RIDER SAFETY WITH CHILDREN — A PARENT’S POINT OF VIEW

ÿDoes your child really want to ride?

When your child gets that first urge to hop on a dirt bike, you probably won’t get left alone until they get their first taste. Whether your youngster has seen a race on TV or witnessed one live, curiosity will kill the cat sooner or later.

However, preparing your young rider to hit the trails or the track is not the simplest of tasks. Both you and your child are bound to be enthused about this extreme adventure, but both should know everything you possibly can in order to make this experience both fun and safe.

Point Them in the Right Direction

When the decision has finally been made to let your son or daughter begin to ride, you as a parent need to make sure you can be there to support them 100% – emotionally, physically, and financially. Parents can often times be too enthusiastic and may want to pull the trigger a little too fast, all for the love of the sport. However, approaching this new venture in a cautious manner will prevent you and your child from falling into an early pitfall.

Of course, your child will seem thrilled to learn how to ride and manhandle this two-wheeled piece of machinery. However, you need to make sure he or she is truly interested and passionate about participating in such an intense sport. Motocross isn’t exactly the easiest sport to learn, therefore, small, inexperienced children can easily become discouraged if they don’t get the hang of it right away. This is why it is so important to start with the basic skills and eventually work your way up.

A responsible rider is a safe rider

Any beginning rider needs to be appropriately informed and educated about the proper safety that goes with motocross. Sometimes parents are lucky enough to know enough about the sport to teach their child all about the responsibilities that go along with it. If not, a friend or local rider may be able to help you out. If you know an advanced rider who is willing to help, have your youngster just sit and watch them ride. You’d be amazed at how much they can learn just by observing someone else’s riding style. Make sure to watch their every move and ask questions as to why they use a particular technique or have them offer any tips they may have learned at an early age.

One of the most obvious and important things to remember is to teach your child that his or her bike is not a toy. They need to take this sport seriously and always use good judgment. However, you the parent should be the possessor of good judgment. When addressing safety and responsibility, one of the first rules to address is that the bike should never be ridden without adult supervision. Even in adult riders, the buddy system should always be followed. Not only is this the common sense thing to do, but also the safest way to go. While supervising, make sure to offer encouragement and maybe a little constructive criticism along the way. There’s always a little room for tips on how to improve. Not only will this allow for you to help your new motorcycle enthusiast, but it will also give you the chance to spend some quality time together.

Another rule of thumb is to always ride smart. While most young riders who are just starting out will be able to stay within their limits, at one point they will want to jump the gun and push those limits. After a solid time of experienced riding, it may be okay for them to further advance their skills; however, be sure to never let your mini-Ricky Carmichael or Sarah Whitmore ride over their head.

While watching your future pro ride off by themselves for the first time, make sure to let them know that it’s okay to have fun! Not only will this allow them to ride more comfortably, it will also help them to learn and improve a great technique.

Always remember, there’s more than enough information out there about becoming a better, safer rider!

Obstacles along the way

With careful preparation and proper prevention, you and your new rider can drastically reduce the risks that come with riding a dirtbike. One of the first things you can do together is to make a checklist of all the necessary items your child will need each time they ride. For example, a gear list is a great idea. Safety can’t be stressed enough, especially at an early age. If the child is well aware of the safety issues that surround the motocross community, he or she is well on their way to becoming a responsible rider.

Peer pressure is often dangerous to young, inexperienced riders. If a child who is just starting out has friends who are more experienced than they are, the urge to push the limits will be even greater with others around. If you, as a parent, witness your child falling into this trap, it will be in the best interest to both of you to step in now and offer a good word.

Geared up for FUN

While stressing the importance of safety, your dirt rider should be geared with the right protection equipment. Wearing the proper safety gear is an absolute must every time your child heads to the track or trail! While all top-of-the-line gear doesn’t have to be purchased right away, there is one piece of equipment that all riders should wear?a helmet. The helmet is the single most important piece of safety equipment a rider can and should be wearing at all times. Be sure their helmet is either DOT or SNELL approved and that it fits snugly, yet comfortably, on their head when securely fastened.

Other items that are absolutely necessary for a young rider are goggles, long-sleeve sweatshirt (jersey), jeans (riding pants), over the ankle boots (riding boots), and well-built gloves that will allow them to fully grip the handlebars while providing them with the necessary protection. If and when your child chooses to further advance in their riding, more expensive, top-notch gear may need to be purchased. This is a decision you may need to make further down the road.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do:

*Make sure your child is ready, both physically and emotionally, to throw that leg over a dirtbike and that you are also prepared to support them 100%

*Instill the right attitude about safety and responsibility, creating a winner both on and off the track

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ *Stress safety and fun at the same time

*Let your child learn at his or her own pace; if they aren’t advancing as well as you had hoped, give it a little more time and experience

*Encourage your child for the strides they take

*Communicate and be very detailed in your explanations as to what they should be doing

*Concentrate on the basics of controlled riding and remember to take it one step at a time

*Search for outside help/advice from experienced people in your riding community

Don’t:

*Allow your child’s frustrations get to you; if they see you frustrated from their mistakes, this will only make things worse take a break

*Let them start riding without the proper safety gear

*Put them on a bike that is too big for their small frame

*Force them to ride just because you do or did at their age; if your child is disinterested in the sport, they won’t learn a thing

*Let your child cave into peer pressure from other kids their age; remember that everyone learns at a different pace

F U N

Most children will often answer the same thing when asked why they like to ride. It’s fun! Not only do beginners have an absolute ball while tooling around on a dirtbike, it’s also very advantageous to them. They get exercise, learn discipline, and have something to look forward to. Many kids also mature well ahead of others due to the fact they are involved in such an intense sport that requires a lot of responsibility. So, if you’re prepared and your aspiring rider is as well, it’s time to gear up, rev up, and let the good times roll!

“EVS Winning with Safety”