It’s a fact: every responsible parent is concerned about their children’s safety. At the same time, children need to be able to practice different activities with a certain level of freedom to grow and develop independence. In other words, it’s all about finding a healthy balance. As you know, constantly keeping our eyes peeled on our kids isn’t possible, hence the importance of sticking to safety rules always. When my children were babies, my main concern was buying safe baby toys for them. Now that they’re grow-up boys, I can’t always buy safe toys but I can ensure they play with them in a safe manner. Their skateboard is a good example of what I’m talking about.

Skateboarding is an activity that involves a lot of falls which can lead to a number of injuries – ranging from simple scratches to more serious concussions. Since I couldn’t help but get them their so much wished skateboards, a way to keep them safe during their rides was to invest in high-quality kids skateboard safety gear.

Skateboard protection for kids includes elbow pads, knee pads, protective helmets amount others. The purpose of this type of equipment is to protect different parts of the body, so even the rider trip over from the skateboard, they’ll be less likely to get injured. Here are the essentials to get children properly prepared and ensure safe riding adventures.

Pads for Legs and Arms

If you’re wondering do kids need pads for skateboarding, know that knee injury is one of the most common skateboard-related issues. Providing your children with good knee pads is a way to protect them from any possible falls. Although experienced skaters should wear them too, these pieces are especially important for beginners. Even if your kids think that they don’t look cool wearing them, help them understand that safety should always come first.

It can be hard to believe how something as simple as knee and elbow pads can save your children from a world of pain and suffering. The cap of these pads is made from foam or hard plastic shell, which is what protects the elbow and knee – they absorb the force and shield it from impact. Simple to use, all you have to do is teach your child how to attach the pads to their knees and elbows with the adjustable fasteners (generally Velcro) which go around the elbows and knees.

When shopping for kids skateboard safety gear, you can choose to buy elbow and knee pads separately or get a set. Sets generally include a pair of knee pads, a pair of elbow pads and wrist guards. Should kids wear wrist guards skateboarding as well, you may ask? Wrist injuries are also common in skating. By providing support to the wrists, wrist guards may help prevent a broken bone when falling.

Like with everything you buy, quality skateboard safety gear often costs more. However, when it comes to protection, quality is certainly what you should look for to ensure resistance, durability and reliability. Look for well-designed pads with good stitching and finish. However, this doesn’t mean you need to choose the most expensive option. Get the best quality your budget allows. Also, make sure the elbow and knee pads you choose don’t restrict your children’s range of motion. Not only would poor fit pads be uncomfortable, but if they limit how much your kids can bend their knees, it can even be dangerous.

A Helmet

For any activity that involves going fast, the possibility of failing or the possibility of something falling on the head, a helmet is an essential piece of protective gear. In other words, a helmet is a must-have safety accessory for skateboarding. Like with elbow or knee pads, your kids may be reluctant to wear them, but it’s important that they do, every time they go out skateboarding.

Like with elbow and knee pads, you need to make sure the helmet you choose is made of reliable, quality materials, and that it’s also the right fit. Note that sizes can vary from brand to brand, so you should always take measurements, check sizing charts and follow the instructions of the website when buying online.

You know the helmet fits right if it doesn’t sit too high or too low on your child’s head – your child needs to be able to see everything side-to-side and in front of them. The side straps should make a “V” shape under their years, and the chin strap should be centred under their chin and fit snugly, leaving no more than one or two fingers between the strap and the chin.

Right Skate Shoes

Ask any skateboard expert and they will tell you that good shoes are also an important part of the safety gear. While skateboarding, the feet of the skater need to be able to withstand the force of the movements and the weight and pressure of their weight and pressure body’s weight. So make sure to get your kids a pair of skate shoes that not only look great but is also durable, reliable and most importantly, well fitted.