If your kids have recently begun to ride ATVs, you're finding it is a great way to spend some quality family time outdoors with your kids. If you have a child that is unsure about riding an ATV, there are some things you can do to make it easy and fun for him to enjoy the sport of ATVing.
Unless your ATV holds two people, don't hold your child and attempt to ride an ATV, not only is it unsafe, it also sets a very bad example. For the most part ATVs are one person rides. Put the govenor on your child's ATV so the MPH are capped off low and simply walk behind him. If he encounters a problem on his ATV, you can always pull the killswitch and turn off his ATV before he gets in a jam. This will allow your child to learn to control the ATV and he will know you are there and that will give him confidence as well.
Another great way to introduce your child to ATVing is to take him on an easy trailride. Go to your local national forest or other managed lands that allow ATVs and let your child ride the easy trails. Most commercial riding areas have clearly designated riding areas that are rated easy through difficult. Keep your child on the easy trails to help build confidence.
If your whole family is into riding ATVs, make sure your child is attended at all times and learns the ropes of trailriding, such as keep to one side, watch for two way traffic, stop and turn off your motor when you meet a horseback riding to avoid spooking the horse and other types of courtesy riding. Teach your child to ride in a single file with the rest of your group on their ATV and it's a good idea to always make sure the person behind you is at a safe yet visible distance when you go trail riding on your ATV as that insures everyone keeps up.
Riding an ATV is fun and enjoyable and will give you years of great memories with your kids. If you don't already have a trip scheduled to go riding with your kids, what are you waiting for? Get out there have a great time with your family!
