Do you think that kids riding scooters to school should wear a helmet?

[SooPanda]

Help me out here, please, I’m in a debate with a friend.
I probably shouldn’t have said anything, but I mentioned to her that I’d noticed her little boy rides his scooter without a helmet.

He rides it from her house to school every day, there and back. They cross one main road and several small side roads. He’s a sensible boy, 8 years old, mum is always with him but he scoots ahead of course like all kids do.

I’ve always made my young son wear a helmet, and apparently she thinks that I’m basically a weirdo for it, not in those words but that was the gist.
She thinks I’m being over the top about safety and that kids scooters are not dangerous, if they fall they’ll just skin their knee.

No. Speeds are generally much slower than riding a bike, more like walking or running and I wouldn't expect kids to wear a helmet for that.

No helmet no wheels is the rule in our house! Scooter or bike it doesn't matter

My youngest races BMX so the rules are:

• Full face helmet and long trousers/sleeves for full track practice
• Full face helmet, all pads/protectors and long trousers/sleeves for races
• Full face helmet at pump tracks
• half lid helmet for schools runs/flat ground/scooter

It doesn't matter if you're not going fast, if you go over the handlebars and crack your head off the floor you could be in real trouble, and those little scooter wheels are unforgiving when they hit a small stone!

Weird that I should read this today, as yesterday my 8 year old fell off her scooter on the way to school (a bin had been left in the middle of the pavement and she went down the kerb at an awkward angle). Fortunately she had a helmet on and only her knees were a bit grazed. The outcome would definitely have been worse without her helmet on.

You are correct, op

We have always been strict about wearing a helmet for cycling & scootering. Just not worth the risk