Hobbies And Interests
Riding Instruction
Before your child ever takes the dirt bike out for a spin, you should take care to familiarize him with the controls and mechanisms of his dirt bike. In motorcycle safety courses, before riders ever even touch a motorcycle, much time is spent educating riders on how motorcycles work and how to ride with caution. To ensure safety, the very same education should be taught to kids who want to ride.
Proper Riding Gear
Be strict about armoring up your kids when they ride. Your child should never be without the following protective equipment: gloves, goggles, boots, riding jackets and, most importantly, helmets. Be sure to buy a helmet designed specifically for dirt bike riding. Helmets designed for bicycles, sports or other activities will not offer adequate protection in case of a crash. The difference between being a little sore after a crash and a visit to the emergency room typically lies in having good riding gear.
Dirt Bike Condition
Before every ride, you and your child should get accustomed to making sure that the dirt bike is in good condition. During inspections before rides, make sure that the gas tank is fueled up accordingly. Examine the tires to be certain that they are properly inflated. Check to see if the brakes are working well and ascertain that all the dirt bike's lights are in good working order.
Never Ride Alone
Younger kids should always be supervised while riding dirt bikes. Even if you own a large piece of land with a lot of open riding space, it is always a good decision to watch your kid while she rides. Accidents can -- and frequently do -- happen and you will most certainly want to be present just in case.
One Rider Only
Dirt bikes were meant to be ridden on by one person at a time, so take no passengers. The extra weight of another person can significantly affect your dirt bike's overall function. Things like handling and maneuverability will decrease, while the risk of crashing and injury increases.
Parental Responsibility
Ultimately, it's up to you as a parent to make safety a primary objective. This means talking with your child about the risks and dangers involved with operating a powerful machine like a dirt bike. This means making your child aware of where he can ride, where he cannot ride and of the laws that govern these issues. And this means stressing the importance of all safety aspects of riding and taking care to enforce these aspects at all times.