While kids have always done crazy things, jumping into lakes, rolling down hills, building ramps and climbing trees, they have a name for them these days, they are called extreme sports. You cant ask kids to stop playing and trying these sports, but you can make it a little safer by giving them the proper safety equipment and making them wear it.
There are many broken bones that can be avoided each year from accidents on skateboards and bikes. There are many serious head injuries and even fatalities from improper helmet use or just not wearing helmets. Now I know one of the arguments is that when we were kids, nobody wore protective equipment or helmets and most of us survived. Maybe we were just lucky, I'm sure everybody knows somebody that got hurt badly enough by falling off their bike that a trip to the emergency room was required, maybe even worse.
I know that I could have avoided a broken wrist and a bruised skull if I had the proper safety equipment on. I have friends that went the emergency room with head injuries and a kid at my school died when he was hit by a car. Maybe a helmet wouldn't have saved him, but maybe it could have. Well never know. Anyway, it is not that difficult to make sure your kids have the right gear for the right sport.
If they are playing football, you'd make them wear a helmet and pads, if they are playing baseball you would make them wear a cup and cleats, so why would riding a bike or skateboard be any different. At the minimum, they should always wear a helmet, arms and legs can usually be fixed, but heads are hard to replace. Along with the proper helmet, most helmets can be used for rollerblading, skateboarding and bike riding, they are made sport interchangeable.
Before you purchase a helmet you want to check out the specifications to make sure you are getting the proper size. If your child will be competing in an extreme sport they do make helmet that are designed specifically for certain sports and those are the ones you should be using. Besides a helmet knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards are also a good idea. Hip and back pads will also be a wise choice if your child is going to be riding on ramps or skating, as these are dangerous activities and tend to lead to numerous back injuries.
There are many broken bones that can be avoided each year from accidents on skateboards and bikes. There are many serious head injuries and even fatalities from improper helmet use or just not wearing helmets. Now I know one of the arguments is that when we were kids, nobody wore protective equipment or helmets and most of us survived. Maybe we were just lucky, I'm sure everybody knows somebody that got hurt badly enough by falling off their bike that a trip to the emergency room was required, maybe even worse.
I know that I could have avoided a broken wrist and a bruised skull if I had the proper safety equipment on. I have friends that went the emergency room with head injuries and a kid at my school died when he was hit by a car. Maybe a helmet wouldn't have saved him, but maybe it could have. Well never know. Anyway, it is not that difficult to make sure your kids have the right gear for the right sport.
If they are playing football, you'd make them wear a helmet and pads, if they are playing baseball you would make them wear a cup and cleats, so why would riding a bike or skateboard be any different. At the minimum, they should always wear a helmet, arms and legs can usually be fixed, but heads are hard to replace. Along with the proper helmet, most helmets can be used for rollerblading, skateboarding and bike riding, they are made sport interchangeable.
Before you purchase a helmet you want to check out the specifications to make sure you are getting the proper size. If your child will be competing in an extreme sport they do make helmet that are designed specifically for certain sports and those are the ones you should be using. Besides a helmet knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards are also a good idea. Hip and back pads will also be a wise choice if your child is going to be riding on ramps or skating, as these are dangerous activities and tend to lead to numerous back injuries.
About the Author:
parenting is not always the easiest of tasks. You are responsible for the safety and well being of these children and are afraid that one small mishap will bring them harm. When you are unsure of what to do and require parenting advice in a hurry, you should log onto www.parentinginformed.com.

