Bike Safety for Kids 5-8 Years
Riding a bike is a great form of exercise for kids today, and is an activity many parents like to encourage. However, if children are going to go bicycle riding you'll be concerned that they are aware of how to bike safely. During the ages of 5-8 years a child is often starting to learn how to rid a children's bike without stabilisers. This gives greater freedom, but of course greater risk too. So, here are some important safety tips that you'll want to keep in mind for your children's safety.
Tip #1 - Make Sure You're Around - First of all, as obvious of this may sound, you will need to be around when your child is riding their bicycle. Not just as a safety measure should they fall or get lost, but as your presence will give them the confidence to push themselves and learn.
Tip #2 - Keep Them Riding on Smooth Areas - While they are learning to ride a bike on their own, you'll find that it is best to keep them riding on smooth areas, such as a pavement or tarmaced path. This way they don't have to worry about sudden changes in the terrain that can make them unsteady or even lead to a bad fall.
Tip #3 - Teach Kids How to Control a Bike Fall - More than likely they are going to fall at some point in time, so try to teach them how to control a fall. It's almost inevitable that they are going to fall at some stage, so it's best that they know it and are prepared for it. However, teaching them to avoid a fall is even better.
Tip #4 - Ensure Kids Check for Traffic - Perhaps the most important tip is to be aware of traffic. If your children are going to be crossing a road with their bike or even riding near a ride, they need to learn to check for traffic and learn how unpredictably drivers can be. Some drivers speed, pull out without looking, cross junctions out of turn, or may just be distracted when driving along a road. It's essential that your child knows not to cross or encrouch into the street until YOU have told them it is safe. The only time is when there is either no vehicle around or you are absolutely sure they have seen you and reacted to you presence.
Tip #5 - Always Ensure They Follow Traffic Signals and Signs - It's imperative that your children learn to follow traffic signals and signs for their own safety. Make sure that they know what the signals and signs mean and stress that they must always follow them, even though they are on a bike.
Tip #6 - Provide a Helmet - A helmet is one of the most important ways that you can keep your kids safe while they are biking. Kids should not be allowed to go biking without having on their helmet. Make sure that the helmet you get your child is a quality one that will truly keep their head protected if they fall or are involved in a bike wreck. You may want to look at arm and kneepads too or added protection.
This is an original news article © The Kids Window
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