encouraging helmet use for 8-9 year olds

[billh]

Trying to get my son's best friend to wear his helmet. I realize it's even more important to teach them to ride safely. But still helmet use is important. My son always wears his helmet. His friend is somewhat of a little rebel. I've talked with the friend and his parents and tried to impress on him the importance of wearing helmet, plus it is the law in St Louis County. My latest attempt is to tell my son he cannot ride with his friend if the friend is not wearing a helmet, if I catch him, will take away his bike for a week. I've also thought of a "scared straight" approach by showing the kid some gorey head injuries. Eg. this recent photo from St Louis area racer,

http://www.danschmatz.missingsaddle.com/

see April 23 entry

Any other ideas?

[ignominious]

Trying to put a limitation on your son's friend, albeit through your son, will probably encourage him to comply just in order to break the rule as soon as they are out of sight. Such is the way of children these days. At least weren't like that as kids right?

Aversion therapy is often only of limited value. Countless millions of people have seen pictures of diseased lungs and HIV sores, only to take up smoking and engage in unprotected sex.

My advice is to combat the rebellion rather than its symptoms. If the kid is getting a reaction he'll keep on repeating the behaviour.

[billh]

Trying to put a limitation on your son's friend, albeit through your son, will probably encourage him to comply just in order to break the rule as soon as they are out of sight. Such is the way of children these days. At least weren't like that as kids right?

Aversion therapy is often only of limited value. Countless millions of people have seen pictures of diseased lungs and HIV sores, only to take up smoking and engage in unprotected sex.

My advice is to combat the rebellion rather than its symptoms. If the kid is getting a reaction he'll keep on repeating the behaviour.

That sounds like wise advice. Unfortunately, addressing this kid's rebellion is beyond me. He went through a difficult custody battle which split him from his siblings, though his current home situation seems pretty stable. The helmet thing is just another in a long line of authority issues. The kid tests every limit repeatedly. Maybe I should take him and my son on more bike rides together.

[ignominious]

That sounds like wise advice. Unfortunately, addressing this kid's rebellion is beyond me. He went through a difficult custody battle which split him from his siblings, though his current home situation seems pretty stable. The helmet thing is just another in a long line of authority issues. The kid tests every limit repeatedly. Maybe I should take him and my son on more bike rides together.

The kid is looking for attention. Make sure you only give him the right attention.

If you take him on rides with your son, commend him for things he does well but also make sure that you commend your son for wearing his helmet properly in front of him.

[noisebeam]

Maybe if you can get them to see some cycing racing on TV (of a variety of types, road, cyclocross, mtb) Don't point out the helmet use, but the more 'pro' and 'cool' looking images they see where helmets are used, it may help eliminate some of their biases.

Al