Comments on: Do We Protect Our Kids Too Much?

By: Lillyth

Lillyth — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 02:28:58 +0000

I make my son wear a helmet, but we live in a big city AND he rides BMX on ramps. Like 15-20 foot high ramps. So he really has a reason to. I make sure he wears it all the time, because, like the day I got into a cab with him & watched him buckle his seat belt (something I hadn't EVER done in my life), I hope he will just automatically put his helmet on every time.

That being said, I let him jump off of the top of play structures, and fly down hills on his scooter. People look at me horrified and ask if I'm not scared he will hurt himself. I just shrug and say "Nah." One lady even tried to stop my son from jumping off the top of a play structure. She tried to tell me he couldn't do it because someone else had broken their arm doing it the week before. I just politely informed her that MY child had done this hundreds of times, but that, if, for some reason THIS particular time he just HAPPENED to break his arm I would just take him to the Emergency Room, and thanked her for her concern.

BTW, my son son has needed stitches twice: Once for a scooter accident (he WAS wearing a helmet), and once from going ice skating. The ice skating one was particularly telling of how life just happens. We hadn't been there five minutes. My son had been doing three-sixties, and one-eighties, landing backwards and skating with great ease. Two nearby kids are playing tag. One of them falls in front of my son, who trips on him, splitting his chin open. See? Life happens!

Incidentally, I noticed a kid there whose mother made him wear a helmet to skate. The irony was not lost on me that if it had been that child instead of mine, the helmet would NOT have saved him from that injury...

By: trade show guru

trade show guru — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:24:48 +0000

@Amberlyn,
I thought California lead the nation in silly laws… I can’t believe Tennessee beat us on this one. I guess we’ll have to go for 10 years or 100 pounds… ~ Steve, the trade show guru

trade show gurus last blog post..Green Trade Show Displays

By: Chic Mummy

Chic Mummy — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:16:22 +0000

Bike helmets are mandatory by law here in Australia, and the result has been a significant decrease in cycling, particularly amongst youth. Numerous studies in peer-reviewed journals have also shown that mandatory helmet wearing increases accident risk per cycling-km by 14%. As for the booster seats for children, I do agree with this one. Seat belts are designed for an adult frame and distribute the force of a collision across the chest and pelvis, where the bone structure is much stronger. Young children, especially if they are shorter are not protected in the same way, and the seat belt tends to put the force across the stomach area (especially if children push the sash under their arm), which causes serious (and often fatal) internal injuries. Simply using a booster or child seat places the belt in a much safer position. Chic Mummys last blog post..Moody Gothic

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:21:38 +0000

Ah! So much to worry about! My Mom makes me think I'm not careful enough but I think my little one is pretty resilient! Loved the point about not removing doors, very true! Heathers last blog post..Lil Green Baby Food: Carrots

By: Amberlyn

Amberlyn — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:24:18 +0000

I like this post. Alot! I do think that others project their fears onto others and that it can be harmful to your well being. I never wore a helmet and yes, I busted my head open once and I'm fine. Didn't even need stitches. You have to use your own common sense on these things. Steve~about the booster seats. My sister's youngest is almost 7 and still required in TN to use one as she is shorter and weighs like 30lbs. It's stupid the way people want to reflect their overcautiousness onto others Amberlyns last blog post..Damn Vegan Nazis

By: trade show guru

trade show guru — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:10:41 +0000

Hey Derek, I tend to agree with you on your statement about living in fear. If you really want to crack open a can of worms, ask me what I think about the state of California changing the child car seat laws from up to 4 years old and 40 pounds TO up to 6 years old and 60 pounds. As my wife says, pretty soon she's going to be required to sit in a booster seat! ~ Steve, the trade show guru trade show gurus last blog post..Green Trade Show Displays

By: Derek

Derek — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:45:55 +0000

Thanks for the comments –

Re: bike helmets – Yes, accidents happen, and I’m not gonna tell others that helmets aren’t needed. You have to decide that for yourself. I just know that there are plenty of other things we can focus on other than fear.

A good friend of mine was wearing a helmet, wiped out on gravel and busted her chin and elbow, neither of which a helmet protects against. So where do we draw the line?

My point was more about the general tendency of us as parents to protect our kids from themselves, not to go without a helmet…

Dereks last blog post..The Great Man

By: Anisa

Anisa — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:59:20 +0000

Derek - I usually really love your posts, and with this one I agree on some points: I do think as a whole, we over-protect our kids. But I also think that telling (pick one) people/your kids/yourself that bike helmets are not needed and people who say they are are only putting their personal fears onto you is foolish. The equivilent of telling people that seatbelts aren't important either. My parents grew up without seatbelts and lived. But many, many people died before the laws were changed and they were put into every car. As you stated in your post, people in cars "driving with one hand, cell phone in the other, the radio on, and a drink held between their knees" hardly have the ability to watch for a bicyclist, especially smaller ones like a child. And they surely won't be able to react in time to not hit one if the bike is in their path. I wear a helmet when I ride, and a seatbelt in the car, not because I am afraid or paranoid or because I am an unsafe rider/driver. But because so many others out there are. It only takes once... and you only have one of each of your kids (and yourself!). Don't live in fear, let kids learn, and eat dirt and do whatever else. But don't foolishly squander a life either. What will they learn if they are killed the one time they get hit on a bike without a helmet? Anisas last blog post..Thrifty Thursday: “Optional” Coverage & Microfiber Miracle

By: saucy salsita

saucy salsita — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:03:44 +0000

i think we do!!! for sure. some of my friends won't let their kids go outside cause the other kid is riding his tricycle to rapidly. meanwhile, her son is sitting at home thinking what's wrong. sometimes we just have to let go and trust that our kids know what they are doing. i'm doing it and am freaked out everytime, but its the only way my son will learn. (although, i do find myself stepping in to help more than i want to:) Saucy Salsita, AKA The Sexy Hippie - Because sexy comes in GREEN! saucy salsitas last blog post..Saucy Salsita's Natural Skincare Recipe Must Have!

By: trade show guru

trade show guru — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:48:23 +0000

hi Sommer,
I’m afraid you did blog yourself into a corner on this one.
We didn’t have bike helmets growing up either, but I suppose we had a lot of luck. I remember some gnarly bike crashes, and can’t image letting my kids ride without helmets. That said, I agree with “balance”, and with having a lot of good luck growing up. ~ Steve, the trade show guru
PS. Does your son have a scar on the tip of his finger? Seems like that would be way cool for a boy to have! But nailing all your doors shut, or removing them, would be silly.

trade show gurus last blog post..Green Trade Show Displays