When choosing a helmet for your child, look for a label that says ‘CPSC’. That means it meets the standards set by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. ALL helmets sold by Tikes Bikes meet this standard.

Make sure the helmet fits properly by trying it on your child. It should be snug, cover the forehead and should only move from front to back or side to side a little. Use the padding and straps to adjust the helmet until it meets this criteria. Each child and adult should have their own bike helmet.

Here’s a checklist from the Bike Helmet Safety Institute to see if the bike helmet fits well:

Children are, at first, resistant to wearing a bike helmet but if you make it REQUIRED for riding bikes, it will become second nature to them. Set a good example by always wearing your own bike helmet.

play more creatively
have lower stress levels
have more active imaginations
become fitter and leaner
develop stronger immune systems
have greater respect for themselves, for others, and for the environment

The U.S. Forest Service and Ad Council have partnered to inspire children to reconnect with nature with their new campaign ‘Where The Other You Lives’. While this may seem a little counter intuitive, the site offers an online place for kids to ‘play in nature’ educating them about animal sounds, animal tracks, leaf rubbings and a lesson on how to use a compass. Maybe this will help stimulate your kids to take their new skills into nature. You can also print a book of “Stuff to Do Outside” that has activities for kids to take with them on their adventure into a park or forest.

For parents, there are suggestions on how to help your kids experience nature including :

get a field guide to take with you as they can provide information about the surrounding area, plants and animals

give your kids time to free play – let them explore and get dirty!

If you are looking for place to start, look to your neighborhood park. Just getting outside is the perfect beginning to reconnecting your kids with nature. When you are ready to adventure beyond the park, explore water, mountains and forests.

Carole Carson, the author of From Fat to Fit: Turn Yourself into a Weapon of Mass Reduction—says that parents’ homework is to teach and demonstrate healthy habits so that their children can do well at school. Here are three back-to-school tips for getting FIT:

F = Focus on fun: Fuel your child’s body with a nutritious breakfast. Encourage your child to pack his or her own lunch, choosing from healthy options. Stick smiley faces on the plastic bags containing vegetables or fruit. Replace soft drinks and sports drinks with water or milk. Buy your child’s favorite cereal, and add nuts and raisins to create a special trail mix. If your child eats at the school cafeteria, review the menus and help your child make healthful choices. Keep easy-to-eat fruits (such as bananas and apples) and vegetables (such as baby carrots) handy for after-school snacks.

I = Incorporate movement: Indulge your sense of fun by going outdoors and playing kickball or catch with your child, or go to a playground and swing on the swings together. When outdoor exercise isn’t an option, consider investing in one of the popular video exergames, such as Dance Dance Revolution or Wii Fit. Encourage your child to move by limiting screen time—the time spent sitting in front of a television, computer or standard video game.

T = Team up: Instead of driving your child to school, travel together on foot or on bicycles. Tackle weight loss by forming teams among family members and with neighbors. Join parents’ groups that support physical exercise during the school day and healthy food choices in school cafeterias. Share the task of preparing the nightly meal with your child. Use suppertime to talk about the day’s events and reconnect.

The consequences of an indoor childhood:

•Increased lack of creativity, concentration and a decline in social skills
•Increased use of antidepressants to treat American children
•Increased aggression and inability to cope with stress
•Doubling of the childhood obesity rate with an incremental $100 billion annual cost to our public health system

Outdoor play offers undeniable benefits:

•Daily unstructured free play improves children’s physical and mental health
•Children who play outside are more physically active, more creative, less aggressive and show better concentration
•Outdoor experiences and education enhances children’s ability to learn and retain knowledge
•Outdoor experiences build a conservation ethic and concern for the natural world

Ideas to Get Your Family Outside:

1.Ride your bike – and get your kids to ride theirs, too. Even if you have toddlers just learning to ride (Strider bikes are perfect for toddlers!), put on your helmet and pedal around the neighborhood with your bike. Your toddler will follow you around. Set up a small bike ramp for the older kids. They’ll launch anything with wheels off of it.
2.Have a ball – start throwing the baseball or football with your kid. Get the basketball out for a simple game of HORSE. Again, toddler or teenager, kids want and appreciate the attention.
3.Play a game – remember Four Square, Kick the Can, Hopscotch or Red Light, Green Light? All great games to include your kids and the kids in the neighborhood. You’ll enjoy the nostalgia of your own childhood, too.
4.Get wet – at home, you can get out the slip ‘n slide or sprinkler. Believe me, even the older kids can find a way to make slip ‘n slides fun. Find a pool, lake or river or visit the beach if it’s nearby. Kids of all ages love the water and there are tons of water activities you can do with kids from canoeing ( even toddlers can ride in the canoe ), to swimming, to fishing or surfing.
5.Take a walk – we’re fortunate to live near miles of paved trails so we often take an early morning or late afternoon walk with our toddler riding her bike. We’ve also taken her for short ( 3-4 mile ) hikes using a backpack for some of the trip and letting her walk for the rest. You’ll be amazed at the flora and fauna your curious children can find during even a short walk.