Keeping your child ‘wheely’ safe

Educate
May 28, 2025

If your house is anything like ours, bikes and scooters are part of the daily routine. They’re not just fun, they help kids build confidence, coordination, and independence. They also introduce road safety basics, teach kids how to judge distances, stay aware of their surroundings, and make safe decisions.

Words by Kat Mason, Safe Sprouts Baby First Aid & Safety

Here’s how to help them ride safely…and save yourself a few grey hairs (or at least postpone them until the teenage years) while you watch.

Set clear, consistent rules

The best way to keep your child safe is to set clear, consistent rules from the start. Whether they’re riding on the footpath, at the park, or in the driveway, the rules should always stay the same, especially when it comes to helmets.

As a paramedic, I’ve seen many accidents happen at home, particularly in driveways. It’s easy to assume familiar spaces are safer, but falls onto concrete, collisions with obstacles (including pets and other siblings!), and reversing cars make home one of the most common places for injuries.

That’s why safety rules shouldn’t change depending on where they’re riding. If helmets are only required in public but not at home, it sends mixed messages. Making helmets a non-negotiable part of riding, no matter where they are, helps build good habits that stick.

When out on the footpath, kids also need to learn basic safety awareness. Teaching them to slow down and check for cars before crossing driveways, watching for pedestrians, and keeping to one side of the path helps them develop safe riding habits as they grow.

And remember, kids learn more by how we act than what we say, so make sure you wear a helmet when on wheels too!

Be seen, stay safe

Young ones can be hard to see, especially near driveways and footpaths. We want to make our kids as visible as possible to other drivers, pedestrians and riders. My go-tos? Lights, reflectors, and bright clothing (reminding me of my party days pre-kids).

For bikes, the best setup is a white front light and a red flashing rear light; they’re easy to attach and make such a difference. Since scooters don’t have a rear light attachment, we love using helmets that have a rear light attachment for that extra visibility.

With regular crashes and bumps, bike reflectors tend to fall off easily too. Check these regularly and be sure to replace them if they have gone AWOL on your child’s adventures.

And last, but certainly not least, bright clothing helps too…we love fluorescent vests with reflective stripes, which make kids stand out. There are some amazing options online, or you can pick one up quite cheap at your local trade shop.

Dress for safety

What your child wears matters. Closed-in shoes are a must; they provide grip on pedals, scooters, and the ground, and they protect little toes from nasty scrapes.

Avoid loose clothing that could get caught in wheels or handlebars. And if you have a ‘batman’ at home like me, remind them that their cape could get caught in the wheels or chain, so best to leave it off during bike rides. Similarly, long flowing skirts or dresses can also get caught and lead to unwanted crashes.

Getting the right fit

A bike or scooter that’s too big or too small isn’t just harder to ride, it’s a safety risk. The right size makes riding easier, safer, and more fun.

When checking your child’s bike, look at seat height first. If they’re still learning, your child should be able to put their feet flat (or nearly flat) on the ground when seated to help with balance and stopping. As they gain confidence, you can raise the seat slightly so only their toes touch the ground.

Scooter handlebar height matters too. For the best balance and control, handlebars should sit somewhere between their belly button and chest. If they’re too low, kids hunch over and lose control. If they’re too high, turning becomes harder.

How to fit a helmet using the 2v1 rule

An improperly fitting helmet is like an improperly fitting seat belt; it won’t protect your child properly. Simply remember “2V1” for a perfect fit every time:

2 fingers above the eyebrows

The helmet should sit low on the forehead, about two finger-widths above the eyebrows.
If the helmet has a dial adjuster at the back, tighten it to achieve a snug fit while keeping the helmet level.
Get your child to shake their head side to side- the helmet should stay in place without wobbling.

V-shape around the ears