My husband's cousin said something to me a week ago and I still haven't figured it out.
I mentioned that we are thinking of getting our 7yo a dirt bike this summer she told me that her little boy (10 months younger) wants one but they're too dangerous so he's getting a four wheeler in a couple months. Both boys are at the end of the first grade.
A little background is needed here I think, we live in an area where alot of kids have the child sized four wheelers and they are often seen with 4 kids on one, on the road, no helmets with the oldest being no more than 9-10 and no adult supervision. The kids with them are often still in diapers.
This fall 2 first grade boys were killed on a four wheeler, they popped up onto the road in a manner that the car had no time to stop. I know that the cousin knows this since one of the boys was in the same class as her son and this is a small town area where everyone knows what everyone is doing.
This woman's husband is not the type of man to watch the kids closely and she works so this kid is going to be out on the vehicle with little to no supervision. We are so sure of this we've already told our child that if he's over at their house he's not allowed to let this kid give him a ride or to drive it without and adult physically out there.
If we get the dirt bike it's going to be chained to the clothes line so our son can't ride it when we aren't watching. And we have been talking to someone who races about what is needed for safety.
I realise that both are dangerous even with someone supervising but I want to hear other opinions because we can't figure out where she is getting this notion that one is better than the other.
Maybe she's just saying/doing this because "everyone else has one".
All of her sons friends have one, etc., etc.
Four wheelers are very dangerous if not used properly. DH wants to get them for our boys, and it's already been agreed upon that they will not be on them unless we're supervising....it was taken as a "given".
A lot of people don't have enough respect of what a four wheeler is capable of.
I actually think the dirt bike is an excellent choice...it has no motor, and if it rolls over you or if it flips while you're on it.......it's not as heavy as a four wheeler.
I'm glad you told your son not to ride the cousins four wheeler...I hope he truly listens to you, it's hard to do what you've been told when you know they're gonna be telling him "it's ok, you can go".
Good Luck to you & your family with making the right choice. I really think it all depends on what the child is ready for.
Alot of places that sell dirt bikes/ATV's here have safety classes. I highly recommend safety classes for ANYONE that will be using any vehicle like that. I do physical therapy and I cannot tell you how many children I have seen from dirt bike/ATV accidents. And the majority of them are quadriplegics now.
Is the rest of her child's life worth letting him loose without supervision?
I live in a rural area. Every year there is a child that dies on a 4 wheeler that you hear about on the local news channel(not usually close to us but in the local tv stations viewing area). It's often more than one child a year. The kids down the road have them and I'm scared that it's going to be me running into one of them and hurting or killing them since the race up and down the road(a 2 lane highway with enough traffic). I'm thinking of calling the police on them since I am afraid for thier safety.
My nephew had a dirt bike from the time he was 5 but was only allowed on it with supervision and usually only on trails with my brother.
One kid dying on these things is one too many. I have two girls who thankfully show no interest in stuff like that.
Dirt bikes and 4 wheelers can both be dangerous but I don't know if I've heard of any kids around here dying on a dirt bike.
Sandra
I think the misconception comes from thinking the four wheeler is safer because it has four wheels - less likely to tip. Of course it's NOT safer.
The misconception is what has us thinking that with their attitude is going to make the four wheeler more dangerous than a dirt bike would be for this kid.
Another scary thought is that he has a 2.5 year old brother that he'll probably be giving rides to when no one is looking or he'll be tearing through the yard while the little one is playing.
Hi Ya'll,
My family has many street and dirt bikes as well as 1 quad that belongs to my nephew.
RULE 1 is helmet--broken brains don't heal. That even goes for the adults on all bikes and the quad. We usually ride in very rugged terrain--mountains, near a rushing river.
RULE 2 break rule 1 and bike or quad is sold or you are not invited to play again. Don't make the Mommy mad!
RULE 3 keys and vehicles are locked up so there is not an attempt to ride with out suppervision/permission.
RULE 4 Do Not ride alone--always have a buddy--someone to get help if necessary.
RULE 5 help clean it up--washing and cleaning carburator or again vehicle will be sold or loose your invite.
Most of the smaller quads are not designed to be rode with a passenger, it can and will cause damage.
Many times while riding the quad myself I have been startled on a just being bigger than it looked. I have not yet crashed on the quad or the dirt bikes but we have had accidents, broken arms, on the adults--None yet with the kids. Just a reminder accidents do happen. Set the rules and make them stick. If your son really wants his bike he will follow the rules if you can show him you mean business with the little things (clean room, put the bicycle away when not in use, ect.)besides the dirt bike.
I am sorry for the kids that are not with ya'll any more.
