How to Know a Child is Ready for an ATV

ATV riding can be a fun family adventure. The decision to purchase your child a quad or motorcycle is not to be taken lightly, and here are many aspects you should consider. Be certain your child is ready for an ATV before bringing one home. Here's how you can know.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Evaluate whether your child honestly has an interest in ATV riding. Parents who enjoy the sport often presume their child feels the same. A child with little interest in ATV's should not own one. Without a keen interest in learning the sport, a child can 'tune out' the necessary safety training. This greatly increases the possibility of injury.

2. Assess physical readiness. Your child must be able to balance and shift weight mid-ride to safely drive an ATV. A good indicator is a child's ability to maneuver a pedal bike over uneven terrain maneuver.

3. Ensure your child has the necessary visual problem-solving skills for ATV readiness. When looking straight ahead, they must be able to identify objects in their peripheral (side) vision. Children must also be able to judge the speed of moving objects. Take your child on a car ride and ask questions about vehicles traveling at assorted speeds. Examples include: "What will reach the corner first, the red car or the blue?" "Do I have time to safely pass the truck ahead before that oncoming car reaches us?" The closest vehicle isn't always the one that causes the most concern. Be certain your child understands the relationship between a vehicle's speed and how quickly it can cover ground.

4. Determine if your child has the emotional maturity to drive an ATV. The child must follow directions and be safety conscious at all times on a motorcycle or quad. They must be trustworthy to make appropriate decisions using common sense. If your child is reckless on a pedal bike, or balks at following instructions, they are not ready for an ATV.

5. Put your child on an appropriate sized machine. Standing on the foot pegs, the minimum clearance between their body and the seat is three inches. Ensure that your child can grip and operate the handlebar controls in any turning position. The child's ATV must be rated for their age and governed for their skill level to lessen the chance of injury.

6. Make sure your child can understand the ATV's controls. For some children, this is their first experience with hand braking. Some machines require the use of a clutch. Some can go in reverse. Be certain your child can learn to use every control on the ATV.

7. Know your child has met or exceeded all areas of readiness. If you're confident the child is ready, pick out an ATV and safety gear, and enjoy your new shared hobby!

Tips & Warnings

• If you choose to purchase an ATV, provide your child with extensive safety training. Put them in numerous controlled scenarios and teach them appropriate responses. You can never give too much safety training to your child.
• Never allow a child to carry passengers, or to drive too large a machine. If an ATV is rated higher than your child's age, it is too large and too fast for them to control safely in a panic situation. Age restrictions are important to your child's safety.

[isatoy]

on 1/27/2009 Useful article. Thank you !