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If you allow your older child to ride in the street, encourage him or her to wear brightly colored or reflective clothing or reflective tape on his or her ankles, wrists, back, and helmet and to avoid riding at night. Make sure that his or her bike has front and rear reflectors, and install bright lights on the front and back of the bike. No child should ever wear headphones while riding because they block out the sound of traffic.

The correct way to wear a bicycle helmet

Bicycle helmets are meant to be worn flat on top of the head, not tilted back at an angle. Make sure that the helmet fits securely and does not block your child’s field of vision. The chin strap should be snug, and the buckle should stay fastened throughout the ride. You can adjust the helmet’s fit with padded inserts and by loosening or tightening the chin strap.

Bike riders must obey the same traffic laws as drivers of motor vehicles. Teach your child how to signal for turns and to follow other rules of the road. Stress that he or she should always ride in the direction of traffic. Riding against traffic may cause motorists to drive across your child’s path or pull into him or her. When riding with your child in the street, observe all traffic laws, not just for safety’s sake, but also to set a good example.

A child in a bike passenger seat should not weigh more than 40 pounds or be taller than 3 feet 4 inches. When taking a child for a ride on a bike, use a rear-mounted seat that is firmly fastened over the back wheel. The seat should come with spoke guards that prevent the child’s feet and hands from getting caught in the wheel. Make sure that your child wears a bike helmet. Infants under 1 are too young to ride in a rear-mounted seat. Don’t carry an infant in a frontpack or backpack carrier that you wear because it will make you top-heavy as you ride, increasing your chances of toppling over with the baby.

If you tow your child in a buggy behind your bike, always strap him or her into the buggy and put a bike helmet on his or her head. Attach a flag on a long pole to the back of the buggy so that other riders and drivers can see you. Always ride on a bike path or street that has little traffic.

Scooter, In-Line Skate, and Skateboard Safety

Scooters, in-line skates, and skateboards account for a large proportion of childhood injuries. Children may be tempted to try difficult stunts while lacking the balance and body control needed to execute them safely. They also can collide with another rider or a pedestrian. Protective gear and common sense go a long way toward avoiding injury during these activities.

Scooters

Lightweight, foot-propelled or motorized scooters can cause injuries requiring a visit to the hospital emergency department. Eighty-five percent of scooter injuries occur in children under age 15. Falls resulting in bone fractures and dislocations, especially in the arms and hands, cause most of the injuries.

To prevent serious injury from a scooter-related fall, instruct your child to wear protective gear when riding a scooter, including a helmet that complies with government safety standards and knee and elbow pads. Check to see that the handlebars and foldable steering column are locked in place and that all nuts and bolts are secure. Encourage your child to ride his or her scooter on smooth, paved surfaces away from traffic (never in the street), avoiding water, gravel, or sand that could cause skidding and falls.

In-line skates

More than 100,000 people go to hospital emergency departments every year seeking treatment for injuries sustained while in-line skating. Skating safely on in-line skates depends on two factors—wearing protective gear and learning how to stop correctly. To prevent injury when in-line skating, your child should always wear a helmet that complies with government safety standards, knee and elbow pads, wrist guards, and gloves. Teach him or her to stop properly by using the brake pads, which are on the heels of most in-line skates: Put one foot