Riding is great family entertainment. Have fun!
The biggest problem with 4 wheelers, is because they are seen as safer then a dirt bike, parents often put children on machines that are much too big for them. My boys used to race quads and i was more comfortable with them riding in a race at a track (where there is medical help if needed) then out in the woods, or tearing up the yard.
Which ever machine you choose for your son, make sure that he has that safety couse, and all proper riding equipment. That means pants, boots, long sleeve shirt, chest protector, and most important is a helmet, make sure to have equipment fitted properly. Used equipment is okay as long as its in very good shape, the only thing i wouldn't buy used is a helmet. Equipment is expensive and at this age they grow so fast that used stuff is often in very good, nearly new shape.
Any type of motor vehicle is dangerous if not used properly. It is very important that all family members understand the rules. You also must keep in mind that even if rules are followed accidents can happen and yes even death.
I just lost my very young cousin of 16 years in a dirt bike accident. He has been exposed to motorcycles, 4 wheelers and dirt bikes all his life. He wore all the proper clothing and helmets, but in the end it was a dead end road and an embankment that ended his life.
So just be careful and don't think just because you wear the proper protection and take all the safety course you will be safe.
I don't want to scare anyone I just felt I should add my two cents. I truly believe that you cannot shelter your children and they need to experience all they can to help them grow.
I would put my son on a dirt bike any day over a 4 wheeler, 4 wheelers are much heavier than dirt bikes.
I want my son to ride a dirt bike since he knows how to ride his bike with out training wheels (and he's always asking for one when we go into the motorcycle stores) but he's only 6 and he still has issues paying attention sometimes. Not to mention it's really hard to ride out on trails where I live because of the sub-divisions that have been going up around here. It's nothing like what it used to be when my husband grew up out by us.
I would let him ride if I had more time to take him out to the tracks and stuff, but I don't and unfortunately neither does my husband.
But I think wearing helmets is one of the most important things when riding any type of bike or 4 wheeler. My child's brain (and my brain) are way tooo important.
Any motorcycles riders out there? You should be able to go to the local DMV and get these free brightly colored stickers that you can put on your helmet that states "Do NOT remove helmet until I have been examined by a medical professional". I don't like how it clashes with my helmet, but I still put them on for 2 reasons: 1) I don't want to be paralyed by a 'good samaritan' who thinks they are helping but they end up making the situation worse (and I would not be mad at them for it either) and 2) The stickers I have a BRIGHT neon orange so these stickers help increase my visibility on the road to other drivers.
I didn't know they had stickers like that. I will have to check into it. I have to buy a new helmet so I might as well get the sticker to go along with it. We never ride without a helmet regardless if we have to or not. My husband might not be here today if he hadn't had his helmet on. By the time he quit sliding down the road there was nothing left of his helmet. I can't imagine what he would have looked like without it.
When my husband was in high school, two of his buddies (a boyfriend and girlfriend) died because they weren't wearing helmets. They had all the other gear on, except helmets. So they would have lived if they had had their helmets on. Needless to say, it was a closed-casket funeral that day. My husband said their bodies were in pretty good shape, but their heads were not.
Last summer we were out riding with some friends, and the one lady has only been riding recently and she accidentally braked too hard in a corner and she went sliding, and if it hadn't been for the really nice armored jacket and helmet that she had on she would have needed more than a few band-aids to fix her.
Sorry, mbelgard...hope we didn't hijack the thread.
My apologies also, mbelgard. You sound like you are very responsible and concerned for you children. I am glad to hear that you will be supervising your children while they are on.
I hope I didn't sound too harsh, but just losing someone you love very much is hard. So enjoy and have fun and make this a family affair! That is one of the greatest memories my cousin will have is the time that she, her husband and their son spent dirt bike racing and riding with the local motorcycle group.
Just heard on the news that a 13 year old girl is in hospital because her 4 wheeler turned over on her and she was stuck under it in a water filled ditch. Doesn't matter how much safety equipment you have on if you are underneath water and can't get out. The 10 year old boy who was riding on it with her is fine. Send some prayers her way(I don't know her but feel for her family)
Sandra
My 7 year old son has a 4 wheeler, a small one made for the smallest kids. We also made sure it has the safety feature of a kill switch on a remote control. He also must wear a helmut and chest protector, he must stay in the back yard or in the field if DH is riding his 4 wheeler as well.My son also knows that if he doesn't wear the protective gear,all of it,he doesn't ride. He knows too that if he getting a little to risky with it we shut him down with the remote. He can not restart without us resetting the remote.
Believe me getting him the 4 wheeler was not my idea,DH grew up having them and wanted our son to have one. MEN!!!
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%