Helmets and Kids Skiing

Not sure if you are reading this blog item and you are from New York or the east coast, but there have been major blizzards there the past two days. I barely made it back to California for my friend’s birthday in Lake Tahoe. On the way to California, I was re-routed to Utah – a beautiful state with unbelievable snow. My boyfriend’s niece was geared up and ready to go skiing. This morning as I was bidding farewell, I got to watch her try on her K1 skis and get fitted for her helmet. What I found interesting is that she wanted to pick her helmet before trying on her skis! I think it is fantastic that she learning ski safety at age 3, and she even remembered from last winter ski season the importance of helmets from when she first learned to ski at age 2 (see picture). It’s all about safety!

Head injuries are one of the biggest contributing factors toward deaths in the snow, so it’s vital you teach your children early about the importance of wearing a helmet.

Purchasing a helmet for your kids when they ski is one of the first important steps before going to the snow and learning to ski.

What to consider:

• Does the helmet come with a certified safety standard? Check for a label of certification.
• Is it made for skiing? Don’t opt for letting your child wear their bike helmet instead just to save money.
• Ensure that the helmet fits your child’s head correctly. If it doesn’t fit, there it completely defeats the purpose of having it in the first place.
• It is recommended that you purchase brand new, as most helmets need to be replaced if they have been involved in an impact.
• Check if it has a UV rating and protect your little one’s eyes.

How to know if it fits
When looking at kids ski helmets refer to a sizing chart to assist you. Most helmets are measured in centimeters.

Steps:

1. Measure the circumference of your head (just above the eyebrows) for the most accurate measurement.
2. When a helmet is on and secured under your child’s chin, you should only be able to fit one finger between the strap and the chin
3. When secure you should be able to place 2 fingers above the eyebrow as a measure before you hit the front top of the helmet
4. Check to make sure the back of the helmet doesn’t touch the nape of the neckline.
5. Ensure ear pads are covering the ears
6. If you tilt your child’s head backwards the helmet should not move

NOTE: If you are wearing goggles, it’s important to fit your helmet with these on as they do impact on the weight and fitting of the helmet.

ALL IN ALL? Kids ski helmets are no longer considered “not cool” or “dorky” – they are cool and a fun new accessory to purchase during the winter season or a great holiday vacation!

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End of School Year Adventures

Each May, it’s common for those school field trips to come. I recently helped explore the watersheds near our local mountain stream with my daughter’s third-grade class. The teacher, her aide, four other parent volunteers and I split up the class of 26 to drive them up the canyon. Upon arriving in the forest stream area each small group was given things to explore and find out about the environment. Highlights were usually things the third graders found themselves like a dead, half-rotten vole (mouse) on the side of the trail, a garter snake, and deer scat (poop).

Crimson Trail Slope (Utah)

All was going well as we climbed up along a rocky slope trail to sit and look for fossils. Not too long passed and a student cried out. The boy had lost his footing and slid down the rocky slope stopping only when he got tangled up with a juniper tree branch. He called out and a nearby classmate screamed, “He’s bleeding!” The teacher and one of the parent chaperones (who also happened to be a nurse) made their way to the boy while the rest of us calmed the class and kept them from gathering around the injured boy. We could see that he had a scrape on his nose, a cut on his head and was protecting the wrist he fell on. The adults doctored him up then began walking him out to the car where the chaperone would take him back to school to meet the boy’s mother for a doctor’s clinic visit.

The class did fine remaining on their fossil hunt, finishing up only when the chaperones said it was time to go. The class enjoyed their adventures and several students drew get well cards for their classmate as soon as they returned to the classroom. The student did return to school the next day with sparkling eyes and a grin, but he was also sporting four stitches on his head and a cast on his wrist! The teacher of 30 years was commenting it was her first serious student injury on a field trip.

You just never know what will happen next!

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Secret twitter-Only Contest Winning Moms

Our twitter-only contest for Mother’s Day was so much fun! We asked moms for their favorite mom sayings, and we got a great response, with five super-excited winners! Congratulations to Jessica (Alabama), Gigi (Utah), Kerry (California), Victoria (Virginia), and Lisa (New York)! Each of these lovely moms won an outfit from le•top’s Tiptoe Tulip Duckling (available in sizes 3m – 6x) or Lucky Duck collections (available in sizes 3m-4t). Thank you for making us smile with your favorite sayings! Click on each winner’s state to find an online store in that state, or use our store locator to find a le•top retailer near you, so you can find our sweet ducks to put on your sweet little ones. Pssst! And stay tuned for our Father’s Day contests, coming soon…!

le•top Tiptoe Tulip Duckling for girls and Lucky Duck for boys. Click on the image to see all the offerings for both collections

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