Riding bike is an interesting activity as well as a method to support for kid’s overall growth. They will be more dynamic, spiritual comfort and learn how to do everything independently. That’s the reason why many parents buy bikes for their children as a gift recently, bring to them many meaningful childhood memories. However, bike is not a normal toy, it is a vehicle. So, parents and kids have to learn how to ride in safety.
First of all, parents have to choose a suitable bike size with the kid’s height. When they sit on the saddle, their feet must be able to touch the ground. Never buy a bigger bike with simple thought that: “kids will grow up quickly and they can ride that bike easily soon”. Parents! Let contact Asama to ask or look for information about a reasonable size of the bike for your kids.
Next, there are three important things we need to do so that our kids can ride safely:
- Remind our kids to learn by heart the fundamental: Always wear the helmet when riding – no exception
- Teach your kids the basic traffic laws and certain safety tips when riding on the street.
- Check their bike to make sure that it can work in good condition.
Have your kids remembered how to wear the helmet yet?
The most frightening risk when participating in traffic is permanent brain injury. Wearing a right helmet is a way to help us reduce this risk. From the first day your children get in touch with bike, let them wear helmet.
Wearing a right helmet is: helmet is on the top of head, higher than eyebrows about 2 fingers. Helmet hugs the head; it cannot oscillate when kids are riding. The strap hugs the chin and is locked carefully. Using a helmet with clear safety standards. The helmet shows signs of deterioration, that means it is no longer possible to protect the head; get rid of it and buy a new one.
Let’s wear helmet when riding – no exception. And parents are also a very good mirror for your children. Don’t forget to wear helmet for yourself.
What are the safety tips and basic traffic laws that your children have to know?
Parents should only let your kids ride in the safe places such as parks, local residential areas, close proximity locations, which under your control.
Make sure that other people/vehicles can see our children easily
When riding, kids should wear suitable cloths which is bright or better have reflected color. Especially, never let your kids ride bike at night time. If they have to ride in the early morning or sunset, the parents have to install light and reflectors in bike.
Moreover, parents should let your kids wear comfortable and tidy clothes, shoes that can cover all toes. Clothes are too wide can easily coil clothes round the chain or spoke.
Teach your kids how to ride bike properly
- Two hands hold handlebar carefully, never use one-hand to ride
- Book, toy or anything must be putted in the basket or saddle carefully
- Each bike only carries one person, don’t carry more people
- Never use headphone/earphone when riding bike. Kids have to listen clearly everything around them
- If something falls, let’s stop and get down to pick up. Don’t sit on the bike and crouch to do that
Parents teach our kids the basic traffic law
- Kids under 10 years old have to ride bike on the pavement
- Kids over 10 years old have to ride on the street and near the pavement, on the right side
- At the intersection, kids have to stop riding; look to the left, look to the right, look to the left again and make sure that it is really safe to cross road. Kids have to look carefully because other vehicles can appear suddenly from alley or parking lot. With bigger road cross, kids should get down and take their bike to cross road on the pedestrian crossing.
- Remember everything about traffic-light: red light and yellow light have to stop and with green light, they can go
- Use one hand to make the signal when kids want to cross road and observe carefully before turning right or left. When feeling dangerous, they should look for the support from adult
Parents are the best mirror for the children
Beside teaching your kids how to ride bike, when you commute with them by car, motorbike, let execute the traffic laws and talk with your kids how to ride carefully. If adult makes a good mirror, it will strongly effect to kids.
What can parent do with kid’s bike?
Regularly check all parts: brake, tire, chain, etc...
Teach your kids about checking and cleaning regularly after they use. Absolutely, parents still have to follow your kids. Even harder than you do by yourselves, we need to make kids feel the main responsibility on their bikes. This will help your children learn to be more independent and responsible to themselves. At the same time, it makes more and more affection in the family through sharing and loving.
