They will getting all the bike helmets either discounted at $5 and under a pop or donated from the companies. It is a tax deduction for the bicycle helmet companies to give them discounted or free. It is the same thing that if you are unable to afford a car seat the fire department will buy you a $40 one from walmart. They usually get them for free or discounted.
I late getting into this. My children are with me most of the time. It is different with a child who has Autism for some families. My oldest knows not to run into the street or parking lot but does not understand why he cannot. My youngest is three and he is with us at all times. We live in San Antonio which is a large city. There are several pedophiles in our area. There's an older man in our building that stands by the school bus in the parking lot just to look at the little boys get off the bus. He looks at them as if they were eye candy! I know because I can see him from our patio when the bus arrives. If we live in a small town like Seguin or Lytle, Texas where relatives live, I suppose the boys would have more freedom. We wear car searbelts and they wear helmets when riding a bike. I have seen too many accidents even at slow speeds. Besides, my oldest had two reconstructive skull surgeries at age 2 and can't play contact sports. If he took a blow to his head, that's it for him. I am not talking chances so if he rides a bike, he wears a helmet. We went through so much as a family that neither if us want to see our oldest in the hospital for another surgery. Take helmets lightly if you want, it's your child... but I won't.
Free Range??? Children aren't chickens!!! Egads!!! I guess I am in between. Tanner is old enough where I allow him to play in the backyard alone. Not in the front though. Our city is safer than most, but we still have cooky people around every corner. I don't trust a lot of people, and when it comes to our precious children I don't think there is any such thing as being too worried about them. Now...if you want to get on the subject of helicopter parents...that's a whole different story. I think both extremes have backlash. I believe in a nice balance, and it depends on your circumstances.
