12 CHAPTER 1 Helmets and Hats Show children a variety of head gear, including hats, caps, and helmets. Ask the children to examine the head gear and talk about what they see. Ask the children which of the items would protect their head best if they had a bike wreck. Talk about the importance of wearing a helmet when riding on a trike, bike, skateboard, scooter, or other riding toy. To follow up, work with each child individually to teach how to put on a helmet properly; then add helmets to the tricycle area for ongoing use. LP MATERIALS a variety of headgear (including baseball caps, shower caps, straw hats, berets, visors, rain hats, beanies, earmuffs, stocking caps, dress hats, western hats, chief’s hats, football helmets, bike helmets, and other head safety gear) OTHER IDEAS Provide old sports magazines so children can look for photographs of protective head gear to use in art projects, such as making a mobile. ALP the classroom. Help them measure and plan their creations. Supply the art interest area with lids of various sizes, tape, string, papier m â ch é , and other materials suitable for making helmets. Invite an avid bike rider to show chil- dren her bike and accessories, includ- ing the helmet, and discuss the safety Take a picture of each child wearing a helmet, and let children use their precautions she takes when riding. photo as the cover for a book they make about being a safe trike rider. Encourage children to use art sup- plies to make helmets for the dolls in AM LS ALP