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When you purchase a bicycle for your child, have the child go with you and sit on the bike in the store. They should be able to touch the floor comfortably. When he stands, he should have at least an inch between him and the seat. If you purchase a bike that is too big for him, he will fall off it and get injured because he won't be able to control it.
Children with small hands and less than firm grips should not ride hand brake bikes. If they had to stop short, they wouldn't have the power behind them to squeeze or grab the hand brake in time.
Helmets for bicycles and protective gear for the hands and knees is another must for riding. Mom and Dad should also have a helmet. Especially if mom is going to ride around with the little one on the back of her bicycle. These helmets should meet the standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Have your child pick the color of the helmet they like, so they will be happy to wear it.
Injuries to the skull and extremities can be serious, especially if the child is hit by a car. Have your child ride during the day and not at night. Although they sell light reflectors for the bicycles, some cars do not see bicycles at night or prefer to ignore them.
Send your child for bike safety lessons. You can call your local police department and ask when the next time is for holding a bike safety seminar at your local schools. This course will teach children the safety of bicycles, to look both ways and how to ride with the flow of traffic if needed.
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