It’s summertime, which means your kids are going to be pulling their bikes out of the garage if they haven’t already. Before sending your kids out to ride their bikes alone, you should make sure they know some basic safety tips. We compiled a list of 5 basic safety tips to impart onto your children before sending them out to ride. Visit Safekids.org to view the full article.
- Always make sure your child has an appropriate sized helmet. Let your child pick out their helmet design and color so they are more excited about wearing it. Also make sure you set a good example and wear a helmet when you ride your bike.
- Instruct your child to always ride on a sidewalk when they can. If there is not a sidewalk around, then make sure they are riding in the same direction as the flow of traffic on the far right side of the road.
- Teach your child the hand signals for bike riding. When riding with them show them how to use these signals so that when they are on their own, they will be able to use them properly. Hand signals are important for cars to know where your child is going. Here is a PDF of the basic hand signals.
- When your child is going out for a bike ride, especially at night, make sure they are wearing bright colors and using lights. A small light or reflective piece on the front and back of their bike will make them noticeable to passing cars. A small light will also help them see where they’re going and avoid any rocks or roots.
- Ride with your children when you can! Ride with your children until you are comfortable letting them go off on their own. Even after that, riding with your children from time to time will let you see if they’re following your safety tips.
Being prepared and informed is the best way to make sure your kids are being as safe as possible on their bicycles. If you have any tips or rules that help your little ones stay safe on their bikes please comment them below! As always, click the share button on the side of the blog to share these safety tips with your friends and family!