Back-to-school season often means new routines, earlier mornings, and more time moving through busy neighborhoods, school parking lots, sidewalks, and after-school activities.
For many children, it also means riding bikes or scooters to school, playing outside after class, skating with friends, or spending more time near driveways, intersections, and parking lots.
Those activities are an important part of childhood. They help kids stay active, build confidence, and enjoy time outdoors. But they can also lead to injuries, especially when children ride without helmets, enter traffic, ride too fast, or use equipment that does not fit properly.
“Start teaching safe riding habits early, especially wearing a helmet every time,” said Preston Huff, an injury prevention specialist with UTMB Health Trauma Services. “Children should also know where they are allowed to ride and when they need adult supervision.”
A few simple safety habits can help families make riding bikes, scooters, and outdoor play part of a safer school-year routine.
Start with a helmet every time
A helmet is one of the most important pieces of safety gear for children riding bikes, scooters, skateboards, roller skates, or other wheeled equipment.
Head injuries are among the most serious injuries associated with falls and crashes, making appropriate helmut use especially important.
“A helmet is important on every ride, even if it is only around the block or the driveway,” Huff said. “It only takes one unexpected fall for a serious head injury to occur.”
Head and facial injuries are among the most serious concerns because they can have lasting effects. Broken wrists, arms, and collarbones, cuts, road rash, and dental injuries are also common concerns. The most serious injuries often happen when a rider enters traffic or is struck by a vehicle.
Make sure the helmet fits correctly
A helmet only works well if it fits the child correctly.
“The most common mistakes are choosing a helmet that is too large, allowing it to sit too far back on the head, or leaving the straps too loose,” Huff said. “The helmet should fit properly now, not be something the child has to grow into. It should also be replaced after a significant impact.”
Families can use the 2-V-2 method to check helmet fit:
- 2: The helmet should sit about two finger-widths above the eyebrows.
- V: The straps should form a V below each ear.
- 2: No more than two fingers should fit under the chin strap.
The helmet should feel snug and stay in place when the child moves their head. It should sit level, cover the forehead, and not tip backward.
Set riding rules before kids take off
Back-to-school is a good time to reset expectations around where children can ride, how far they can go, and when they need adult supervision.
Children are more likely to follow safety rules when they know what is expected before they start riding.
Before children ride bikes, scooters or skateboards, families should talk about:
- Areas that are off-limits
- How to safely navigate intersections, driveways, and parking lots
- Why phones and headphones should not be used while riding
- Why only one person should ride on equipment designed for a single rider
- What to do if they become separated from friends or need help
“Children should know where they are allowed to ride, how far they may go, and when they need adult supervision,” Huff said. “They should stop and look before crossing driveways or streets, stay off their phones, avoid headphones, and never ride with more than one person on equipment designed for a single rider.”
Watch driveways, intersections, and parking lots
Some of the riskiest areas for children are places where cars and riders may cross paths.
These risks can be especially significant during the school year, when mornings and afternoons may bring more traffic around neighborhoods, school entrances, parking lots, and after-school activities.
“Driveways, intersections, and parking lots can be especially dangerous because drivers may not see a child approaching, especially one behind a vehicle,” Huff said.
Children should be taught to slow down, stop, and look before crossing driveways or streets. When possible, they should make eye contact with drivers before crossing.
Parents and caregivers should also be cautious when backing out of driveways or parking spaces, especially when children are playing nearby.
Other risky riding areas include:
- Hills, where children may gain more speed than they can safely control
- Uneven sidewalks
- Loose gravel
- Wet pavement
- Areas with poor visibility
- Streets with heavy traffic
Make children easier to see
Being visible is an important part of riding safety, especially during times of reduced visibility or increased traffic.
“Bright or reflective clothing can make children easier for drivers to see, even during the day,” Huff said. “Bikes should have reflectors and lights should be used when visibility is reduced. Children should also be taught never to assume that a driver sees them.”
Apply the same safety wheels to all wheeled activities
Scooters and skateboards may feel like toys, but falls onto pavement can still cause serious injuries.
Children should wear helmets when using:
- Scooters
- Skateboards
- Roller skates
- Inline skates
- Bikes
- E-scooters or e-bikes, if age-appropriate and allowed
Protective gear beyond helmets can also help reduce injuries.
“Knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards can help protect against cuts, scrapes, and wrist injuries,” Huff said. “Closed-toe shoes are also important, and loose clothing or shoelaces should be secured so they cannot get caught in the wheels.”
Set clear rules for e-scooters and e-bikes
E-scooters and e-bikes are becoming more common, and they are worth discussing with older children and teens.
“Their added speed and weight can make crashes more serious,” Huff said.
Families should follow local rules, age restrictions, and manufacturer guidance. Riders should always wear a helmet, avoid carrying passengers, and stay off phones while riding.
Because e-scooters and e-bikes can travel faster than traditional bikes or scooters, children and teens may need more supervision and clear limits around where they can ride.
When to seek medical care after a fall
Not every fall requires emergency care, but some injuries should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
Parents should seek medical care after a bike, scooter, or skateboard fall if a child has heavy bleeding, a deep cut or any of the following:
- Signs of a concussion
- Neck or back pain
- A suspected broken bone or dislocation
- Any collision involving a vehicle
“If there is severe or worsening pain, significant swelling, an obvious deformity, or difficulty using an injured arm or leg, the child should be evaluated,” Huff said. “Any possible concussion, neck or back injury, or collision involving a vehicle should also be evaluated.”
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for serious injuries, severe bleeding, trouble breathing, loss of consciousness, a major head injury or any situation that feels life-threatening.
Know the warning signs after a head injury
After a fall or crash, parents and caregivers should watch closely for signs of a serious head injury.
Seek immediate medical attention if a child has:
- Loss of consciousness
- Repeated vomiting
- Confusion
- Difficulty waking
- A headache that continues to worsen
If something feels wrong after a head injury, it is always better to have the child evaluated.
The bottom line
Back-to-school routines are a good time to revisit bike, scooter, and outdoor safety rules. Whether children are riding to school, playing after class ,or spending weekends outside, a few simple habits can help reduce the risk of preventable injuries.
Before children ride:
- Make sure they wear a helmet every time.
- Check that the helmet fits correctly.
- Set clear rules about where they can ride.
- Watch for hazards at driveways, intersections, and parking lots.
- Avoid phones and headphones while riding.
- Use bright or reflective clothing.
- Add protective gear for scooters, skateboards and skates.
- Watch for signs of injury after a fall.
“We want families to enjoy being outside while staying safe,” Huff said. “Wearing a properly fitted helmet every time a child rides is one simple step that can make a big difference. Whether riding a bike, scooter or skateboard, a few simple safety habits can help prevent a serious injury.”
Learn more about injury prevention and family safety from UTMB Health.
If your child has a serious injury, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.