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Rebecca Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 30 2005 Location: N/A
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Posted: April 03 2006 at 12:08am | IP Logged
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Do your children wear them?
Just trying to weigh the pros and cons. I struggle with the "over-safety-izing" of America but I am sure they are valuable at saving lives as well.
For those of you whose children wear them, at what age do they stop wearing them?
and
Do you, as parents, wear safety helmets as well?
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kingvozzo Forum All-Star
Joined: March 28 2005 Location: Maine
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Posted: April 03 2006 at 12:16am | IP Logged
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We have our children wear helmets once they start on the tricycle. My dh and I wear them as well. I had to get over my own reluctance to wear one, but it was important for me to set an example for the kids.
Here is a list of helmet laws, you might find it helpful. They are mandatory in many places.
__________________ Noreen
Wife to Ed
Mom to 4 great kids and 10 sweet ones in Our Lady's arms
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folklaur Forum All-Star
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Posted: April 03 2006 at 2:09am | IP Logged
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We all wear them now.
I had a friend of mine, about 15 years ago I guess, fall and smash her head on the curb -- she had to be flown to the hospital. It was quite scary.
I never wore one myself growing up, but I do now.
Since I have known dh, he always wore one ( met at college, and we rode bikes a LOT then -- was the quickest/easiest way to get around.) He bugged me about wearing one then, and eventually I did. Now we just all do.
~Laura in AZ
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Dawn Forum All-Star
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Posted: April 03 2006 at 5:19am | IP Logged
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Even though I feel pretty dorky in mine, we all wear them!
I wiped out when I was a teen (head over handlebars, thrown into the street) and wasn't wearing a helmet. Luckily I wasn't hurt badly, but oh did my doctor give me a talking to!
__________________ Dawn, mum to 3 boys
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
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Maddie Forum All-Star
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Posted: April 03 2006 at 5:20am | IP Logged
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We wear them on cement, roads, and all public areas. I too had a friend with a life threatening injury due to not wearing one. I know what you mean about being over cautious, I struggled with that too. I grew up on a farm doing all kinds of crazy stunts, for example, riding on the top most hay bail as the tractor drove the 1 and a half story mound to the barn.
I have tossed all knee pads, elbow pads, gloves, etc. I can deal with a scraped knee and a broken arm, but not a head injury.
I do let them go without a helmet in the cornfield.
__________________ ~Maddie~
Wife to my dh and Momma of 9 dear ones
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lilac hill Forum All-Star
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Posted: April 03 2006 at 6:12am | IP Logged
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All of us wear them here.
They become a habit.
We had a two falls and a couple "almost falls" with the child seat so I was happy that even our babies wore helmets.
Honestly, it does become a habit, kind of like seatbelts 20 years ago.
__________________ Viv
Wife to Rick (7/83), Mom to dd#1(6/87), dd#2(1/90), and dd#3(6/94) in central PA.
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mary Forum All-Star
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Posted: April 03 2006 at 6:52am | IP Logged
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we all wear them, even the 2 yr old on the tricycle. if it has wheels, we wear helmets. that includes scooters, bikes, skates, etc. we have made plenty of ER trips without helmets, we don't need an excuse!
my sister doesn't have her kids wear helmets and i always wonder why not? safety belts aren't an option, why would helmets be an option?
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Elizabeth Founder
Real Learning
Joined: Jan 20 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: April 03 2006 at 7:00am | IP Logged
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I wore helmets 35 years ago and we still wear them. When I was little, I had six operations on my ear. There was no way the surgeon would let me get on a bike without a helmet. I remember shopping for them because it was a bit of challenge. They weren't readily available the way they are now. Helmets are still the rule around here, all the way through adults, though I suspect my big boys "lose' theirs when they are out of sight because they're not cool .
__________________ Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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lilac hill Forum All-Star
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Posted: April 03 2006 at 7:06am | IP Logged
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Elizabeth wrote:
though I suspect my big boys "lose' theirs when they are out of sight because they're not cool . |
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My brother is an avid/rabid biker. "Cool" helmets, they make them--reminds me of a comic book super hero.
