Stubborn Teenager won't wear helmet!

Jace1283

I remember not wanting to wear a helmet. If my parents had got me a cool helmet i would have worn one. Cool meaning new, cool design, costs more than $30 and maybe has a visor on it, whatever the kid wants. I think the first time i may have worn a helmet consistently was when i was 16, got a job, and bought one for myself.

imagesinthewind

I live in CO and we DO have a helmet law for bikes (not motocycles).

Cyclists must wear helmets if they are 16 and under.

There is a great thread on crashes on this forum that I just had my 11 year old read. Some hard, injury crashes and some easy, walk away crashes.
Have him read that!
Though by now I'm sure it's not an issue anymore.

__________________
Ginny in Denver-ish
05 Specialzed Sirrus Comp

Ellis456

Even if you never fall off the bike there good for going under trees etc, done that a few times and my head not scrached up.

eldavo

My helmet has saved me from a magpies sustained swooping upto and at traffic intersection with beak hitting the helmet right at the temple on both sides... I have come to blows with magpies on the first two helmets I wore oevr 15years, and they were the biggest risk I met.

Being a motorcyclist as well, many bicycle helmets are laughable. They are akin to the "beanie" helmets worn by people who just want to meet the minimum legal requirements, where they are very protective against bird droppings from terminal velocity heights, but that's about all. The back of the skull, enclosing the brain stem, is fully exposed on these beanie helmets, and their relative cycling helmets. I wear mine to avoid being fined, and for the magpies. It became habit and I never questioned it or removed it when I could because my parents said I needed to wear it when the law came in, and that was that.

As for the 14yo, I guess you need to make a stand. Do it first with your husband as it sure does undermine authority to have one parent make a stand, and a child run to the weaker one who will crumble. I'd be taking his car keys and making him late for work or whatever necessary, because I'd be damned if he can call himself a father responsible for a child and neglect such an issue especially if you're making a stand on it.

Obviously you didn't raise your sone for 14 years to see a magpie swoop him, spread a new virus which would spark the next pandemic. You can't give kids choices in safety when you want them to do the right thing and not the wrong thing. Get in the car, put your seat belt on. No "please, ok maybe next time sweetie..." because you might become a cabin ping pong ball in an RTA.

Of course he will probably just take it off down the road to spite you... which is when you need to train an angry old magpie to swoop him all the way to school.

ieandro

oh geez 14 year olds don't get a say in your households when it comes to safety .. do you want them to play football without the pads ?

tell him/her to wear the helmet or take away the bike ..
last time i checked walking didn't involve any special equipment. and if he doesn't want any special equipment then walking should suit him just fine.
and don't entice him with anything with monetary value just to make him wear a helmet. the last thing you need is him not learning "the value of dollar" or so to speak.

when i was around that age i had a white mushroom shaped helmet. it was the ugliest thing anyone could do themselves. couldn't remember the brand but if my mom caught me thowing it around or pretty much not using it other than its intended purpose or not wearing it .. boy she would lay into me. one because i'm her youngest and two money wasn't very easy to come by.

bottom line is parents should give no second thought for their childrens safety. you shouldn't have to hesitate when your child's life on the line. make them learn it. make them love it. no ifs, ands, or buts.

Rockslayer

Most Teenagers will just ride and hang their helmets on their handlebars or backpack.

I think as a 14 year old it's about choices and learning to be an individual ironically they want to follow or fit in a crowd.

Gotta say this to the parents, what type of helmet are you making your kids wear? probably a $20 Kmart / Walmart helmet. They are just uncool.

Biking is different most teenagers use it as transport, I think give the kids/teenagers a choice in choosing their helmet. Look at what the pro free riders and bmxers are wearing. Most teenagers are probably riding some sorta freestyle or bmx. One of those lids are probably more suitable probably not much more in cost either. Racing helmets would probably be excessive for their needs.

If they are riding to school, helmet hair is a bigger concern to them
Maybe take it up with the school as well to address these issues to their students. at least this they will know they have no option but to wear it riding to school.

Oh I've almost forgotten what its like to be a teenager.