Outdoor Bikes/scooters - Helmets?

[Guest]

I am developing our outdoor area this year and wondered if we need to provide children with helmets when playing on bikes and scooters. It seems sensible to from a safety aspect but if they do not fit properly this could be worse. There is also the concern of spreading headlice!!

 

I would be interested to hear what other schools do to get around this safety issue.

 

Thanks

[Madmum]

Never thought about this!!

We have bikes and scooters in use every day and no helmets. :huh:

 

Going to have to think about this!!!

[Guest ShelleyT]

Our Nursery children wear them but our Reception children do not. I don't know why! We did have a phase where the yr R children put them on but none of them seemed to fit properly and either they fell off, moved about or simply didn't fit at all!

[lashes2508]

we also have scooters and bikes but no helmets although you have brough up a good point - secondly head lice cannot be transferred through wearing helmets - they don't survive without blood supply - heads!!

[finleysmaid]

 

- secondly head lice cannot be transferred through wearing helmets - they don't survive without blood supply - heads!!

 

sorry might have to disagree with this a bit....they don't just die in a few seconds (though they are unlikely to leave hair without hair to go to) they do have sufficient supply to be able to live for a small amount of time but it is an unlikely method of transferral

[lashes2508]

ok FM they live on hair strands but not for long and cannot be transferred via hats,pillows etc as believed- they need head to head contact as they do not jump , fly or hop - so many myths connected with lice and nits - i was a voluntary nit nurse in school for some time unless new research shows different.

[lashes2508]

now you got me itching

[zigzag]

I work in a pre-school and we purchased a lot of helmets a few years ago for the children to wear. In theory its a great idea and I am all for encouraging children to wear helmets while on bikes and think that the earlier you start the better. In reality the children find them difficult to put on and the adults find the straps hard to adjust for each child and if they are not fitted correctly they are really no use.

[zigzag]

I just realised I was scatching my head while I typed that post, who mentioned nits!!!

[Guest]

I work in a pre-school and we purchased a lot of helmets a few years ago for the children to wear. In theory its a great idea and I am all for encouraging children to wear helmets while on bikes and think that the earlier you start the better. In reality the children find them difficult to put on and the adults find the straps hard to adjust for each child and if they are not fitted correctly they are really no use.

 

We find this too - it's a rock and a hard place isn't it!

[redjayne]

Well hopefully there are no rocks or hard places where the children are cycling gingerbreadman ! We don't have helmets for all of the reasons above, plus if they are dropped or banged against things ( as young children tend to do) they are deemed to be less safe and should be replaced ( imagine the cost of that!) In a Nursery or School play area it's unlikely children will ever get any speed up on a bike, it's not like out on the pavement/street,with kerbs, lamposts and walls etc so the injuries tend to be bashed shins and knees rather than heads. So no we don't have helmets and have no plans to buy any! :1b

[finleysmaid]

another good reason for me not to have any bikes....i'll add it to my list ...we do have a couple of scooters and some didicars but speed tends not to be an issue on our deck!

 

p.s. point taken about the little critters lashes...i'm just being pedantic

[Guest]

I also think that helmets don't really work in early years settings and agree with the above examples. I also think that if you do impose a 'wear helmets' policy, then some children who really will not wear helmets may miss out on using the bikes/scooters. I suppose if you analyse your recorded accidents and a high proportion involved knocks to the head due to using bikes, then you would have to respond appropriately and impose a helmet policy.

[louby loo]

Not to mention the split-lips and banged heads- when the 'helmet wearer' jumps off bike runs to an adult for support to get the thing off.... and bumps into other children on the way. :o

 

xx

[Guest]

Thanks for your good advice. I think we will continue without helmets and I will use your arguemwnts as to why they are not used if Ofsted question it!