Supervision, Parenting, and Role-Modeling
Supervision, role-modeling, and parenting are important elements of the youth injury problem. Parents, teachers, and others have considerable power in providing access to and establishing habits and boundaries around the use of these machines. With power always comes responsibility, which in this case includes the responsibility to be aware of the risks not just associated with these vehicles in general but also with relevant features of youth risk-taking. Participants felt that supervision of ATVs is one responsibility that is not always met or taken as seriously as it ought to be owing to various cultural considerations as well as ignorance of the real impact of the risks. Education and awareness training were the proposed solution. See Age and Education/Awareness for some relevant inputs on this topic. Click here to see other issues participants felt were important.
- Mom and Dad too busy with work to show respect towards ATVs and snowmobiles. Too easy to kick the kids out the door on their ATV to get them out of the house.
- Parents allowing kids to ride on roads to get to approved trails instead of trailering the ATV.
- Parents are the number 1 cause of youth injuries in Canada. If parents take the time to think about how dangerous it is to put your child under the age of 18 on an ATV...
- Parents control the ATV with keys. We have the second highest rate of ATV related injuries.
- Parents have less time to go with the kids on ATV's.
- Parents purchase ATV’s for their kids and use them as gas powered baby sitters. Now the kids are out of their hair and they can do whatever they want without the kids bugging them or being bored.
- Young people/youth are given too much free reign.
- Adults need to teach our children better habits and set the rules, no exceptions.
- Attitude: Attitude towards safety, instilled in us from our parents.
- It can’t be one time, it has to be patrolled by parents.
- Need to be more in control of our youth and teach them the do’s and don’ts.
- Parenting is the largest factor.
- Parents have the power to prevent these injuries.
- Parents need to be stricter with youth operating machines.
- Parents should not buy an ATV (for their kids) unless they are 18.
- Parents should stop buying the ATVs for their children-wait until they are old enough.
- poor parenting and bored kids
- The decreasing parental involvement
- 18-22 year olds free of Mom and Dad's influence and take more risks because they can.
- 19-24 – leaving home for the first time, no more parents to tell you how fast you can go.
- Adults should be a good mentor to their children and all others around them.
- I think the reason that parents have such a huge influence on helmet use is that if the parents wear one they will ensure that one is supplied to the youth.
- It starts with the parents. If the parents push safety and children are taught how to respect and drive ATVs correctly they will.
- Parents need to be setting the example.
- Parents need to slow down when riding. Watch all the time when riding.
- Children should be supervised by a parent when operating ATVs at all times, NO exceptions.
- Education and proper supervision is pivotal to prevent accidents.
- Guardian or adult supervision
- Have an adult with you at all times.
- How the parent teaches the child to ride. If the parent is not watching or participating, the child shouldn't either. It should be 100% supervision. I think kids should learn young- they learn respect and control and become smarter riders.
- More parent supervision.
- Parents allow their kids to do too much without supervision or guidance.
- Parents are not looking after their children when they are on the equipment.
- Parents need to be more attentive and provide more supervision when kids are learning how to ride.
- Parents need to be responsible and to be diligent about supervision.
- Parents should be present if their children are on an ATV or snowmobile.
- There is no supervision. Too young and able to use ATV's.
- They should always be supervised by an adult.
- To prevent injuries on ATVs it is parents who have to say no to their children, or ride with them at all times.