I think it must have all started when the kids saw someone riding a motorcycle and remarked that the man on the motorcycle was wearing a “hat.”
“It’s a helmet,” I told them. “It keeps your head safe.”
From that point on, every time we saw someone riding a motorcycle, both kids were thrilled to announce that the person was wearing a helmet. And that Gramps (my dad) wore a helmet on his motorcycle. Keeps his head safe. Then, they noticed people on bicycles were wearing helmets, too! Would you even believe it?! Oh, the excitement that can bring to two-year-olds!
At any rate, my mom decided to get the kids a pair of tricycles for their birthday (blessedly with attached parent-push-bar to save my back). I assembled them yesterday morning and they were thrilled with their new toys. I decided to pull my car out to block the street end of our driveway and let the kids ride their bike on the pavement.
As I brought them over to ride their bikes in the driveway, Rebecca became rather distressed. “Need a helmet! Need a helmet!” Daniel chimed in, “keep-a head safe.”
Damn. Guess they were listening. You know, it’s not like I saw a motorcycle and thought to myself, “hey, there’s a teachable moment, I’d better capitalize on it!” No, I just kept talking and explaining just like I always do when they’re in the back seat of the van. Looks like they take it in, huh?
At any rate, it took a couple of different stores, but eventually we located toddler-sized bike helmets. Purple for Rebecca, Sesame Street with Elmo for Daniel (it was slim pickings, let me tell you). They kept them on for the rest of the afternoon.
Such sweet smiles! And isn’t it amazing the things they pick up and remember? I’m glad there are so many examples everywhere nowadays. When my mom was trying to get me to wear my bike helmet (back in the good old 80s), I was definitely one of only a few kids who were doing it. But we see kids in our neighborhood wearing helmets while riding bikes and scooters and rollerblading all the time. Can’t wait for our time to have that teachable moment!
Safety first indeed. The photos are adorable.
Two related-ish anecdotes:
We were at Walmart looking for bubble wands when Jessie spotted a twin to her bike helmet on the shelf. “Mama! Santa got my helmet at Walmart store!!”
At SeaWorld last weekend, both the girls threw the BIGGEST fit when I suggested that they leave their belts unbuckled so they could climb out of the stroller by themselves.
.-= Sadia´s last blog ..Overheard 19: Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair =-.
Just an FYI for the future and maybe for others reading this blog: some fire departments sell bike helmets for kids and adults (because there’s no way we can go helmet-less with the toddler polic around!) at a reduced price over the summer. Check with your local fire department.
.-= Tara´s last blog ..Mateo’s First Swim & Woodstock Revival =-.
Oh Goddess, if anyone can look at these pictures and NOT smile, they’re far stronger than I! ADORABLE little helmet wearers.
.-= Cheryl´s last blog ..Full Family Flu and Other Sagas in Sickness =-.
They look fantastic, and helmet habits, like seat belt habits, are best learned early. So cute!
.-= Elizabeth_K´s last blog ..Running for the Bus =-.