Learning to ride a bike is a big milestone for kids. If your little one is ready for their first bike, it’s important to teach them how to ride safely. Each year, 254,000 children are injured and about 100 children are killed in bike accidents, but many of these accidents can be prevented. Here are some tips to help you prioritize bike safety with your kids.
Choose the Right Bike
Choosing the right kind of bike for your child is just as important as choosing the right helmet. Beginners should learn to ride with training wheels or a special type of bike called a balance bike. A balance bike works by the rider pushing their feet against the ground instead of pedaling, which allows learners to develop their balancing and coordination skills. Older children can graduate to a road bike or a mountain bike.
Always Wear a Bike Helmet
The most important principle of bike safety is wearing a helmet. Choose a brand-new helmet that fits properly. Never buy a used bike helmet or let children share helmets. Any bike helmet that has been involved in an accident should be replaced. Consider whether your child could benefit from additional safety equipment like knee pads, elbow pads, or a mouth guard.
Teach the Rules of the Road
Small children should learn and practice their bike riding skills in a safe space like a park or driveway, but that doesn’t mean that parents should wait to teach them the rules of the road. Teach your children how to use hand signals for turning, which side of the road to ride on, how to look both ways at intersections, and how to watch for obstacles in the road.
Ride Together as a Family
The family that rides together learns bike safety together. The most effective way to teach your children bike safety is to model it for them. While taking your children for fun outings, demonstrate safe riding techniques like hand signals, looking out for traffic, riding on the correct side of the street, and using safety gear properly. Start with short trips around the block, and work your way up to longer trips.
Teach How to Prevent Theft
Bikes are expensive, so you want to teach your child how to avoid losing their bike or having it stolen. Make sure they always lock up their bike when it’s not in use and never let anyone borrow it. Consider installing an anti-theft alarm on your child’s bike to help keep it safe.
Prepare for Riding Alone
You probably don’t want to think about your little one riding their bike away into the sunset, but the time will come when your child needs more independence. When they’re ready to ride to school or the corner store without you, make sure they keep a phone easily accessible and charged up. Encourage your child to ride with a friend for added safety, and consider using a tracking app so that you always know where they are.
As parents or guardians of a child, it’s your responsibility to teach the child how to ride a bike safely and why it’s so important.
