Sports Safety: The Manual Every Parent Needs

Bicycling

Most Common Injuries

Head injuries, facial cuts, broken wrists, cuts to the lower leg

Preventive Measures

Make sure your child wears a hard-shelled bike helmet horizontally on her head, with the chin strap securely fastened. Double-check the bike size: While sitting with her hands gripping the handlebars, she should be able to put the balls of both feet on the ground. For boys, there should be at least an inch of space between the crotch and the bar when he's standing.

Often-Overlooked Safety Move

Teach your child how to ride with traffic, obey Stop and Yield signs, note who has the right of way, and so on, before even considering letting her ride off the sidewalk. And then use your best judgment about whether she'll actually practice these rules.