I am still wearing the same old LLBean one, but really, once you adjust the straps, are you willing to spend the time adjusting them on a new helmet?
__________________ Viv
Wife to Rick (7/83), Mom to dd#1(6/87), dd#2(1/90), and dd#3(6/94) in central PA.
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Mary Chris Forum All-Star
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Posted: April 03 2006 at 8:21am | IP Logged
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We all wear them
__________________ Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
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Angie Mc Board Moderator
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Posted: April 03 2006 at 11:01am | IP Logged
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Oh yes, everyone wear helmets please!
My dh is a cyclist who has neuropsychological training. He is adamant, helmets for all at all times! He saw first hand the brain damage that can happen, for adults or children, from what would be considered a minor bike fall.
There has been ample research evidence during the last 20 years to show that helmets are no "false sense of security" device. Professional cyclists were forced to wear them years ago based on evidence.
We lived in Davis, CA, a big cycling town, for three years in the early 90's. Everyone wore helmets. Wearing helmets was normal, expected behavior. This made the helmet issue easier for parents .
Love,
__________________ Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
About Me
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Rebecca Forum All-Star
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Posted: April 03 2006 at 11:12am | IP Logged
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Thanks for all your responses. We all wear them here also, some of us more willingly than others! My dh is not fond of wearing one as our city only requires them on children 14 and under.
My oldest (almost 10) seems to "misplace" his now and then since the neighborhood boys do not wear them anymore.
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amyable Forum All-Star
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Posted: April 03 2006 at 1:17pm | IP Logged
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All our children wear them, and if ever dh and I were to get back on a bicycle, we would wear them too.
I used to work in a children's rehab hospital, so I too have seen firsthand what bicycle injuries to an unprotected head can do. No thanks!
__________________ Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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lapazfarm Forum All-Star
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Posted: April 03 2006 at 2:20pm | IP Logged
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We only have one bike rule here-no helmet, no bike. Period.
__________________ Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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ALmom Forum All-Star
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Posted: April 03 2006 at 2:26pm | IP Logged
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We all wear them. Dh is extra sensitive to head injury risks as his brother suffered a head injury in a car accident when in high school - seat belts and bike helmets are mandatory for everyone in our family and everyone riding bikes under our supervision. We begin as soon as the trike rider begins zipping down the driveway. No one questions it in our house.
However, we do remind dc that helmet is simply a help - like the seatbelt. You still have to look for cars, etc. We noticed some of the boys would get extra wild knowing they had a helmet - as if the helmet would make them invincible. Also, since we live in the south, the helmets can get miserably hot. We are trying to look for more comfortable - yet reasonably priced helmets.
Janet
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marihalojen Forum All-Star
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Posted: April 03 2006 at 2:47pm | IP Logged
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ALmom wrote:
Also, since we live in the south, the helmets can get miserably hot. We are trying to look for more comfortable - yet reasonably priced helmets.
Janet |
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This is our huge problem - they are so hot and what about sun protection??? Am I supposed to put a hat on top of it? under it? What a bother...but to ride US1 without it is frightening. (Don't even get me started on their "bike path") So, Dd always wears one but my husband never wears a helmet, and I guess I am the one who tends to "lose" it in favor of my favorite hat. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I wonder if I hosed the darn things with fresh water and then we wore them if it would be like wearing a nice wet straw hat or if it would simply be icky?
__________________ ~Jennifer
Mother to Mariannna, age 13
The Mari Hal-O-Jen
SSR = Sailing, Snorkling, Reading
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amiefriedl Forum Pro
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Posted: April 03 2006 at 8:03pm | IP Logged
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We all wear them here!
__________________ In Christ the King through Mary our Mother,
Amie
Blessed with an awesome hubby and Mom of ds10, dd7, dd3 and dd 10months.
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Rachel May Forum All-Star
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Posted: April 03 2006 at 10:00pm | IP Logged
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We're helmet wearers and even more strictly shoe wearers. I have a friend who lost a few toes to a bike chain as a child. You really need that big toe for balance especially if you want to wear heels.
__________________ Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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