A higher ponytail can interfere with the proper fit of the helmet and not allow it to truly do its job.
-- The helmet should sit lower on the head than you may think. When fitting the helmet, it should rest one or two finger widths above the eyebrows.
-- Straps form a "Y" around each ear and should be pretty taut against the head and face. As you buckle it under the chin, be sure your child can breathe and that you can slip one finger in there. Test so that your kiddo can open her mouth, but it is tight.
-- Remind your kids to remove helmets when they are playing outside at their destination. This prevents any injuries from getting straps hooked on playground equipment or the like.
What kind of helmets do your kids wear? How do you make sure they wear them?
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We need to get some for this year, their helmets mysteriously disappeared at the end of the year last year- too many people sharing the garage we use to store them in, I suppose!
Quoting LOswald0314:
My son has a bell helmet, it's cute.
I always liked those bell helmets!
Quoting soccerchik8287:
My daughter wears one when she rides bikes. They ought to put a little hole in them for ponytails. She always wears her hair down so that it fits
That's a good idea!
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- HeatherNYC
on May. 9, 2012 at 12:00 AM