Daffodils, morning birdsong, bicycles. Spring is the time our children begin to think about getting outside on their wheels. A wonderful pastime and way to get your children outside, we must also ensure our children are safe.

Like all things, there is a safe way for your children to enjoy biking. Take a moment to review the best way to safely begin your biking season.

1) Right size and bike: most toddlers enjoy small bikes that they propel with their feet as soon as they are steady on their feet. By 3 years, children can learn to pedal, so a tricycle or small bike with training wheels works well. Between 5-8 years, children are developing their sense of balance, and can begin to practice without training wheels or try a balance bike. Like all developmental milestones, your child may be on a different developmental trajectory. For more resources on choosing the right bike or right size, visit www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Choosing-the-Right-Size-Bicycle.aspx, www.safekids.org/bike and www.ibike.org.

2) Bicycle helmets: According to Seattle Children’s Hospital online safety tips, bike accidents are the second leading cause of serious injury in school-age children, and head injury is the leading cause of bicycle-related death and disability. Helmets can reduce these risks by 85 percent, plus it is the law in King County. Because children do what we do, not what we say, parents please wear a helmet too. For more resources for fitting the helmet and choosing other equipment, visit www.seattlechildrens.org/safety-wellness/bike-helmet-safety/.

3) Rules of the road: You will be in constant supervision of your child until you are confident in his ability to bike on his own. This includes teaching the rules of the road. Each of the Mercer Island elementary schools produce bike rodeos to help teach this. Check with your school’s PTA. Safety Town is a summer camp for 5-7 year olds that includes bicycle safety and is often offered by Mercer Island Parks and Rec: www.mercergov.org/SectionIndex.asp?SectionID=42.

4) Finding and recycling safe bikes and equipment: Not every family can afford a properly sized bicycle for their child. Likewise, essential equipment like helmets. To find used bicycles, remember to check at the Mercer Island Thrift Shop: www.mercerislandthrift.org/. Also find refurbished bikes at Bike Works in the Rainier Valley: https://bikeworks.org. They sell quality used bikes and offer a full-service repair shop at an affordable price. Remember to donate your gently-used bicycles to organizations like these. There are often promotions providing children’s bicycle helmets for free or reduced cost (helmets should not be recycled or purchased second-hand because they may not be as safe as new). Seattle Children’s Hospital has a monthly give-away program: www.seattlechildrens.org/safety-wellness/bike-helmet-safety/. Public Health Seattle and King County has a list of all free and low-cost helmet programs: www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/violence-injury-prevention/traffic-safety/~/media/depts/health/violence-injury-prevention/documents/low-cost-bike-helmet-providers.ashx.

There are many more resources than those listed above. Explore each of these websites for even more information. Most importantly, to quote Freddie Mercury, “Get on your bikes and ride!”

Dr. Danette Glassy, MD, FAAP, is a pediatrician at Mercer Island Pediatrics, providing a medical home for her patients for over 20 years. She is also an active child advocate working to improve the health and well-being of children and their families across the country. In this column she shares information of interest to families and caregivers as their child’s primary advocate. Information is her own view and not medical advice.